Former Governor Brad Henry named Anne M. Roberts as a member of the Commission for Human Services Dec. 13, 2010. Roberts will fill the unexpired term of Gerri Webb, who has resigned.

Roberts is Director of Legislative Affairs for Integris Health. She previously served for 20 years as the Executive Director for the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA).

When she assumed her role at OICA in 1989, Roberts was the sole employee, with a $50,000 annual budget. By the time she left in 2009, the nonprofit’s annual budget had grown to $1.65 million, with 16 full-time employees.

Roberts’ initial efforts in creating the annual Children’s Legislative Agenda have prompted several other states to follow her example. She has worked to increase funding for programs to prevent child abuse, teen pregnancy and domestic violence. She also helped expand Medicaid’s coverage to children in families whose income is up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. In addition, Roberts has worked to strengthen both the child welfare and juvenile court systems, with decisions about custody, placement and termination of parental rights based on the best interests of the child.

In 2000, Roberts was named “National Child Advocate of the Year” by Voices for America’s Children. She also received the Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s “Defender of Health” award in 2008, and in 2006 received the “Outstanding Community Leadership” Award from Central Oklahoma Heartline.

Roberts serves on the board of the Public Health Institute of Oklahoma and is a member of the State Chamber’s Small Business Council.  She is Legislative Chair of the Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition, and is a member of Oklahoma City’s Rotary Club 29. Nationally, Roberts served as a board member of the National Association of Child Advocates, and the Kids Count Advisory Committee for the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Roberts earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music from the University of Oklahoma, and has been a soloist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. She also sings with Musica Sacra, an ensemble based at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City. Roberts is an avid hiker and yoga instructor. She resides in Norman.