DHHS Leadership Team
Information about members of the leadership team
Purpose Statement
To establish a unified direction and lead an innovative and resilient culture of trust where excellence is the goal, staff are empowered and inspired to meet that goal, and people and processes are woven together to build a healthier New Hampshire.
Function Statement
To build a culture of innovation and resilience that creates opportunities for staff to improve the overall health of the Department and our clients through equitable resource allocation, collaboration and partnership, public engagement and communication, and a healthy workplace culture.
Lori Weaver
Commissioner
Lori Weaver is the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). With more than 25 years of experience with DHHS and a strong focus on working collaboratively across all levels and functions, other state agencies and external partners, Commissioner Weaver has demonstrated leadership and success in achieving shared organizational goals and objectives.
Prior to assuming the Commissioner role, she served as Deputy Commissioner for three years, overseeing several policy areas and all of DHHS operations. Previously, she held the position of Associate Commissioner of Operations, overseeing all operational aspects of the State’s largest Department.
During her tenure with DHHS, Commissioner Weaver has also served as the Director of Organizational Development Services and the Director of Training Services. She initially joined DHHS as the Training Administrator for the DHHS Division for Children, Youth and Families, a role she filled for 10 years. Prior to joining DHS+HS, Commissioner Weaver worked for several nonprofit agencies and served as a Director of Residential Services for children and youth in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Commissioner Weaver received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s Degree in Human Service Administration from Antioch. She has received a certificate in Organizational Development from Antioch and achieved 64 credits toward a Masters of Counseling.
Morissa Henn
Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner Morissa Henn helps lead cross-cutting efforts to integrate policy and practice to improve services for youth and families. Her portfolio includes New Hampshire's child welfare and juvenile justice system (the Division for Children, Youth, and Families), its public mental health and substance misuse system (the Division for Behavioral Health), and its psychiatric hospital for youth (Hampstead Hospital and Residential Treatment Facility). She is a member of the Department’s Senior Executive Team and helps ensure the integration of policy and practice among all Departmental programs and services.
Ann Landry
Associate Commissioner
Associate Commissioner Ann Landry ensures programmatic and policy integration to advance the health of DHHS clients and NH residents. She oversees the Division of Public Health Services, the Division of Medicaid Services, the Office of Health Equity, and the Division of Program Quality and Integrity. As a member of the Department’s Senior Executive Team, she works collaboratively across the Department's program areas to integrate internal programs and processes in order to improve the delivery of services to NH residents.
Chris Santaniello
Associate Commissioner
Associate Commissioner Chris Santaniello has broad leadership and policy responsibilities within the Department’s human services programs. Her portfolio includes the Division of Economic Stability, Division for Long Term Supports and Services, and the Bureau of Information Services (BIS). Her work includes efforts to mitigate the Cliff Effect, co-leading the Council on Housing Stability, and capacity building for home and community based services. A member of the Department’s Senior Executive Team, she works closely with Division directors and their leadership teams to integrate policy and practice to support the needs of individuals and families served.
Patricia Tilley
Associate Commissioner
Associate Commissioner Patricia Tilley builds partnerships across the Department, with policymakers and advocates, and within our communities to advance important issues that support the optimal health of all New Hampshire residents. Her portfolio includes the Division of Public Health Services, the Division for Children Youth and Families, and the Division for Behavioral Health. A member of the Department’s Senior Executive Team, she is most proud of supporting teams that foster a culture of belonging, wellbeing and compassion.
Nathan White
Chief Financial Officer
Nathan White leads the Division of Finance and Procurement. The Finance Team is responsible for the daily financial accounting and oversight, preparation of and management of DHHS’ budget, grants administration, federal reporting, rate setting, drawdown of federal funds, accounts payable, and revenue projections, among others. The Contracts Team facilitates all DHHS solicitations, contracts, memoranda of understanding, amendments, and other agreements.
David Wieters
Chief Operating Officer
This new position was created within DHHS to help elevate and better integrate the expertise of our administrative operations staff across the entire Department and into our strategic workplan moving forward. Dave’s new responsibilities include oversight of the Bureau of Human Resources, the Bureau of Facilities Management and Office Services, and the Bureau of Information Services. In his role as COO, Dave will also interface with all five DHHS 24/7 care facilities, including New Hampshire Hospital, the Sununu Youth Services Center, the Glencliff Home, Hampstead Hospital and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, and the new forensic hospital facility being constructed adjacent to NH Hospital.
