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Angela Ramirez outlines technology, workforce and cross-agency priorities at DSHS confirmation hearing
Summary
At a Senate Human Services Committee hearing Feb. 3, Secretary Angela Ramirez described priorities for the Department of Social and Health Services — modernizing records systems, addressing workforce shortages and strengthening relationships with tribal governments and labor — and was endorsed from the front row by the Lieutenant Governor.
Secretary Angela Ramirez told the Senate Human Services Committee on Feb. 3 that her priorities for the Department of Social and Health Services include upgrading technology such as electronic health records, shoring up workforce recruitment and retention, and strengthening partnerships with labor, tribal governments and community organizations. Ramirez, who said she has served as secretary since Sept. 22, was in the committee room for a confirmation hearing and took the oath required by Senate rule 69 before speaking.
"At every site I've been to where we provide direct care and service, we hear ... that they want support for electronic health records and just records to do their jobs as well as they can," Ramirez said. She added that the department must address workforce shortages "especially those with specific skills" and work across programs that touch housing, treatment and nutrition to close gaps in the continuum of care.
Ramirez described her background in federal and state positions, including work as chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and said she was "grateful to be here at DSHS" and to work with the Legislature. She thanked Governor Ferguson for the appointment.
The Lieutenant Governor, present in the front row, offered an explicit endorsement during the hearing. "I recommend her to you in the highest manner possible and without reservation," the Lieutenant Governor said, citing personal and professional experience working with Ramirez in Congress.
Senator Christian asked Ramirez to identify the most important operational improvements. Ramirez reiterated the focus on technology and staffing and said the department is coordinating across the administration to advance both. When pressed about specific facility capacities — including references to Green Hill — staff told the committee that the proposed substitute to related juvenile legislation had adjusted the rated‑bed capacity threshold from 105% to 100% but did not provide a single numeric bed count for Green Hill.
The committee closed the public hearing portion after members' questions and recessed into executive session to consider a package of bills and amendments. Ramirez concluded by saying she welcomed the Legislature's input on the department's priorities and "look[s] forward to your questions."
