Director's Office
The Director’s Office of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services provides professional support to the agency’s three branches and 11 divisions. The three branches are Operations Services, Medicaid and Health Services and Economic Security Services.
The Director’s Office is made up of the Department Director; the Office of Legal Affairs; the Human Resources Office; the Prevention Resource Center; and the Public Information Office.
The Director’s Office oversees the four overarching goals of the department:
- All Montana children are healthy, safe and in permanent, loving homes.
- All Montanans have the tools and support to be as self-sufficient as possible.
- All Montanans are injury free, healthy and have access to quality health care.
- All Montanans can contribute to the above through community service.
Director Anna Whiting Sorrell was appointed by Governor Brian Schweitzer in November 2008 to oversee the agency’s 3,100 employees, 2,500 contracts and 150 major programs. DPHHS is the largest agency of state government, with a biennial budget of about $3 billion.
She is responsible for overall department policy development, management, and coordination of programs.
Whiting Sorrell previously served four years as Governor Schweitzer’s Policy Advisor on Families. She has spent her professional career working for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes where she is an enrolled member. She also worked in CSKT Tribal Administration overseeing a number of programs and the Tribes’ effort in self-governance and other legislative efforts.
Whiting Sorrell also developed and implemented a nationally recognized substance abuse prevention and treatment program for the Tribes. Before, she was a teacher at the Tribes’ school. She is a graduate of the University of Montana with a B.A. in political science and a Master’s in public administration.
The Office of Legal Affairs represents the Department in court actions and administrative hearings, provides legal advice to the agency, and drafts administrative rules and legislation. Bernie Jacobs is Chief Legal Counsel. As chief legal counsel, he provides representation for the department in court actions and administrative hearings and personally provides legal advice to the department’s director and administrative staff.
For more information about Montana laws and rules, see the Montana Code Annotated or the Montana Administrative Rules.
The Human Resources Office is managed by Deb Sloat. She and her staff are responsible for all aspects of employee recruitment and hiring, labor relations, contract administration, personnel policy administration, job classification and salary administration, employee relations, safety programs and training, and Equal Employment Opportunity programs.
For information about job opportunities within the Department visit http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/jobs/index.shtml.
The Prevention Resource Center (PRC) helps Montana communities to develop comprehensive prevention efforts in the areas of substance abuse, child and family safety, violence and crime. The PRC supports the Interagency Coordinating Council for State Prevention Programs, directs a statewide AmeriCorp* VISTA project, and provides information resources. The office is headed by Vicki Turner.
The Public Information Office is staffed by Jon Ebelt. His duties include writing and distributing news releases, organizing news conferences, managing web site content, reviewing publications, handling media inquires and serving as department spokesperson.
All news releases issued by the department are available online. To view news releases of other state agencies, visit Montana NewsLinks.
To contact the Director's Office:
111 North Sanders, Room 301, Helena, MT 59620
PO Box 4210 , Helena MT 59604-4210
(406) 444-5622
Fax: (406) 444-1970
