Established in 1936 under Article XXV of the Oklahoma constitution, the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services is a nine-member governing board for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS). Its members are appointed by the Governor to staggered nine-year terms, with one membership expiring each August.
The Commission appoints the Director of Human Services, approves program budgets, funding, and policies and procedures that direct the Department's program and service delivery. On July 1, 1998, Howard H. Hendrick became the 14th director of OKDHS.