Reggie Bicha, executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services, was lauded Monday by the American Public Human Services Association for his national leadership for the organization. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post)
After a tough few weeks for Reggie Bicha, Colorado’s human services director has some good news this weekend: recognition from his peers in the American Public Human Services Association.
Bicha received the 2015 State Member Award for his contributions to APHSA, the organization announced Saturday.
“Reggie has proven himself to be an innovator and leader within the health and human services field,” Raquel Hatter, president of the APHSA board and commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, said in a statement.
“As a committed leader for effective government, Reggie has placed fresh emphasis on maximizing the use of fiscal resources and continuously improving the lives of people in need of public services.”
Bicha starting in 2013. The organization said he “has always encouraged APHSA to be bold in its work. His experiences and insights helped shape the organization’s signature Pathways initiative. As president, he courageously led the association through a strategic alignment designed to maximize its value to members.”
“Bicha is a social worker, administrator, educator and national leader. He has extensive experience working on child welfare, education, employment and health at the county, state and national levels. In January 2011, when Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper appointed Bicha executive director of the state’s Department of Human Services, he undertook a bold initiative to redesign and refocus this state agency, which employs more than 5,000 employees and operates on a $2 billion budget.”
– American Public Human Services Association
Bicha has had a rocky month at home. More than 80 legislators s expressing a lack of confidence in the leadership in the Department of Human Services. They did not call out Bicha by name, but in the political fallout for failing to communicate more effectively with lawmakers and vowed to rectify that.
Hickenlooper , saying it’s a tough job and people who make big changes tend to make waves. Before coming to Colorado four and half years ago, Bicha was secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Children and Families.
“I went into this work 20-something years ago because I believed that I could help kids and help families change the course of their lives in a way they felt would be off for them,” Bicha said in an interview two weeks ago. “My first job was in a residential treatment center for two years, and then I worked in a county agency as a child-welfare worker doing child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency intake, faster care, etc. Every job I had I thought, ‘You know, this is good, but I think if I had that job I could affect this many more lives in a positive way.’
“I’ve been blessed with some great opportunities, some great mentors, and, long story short, every job I get I’m looking at how I can improve the lives of kids and families, senior citizens, veterans, folks with mental illness in a way that will help them live more fulfilling lives as they define what fulfilling is for them.”