Melissa St. Cyr
Chief Legal Officer
Melissa St. Cyr, Chief Legal Officer, leads the Office of Legal and Regulatory Services. This Office includes the Bureau of Legal Services, Bureau of Licensing and Certification, DHHS Ombudsman Office, Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman, Administrative Appeals Unit and Legislative Services. The Bureau of Legal Services includes general counsel, DCYF and Child Support Attorneys, Administrative Rules Unit and Estate Recoveries Unit. The Bureau of Licensing and Certification includes Health Facilities Licensing and Certifications Unit, Community Residence Licensing and Certification Unit, and Child Care Licensing. DHHS Ombudsman manages complaints and seeks resolution for all DHHS clients. TheOffice of the Long Term Care Ombudsman focuses on advocating for residents in long term care facilities. The Administrative Appeals Unit is responsible for conducting fair hearings on final actions taken by the Department related to services rendered. Legislative Services coordinates and supports all legislative matters involving the Department.
Ellen Lapointe, CEO
New Hampshire Hospital
Ellen Lapointe is the Chief Executive Officer fo New Hampshire Hospital.
Jonathan Ballard
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Jonathan Ballard is the Department's Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Ballard provides medical oversight for the clinical areas of the Department and serves as a resource for program areas for clinical and health care related questions or issues.
Jake Leon, Director
Communications & Public Information
Jake Leon, the Director of Communications, oversees the DHHS Bureau of Communications and Public Information. The Office is responsible for working with media organizations, ensuring they have the information they need to report on matters involving the Department. The Office answers all media calls and partners with media outlets to better serve the public.
Katja Fox, Director
Division for Behavioral Health
Katja Fox is the Director of the Division for Behavioral Health. The Division is made up of the Bureau for Children’s Behavioral Health, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services, Bureau of Mental Health Services and recently added the Bureau of Homeless Services. The Division also has a Policy Unit that addresses cross-systems work.
Reuben Hampton, Director
Office of Health Equity
Reuben Hampton is the Director of the Office of Health Equity. The Office of Health Equity works to ensure equitable access to effective, quality DHHS programs and services for clients across all populations, with specialized focus on racial, ethnic, language, gender and sexual minorities, individuals from low income backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. The office provides support for refugee services, communication access, hearing/speech/vision access, behavioral health, and community engagement among other areas as we strive to improve health outcomes for marginalized groups.
Henry Lipman, Director
Division of Medicaid Services
As Medicaid Director, Henry Lipman is the New Hampshire state lead for coordination with the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. In this role, he supports DHHS Divisions in developing, implementing, operating and financing the joint federal/state partnership for the services under the NH state plan and the waivers for NH’s Medicaid Program.
Melissa Hardy, Director
Division of Long Term Supports & Services
Melissa Hardy is the Director of Long Term Supports and Services. The Division is comprised of three bureaus – Bureau of Developmental Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services and the Bureau of Family Centered Services. The Division was established in 2017 to provide opportunities to strengthen access and provide comprehensive, coordinated services throughout a person’s life.
Meredith Telus, Director
Division of Program Quality & Integrity
Meredith Telus is the Director of the Division of Program Quality and Integrity for DHHS. Meredith and her team of 100 staff are bringing expertise, systems, and tools to program areas as needed to ensure programs are collectively using data to identify risks and make system improvements, mitigate audit findings, ease administrative burdens, and work with DHHS community partners to reach common goals and intended outcomes for NH citizens.
Karen Hebert, Director
Division of Economic Stability
As the Director of the Division of Economic Stability, Karen Hebert oversees programs that provide services to advance the health, economic and social well-being of individuals, families and communities. This includes Child Support, Family Assistance (such as TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, Childcare), Employment Support, Child Development and Head Start Collaboration, Comprehensive Family Support Services and the Preschool Development Grant. Many of these programs are supported by the Department’s integrated eligibility and enrollment system which is also in this Division. We apply a whole-family/whole person service model for optimal service access and delivery.