Newly Appointed Cabinet Secretaries
Michael Caruso
Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health Facilities
Cynthia Persily , Ph . D .
Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services
Sherri Young , D . O ., MBA , FAAFP
Interim DHHR Secretary and Incoming Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health
Revitalizing
With the freedom to try new things , Young , Persily and Caruso are also focusing on improving existing critical services .
“ As we restructure the DHHR , we have the opportunity to make a tremendous impact on West Virginians by focusing on programs that will continue to seamlessly deliver essential resources to the public throughout the transition ,” Young says . “ Addressing complex health issues like substance use , obesity , diabetes and mental health typically requires a multifaceted approach that includes prevention , early intervention , treatment and ongoing support . The restructuring should enable each new department to take a more focused and strategic approach to these challenges , leading to more effective outcomes in the long term .”
Persily is eager to help West Virginia ’ s children and strengthen families across the state .
“ My focus is on providing the support necessary to build healthy and strong individuals , families and communities ,” she says . “ With a focus on resources , systems and processes needed to provide for physical , mental , emotional and social supports , we will transform our focus on prevention at all levels and in all bureaus in the department .”
Persily is poised to tackle prevalent issues related to foster care , food insecurity and the well-being of vulnerable populations .
“ To address these challenges , I aim to strengthen safety net programs , expand access to social services and promote
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE