As we all heard by now and sadly – U.S Secretary of Health and Human Services Department has decided to resign and leave her position.
For those especially in Minnesota that do not know – Sec Sebelius was the person that nominated all of the public Federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) including me. So, this is sad for me personally as I am very grateful to Sec Sebelius for many things, not just nominating me. This now means a different person would have to nominate the next round of members at IACC. Of course, there is always a plus and minus in leadership changes.
I think I met Sebelius twice, once at the Autism conference at the White House and then again at our first IACC meeting in 2012. She had a commanding presence, physically she was tiny but when she spoke the room got quiet and people listened. I can’t really describe it, but she had one of those IT factors for public office that you either have it or you don’t. She also did not look like the type that micro-managed things which is probably why ACA did not do so well initially. She wrote policies and expected people under her to follow them.
For example, when she visited us at IACC – we were allowed to ask questions and my question was about racial health disparity and if she had any specific goals or policies to reduce them. And, to my surprise she did not. She mentioned the Federal CLAS guidelines which as I found out later most Federal and state agencies don’t really follow it or care about it all that much. Because regardless of they if they follow or not it does not affect their federal funding as I found out with Minnesota department of health who has refused to follow any CLAS guidelines, yet HHS still funds them. For example their main phone line and website – not following CLAS policy, yet they still get majority of their funds from HHS with no one even blinking.
I also asked if she had any plans of increasing the diverse leadership at HHS and again she did not. Come to think of – not sure why I liked her so much. Well in fairness, she did talk about how the new healthcare law would eliminate discrimination on people with disabilities including autism because of the previous pre-existing condition.
She also mentioned how HHS’s new 1915i waivers can help states apply for Medicaid payment for early autism intervention therapies. OK – maybe there was a reason I liked her. But all kidding aside, she really cared about early education, early intervention and parent involvement which is why she did the introduction of the new Watch Me Thrive Video by the Agency on Children and Families.
Overall – I would give Sec Sebelius a B- because I think while no one is perfect – HHS can certainly write better guidelines and policies for state health and human services departments in order to not just decrease, but eradicate racial health disparity which has only gotten worse or stayed the same under Sec Sebelius.
Finally, I wish Sec Sebelius well and success in her next chapter – maybe run for U.S Senate in her home state as many have said. I don’t see that though.
As usual, above words do not represent any agency, committee or candidate.
Thanks!
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate