3.1 | A Vision that Matters | Kelly Garcia | IA DHHS
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The Health & Human Services system is 'in a moment' right now, led by a handful of dynamic state and local Directors, Secretaries and Commissioners that are focused on developing a contemporary culture and shepherding systems into a new era of service. Having been battle tested over the last few years, they emerge stronger and more resolved to implement a vision for transformation focused on outcomes for children and families. Kelly Garcia, Director for the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services is a terrific example, and her vision for a future system truly matters for the people of Iowa. She is one of a thousand terrific stories of servant leadership that deserves to be told.
Praised for transformative leadership, Kelly Kennedy Garcia serves as the Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Governor Kim Reynoldsappointed Garcia to oversee the state’s social services agency in November 2019. She was unanimously confirmed by the Iowa Senate on February 26, 2020. Later that year, Garcia was asked to serve as interim public health Director. As a dual director, Garcia led the agency’s pandemic response, while sheparding consolidation to a single health and human services structure.
Two years later, Kelly leads Iowa’s largest agency, with a commitment to
transparency and accountability. The key to this success is building strong teams, transforming the agency’s business processes and driving home on a humancentered strategic vision. Before moving to the Hawkeye state, Garcia led improvements in organizational structure, program management, and policy development in the great state of
Texas, including serving in several executive positions at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Garcia has more than 20 years of experience in program evaluation and budget, planning and policy development.
Garcia is a graduate of the University of Texas and received her MPA from The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. She was a member of the Governor’s Executive Development Program sponsored by the LBJ School of Public Affairs and has been acknowledged as a distinguished alumnus. She is married to attorney Dan Garcia, and they have two children.
