Welcome to Day 1 of the Governor’s Conference on Substance Abuse
Kelly Kennedy Garcia
Praised for transformative leadership, Kelly Kennedy Garcia serves as the Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Garcia to oversee the state’s health and social services agency in November 2019. She was unanimously confirmed by the Iowa Senate on February 26, 2020. On June 30, 2020, it was announced that Garcia would take on the role of interim Director at the Iowa Department of Public Health effective August 1, 2020.
DeAnn Decker
Currently in the role of Bureau Chief of Substance Abuse, Ms. Decker has worked for the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) for 15 years. Prior to coming to IDPH, she worked as a Provider Relations Manager for Magellan Behavioral Health for 11 years. Magellan had been the State’s managed care company for mental health and substance use disorder services since 1995. Ms. Decker received her bachelor’s degree in family services from the University of Northern Iowa. She is also certified as an international alcohol and drug counselor.