Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine appointed Leo Flor to his Cabinet as the director of the Department of Community and Human Services. Flor, who is a member of the department’s management team, developed and led Executive Constantine’s plan to renew and expand the voter-approved Veterans, Seniors and Human Services levy.

Story

Executive Dow Constantine appointed Leo Flor to serve as the director of the King County Department of Community and Human Services. He currently is a member of the department’s management team, overseeing services that connect people to employment, support military veterans and their families, and ensure that older adults can live with dignity.

Flor, a West Point graduate who earned his law degree from the University of Washington, served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an officer in the U.S. Army. He joined the leadership team at the Department of Community and Human Services in 2016. He developed and led Executive Constantine’s plan to renew and expand the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy, which King County voters approved last year. 

“Leo Flor has the complete skill set to build on the progress we have made to help every child, youth, and adult in King County achieve their full potential,” said Executive Constantine. “His success at creating a strong, broad coalition for the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy demonstrated the leadership ability I wanted for this Cabinet position. With Leo as director, our employees and partners will continue to deliver real, measurable outcomes that improve the quality of life in King County.”

Flor will succeed Director Adrienne Quinn, who recently accepted an offer to be a Distinguished Practitioner at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance.

“Leo Flor is a great choice for DCHS Director,” said Quinn. “I have seen first-hand his exceptional commitment to working with the community, the County Council, and leading and supporting DCHS staff in some of the most innovative work in the country.”

The Department of Community and Human Services manages a biennial budget of more than $1.5 billion and oversees a wide range of programs to assist the county's most vulnerable residents and strengthen its communities. That includes services for children and youth, older adults, people with developmental disabilities, housing and community development, homelessness services, behavioral health, veterans' services, help for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and education and employment programs for youth and adults.

It is the lead department for both the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy and Best Starts for Kids. The recently renewed Levy, under Flor’s leadership, includes funds for senior centers throughout King County, homelessness prevention and crisis response and legal services. Best Starts for Kids is a voter-approved initiative Executive Constantine created to invest in promotion, prevention, and early intervention strategies that promote healthy, resilient children, youth, families, and communities throughout King County.

Services are provided mainly through contracts with community-based agencies. As a primarily regional services department, the Department of Community and Human Services plays a strong role in the coordination of the region's human services infrastructure and partnerships with the community, service agencies, and Managed Care Organizations. The department also provides leadership and coordination to the regional efforts to tackle homelessness through All Home.

In 2013, Flor served as a special advisor on the Executive’s Regional Veterans Initiative where he was instrumental in developing recommendations for improving access and coordination of services for veterans and their families. As an attorney and Equal Justice Works fellow at the Northwest Justice Project, he was named by Executive Constantine to serve as one of the original members of the King County Public Defense Advisory Board in 2014, bringing special expertise in veterans issues.

“DCHS is building the coalitions and systems to address some of our region’s most urgent issues, and we are working with communities to promote the conditions of equity, stability and connection that will help King County residents to thrive for the long term,” said Flor. “I am humbled by the opportunity to work with Executive Constantine and his staff, the County Council, the DCHS team, and our community partners. I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity to serve.”

Flor's appointment is subject to approval by the King County Council.

Relevant links

• King County Department of Community and Human Services

Quotes

Leo Flor has the complete skill set to build on the progress we have made to help every child, youth, and adult in King County achieve their full potential. His success at creating a strong, broad coalition for the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services levy demonstrated the leadership ability I wanted for this Cabinet position. With Leo as director, our employees and partners will continue to deliver real, measurable outcomes that improve the quality of life in King County.

DCHS is building the coalitions and systems to address some of our region’s most urgent issues, and we are working with communities to promote the conditions of equity, stability and connection that will help King County residents to thrive for the long-term. I am humbled by the opportunity to work with Executive Constantine and his staff, the County Council, the DCHS team, and our community partners. I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity to serve.

Leo Flor is a great choice for DCHS Director. I have seen first-hand his exceptional commitment to working with the community, the County Council, and leading and supporting DCHS staff in some of the most innovative work in the country.

For more information, contact:

Chad Lewis, Executive Office, 206-263-1250