Kelly Johnson has been named Oklahoma Department of Human Services Area VI director starting Aug. 1, 2009.  During her eighteen year career with OKDHS, Johnson has worked in both family support and child welfare, supervised child protective services both in the local Human Services Center and with Tulsa’s Multidisciplinary Team housed at the Children’s Justice Center, was a child welfare field liaison in Area VI and a county director in Tulsa County.

“I am looking forward to working in this capacity with all the wonderful staff in Area VI.  I also look forward to continuing our strong relationships with our community partners, as well as developing new partnerships for the benefit of all individuals in our communities,” said Kelly Johnson about her new assignment.

“She has a unique ability to balance the role of being a manager and a leader,” said Larry Johnson, director, OKDHS Field Operations Division. “She has the respect of her peers and has strong relationships with community partners.”

Counties included in Area VI that Johnson will oversee include Creek, Osage, Tulsa and Washington. This area accounts for nearly one-sixth of the state’s population.

Johnson received her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (formerly Northeast Louisiana University) and her master’s degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma.