OLYMPIA –A tribute honoring former Department of Social and Health Services’ Secretary, Robin Arnold-Williams is scheduled from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Office Building 2 (OB-2) on the Capital Campus downtown Olympia.
The event will begin with a program inside the DSHS headquarters’ building auditorium with a tree-planting ceremony immediately following on Capital Campus grounds outside of OB-2. Speakers include former Governor, Christine Gregoire current secretary of DSHS, Cheryl Strange as well as tribal leaders Liz Mueller and Marilyn Scott from the Jamestown S’Klallam and Upper Skagit tribes respectively.
Robin passed away October 29, 2017 after a courageous battle with cancer. She had served as DSHS Secretary from March 2005 to January 2009 and again from January 2013 to January 2014. Among the many contributions she made, Robin was a fierce leader of child welfare reform. Robin made a difference to hundreds of thousands of lives across Washington, Utah, Colorado and her home state of Michigan, and was a nationally recognized leader in many areas of health and human services.
After leaving DSHS, Robin and her husband, John, moved to a community near Durango, where they built their dream home. Robin had been directing the Medicaid and State Health Policy Practice for Leavitt Partners, along with former Governor of Utah Mike Leavitt, whom she once served as a cabinet member.
“Robin leaves our nation an amazing legacy,” said DSHS Secretary, Cheryl Strange, “She has positively influenced thousands of lives through her work in health and human services. She was a recognized leader, a great influencer and most of all, a truly, wonderful person.”
In honor of Robin’s commitment to social work education, her family and friends have established the Robin Arnold-Williams Public Policy Endowed scholarship through the University of Utah, College of Social Work to continue her legacy.
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