Secretary realigns administration to move forward on Governor’s vision for mental health
OLYMPIA – Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Secretary Cheryl Strange today announced changes to the department’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) that better align the agency with Governor Jay Inslee’s vision for the future of mental health treatment in our state.
“We have a very swift course in order to make needed changes to how people with mental illness are treated in our state,” Strange explained.
In order to ensure DSHS is following that course, Strange has moved Ken Taylor from his position as Assistant Secretary of BHA to a special assistant focused on litigation specific to behavioral health; namely, the Trueblood federal court case and the Ross settlement. Taylor will also oversee the Office of Forensic Mental Health Services.
“This move allows Ken to put all the focus necessary into our work coming into compliance with court-ordered requirements for DSHS,” said Strange, referencing the Trueblood and Ross cases. “It also gives us the opportunity to tap into his community mental health expertise to support the Governor’s vision of creating centers of forensics excellence at our state hospitals by 2023.”
Strange has asked Sean Murphy, currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Western State Hospital, to serve as the BHA Assistant Secretary. Sean has over 20 years of experience in providing and improving facility-based services to persons in the state’s care. He has an extensive leadership background in state service and an indelible record of success in leading organizational change. He holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington as well as a bachelor’s degree in business.
“I remain steadfastly dedicated to working with the mental health community, advocates, the Legislature, the Health Care Authority, local governments and others to reach our shared goal of caring for people diagnosed with mental illness,” Strange added. “We turned our long-term care system around a couple decades ago and I believe we can do the same for mental health.”