ATLANTA – Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Robyn A. Crittenden has been appointed to a two-year term on the Leadership Council of the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA).

“I am honored to be chosen to work with other human services professionals in helping to improve lives,” Crittenden said. “I look forward to collaborating with my peers on work that benefits individuals, families and communities nationwide.”

Founded in 1930 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., APHSA is a national nonprofit organization comprising multiple human services programs. The Leadership Council is APHSA’s overall policy-making body, and is under the strategic direction of the Executive Governing Board.

The Leadership Council’s core responsibilities include coordinating initiatives of state and local human services leaders and across disciplines and drawing on insights of volunteer leaders. The council contributes to and advances APHSA’s national policy and practice agenda, generates ground-level examples and demonstrations of effective or transformative practice and impact, and holds an annual meeting or retreat as well as informal gatherings at major APHSA events. Issues that affect multiple program areas go before the Leadership Council for approval.

As DHS commissioner, Crittenden oversees the department’s work to strengthen Georgia families and protect vulnerable children and adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

At DHS, Crittenden has brought about several award-winning changes in technology to enhance human services available to Georgians. Among these innovations are Georgia Gateway and a mobile application for customers of the Department’s Division of Child Support Services (DCSS). Georgia Gateway provides customers with a single point of access for public assistance programs across multiple state agencies. The Child Support mobile app allows parents to access information about their cases via their mobile phones.

Under Crittenden’s leadership of DHS, DCSS has been nationally recognized for its Parental Accountability Court (PAC) program, a collaborative effort with Superior Court judges that helps chronic nonpayers of child support avoid incarceration by addressing and overcoming barriers to meeting their support obligations.

Crittenden’s work combating senior hunger is also nationally recognized. The DHS Division of Aging Services’ comprehensive State Plan to Address Senior Hunger is the first of its kind in the nation.

Crittenden has served in the public sector for 20 years. Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Crittenden DHS Commissioner in January 2019. She had previously served as DHS Commissioner from July 2015 until November 2018, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Nathan Deal as Secretary of State to complete Kemp’s unexpired term in that role. As Georgia’s 28th Secretary of State, Crittenden was the first African-American woman to serve as a statewide constitutional officer in Georgia.