This month, the King County Council confirmed Dr. Susan McLaughlin as the Director of the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) after Executive Girmay Zahilay nominated her earlier this year.
Since last December, Dr. McLaughlin has served as the Acting Director of DCHS. She has spent over 20 years in DCHS, including serving as the Health and Human Services Administrator and the Director of the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division. In her time with the department, she has overseen a wide range of programs for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, diversion and reentry, and crisis services, including the County’s $1.2 billion Crisis Care Center Levey and the MIDD Behavioral Health Sales Tax.
“Dr. Susan McLaughlin is a thoughtful leader who brings deep expertise and a strong commitment to improving the lives of the communities we serve,” said Executive Zahilay. “She has a broad understanding of how our behavioral health, housing, and human services systems intersect and what it takes to make them work better for our residents. During her time as Acting Director, she has provided steady leadership during a critical period for the department. I’m proud to have her lead DCHS as we continue building a more responsive, effective, and equitable system of care for King County residents.”
For nearly three decades, Dr. McLaughlin has focused on improving regional systems that serve individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, with an emphasis on access, coordination, and outcomes. She was the founding Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of HealthierHere, where she led regional efforts to improve health equity through the Accountable Community of Health. She also served as Director of the University of Washington Medicine Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview Medical Center, advancing work in clinical innovation, workforce development, and research to strengthen behavioral health systems.
“This is a tremendous honor, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve. DCHS is at the forefront of some of the County’s most important work, and I am committed to strengthening our impact as we grow, meeting challenges head-on, and delivering meaningful results for the people we serve,” said Dr. Mclaughlin.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. McLaughlin to her new role!