Doug Howard

Senior Vice President, Health and Human Services, U.S. Services

Doug Howard has nearly 40 years of experience in human services and workforce programs in the public and private sectors. Doug is a Senior Vice President in the Maximus U.S. Services Segment where he focuses on work-related programs and issues as well as broader health and human services issues.

Doug's government career included serving as Director of the Michigan Family Independence Agency (state human services agency) from 1999 to 2002 with responsibility for a broad range of programs serving adults, children, and families and a budget in excess of $4 billion and a staff of over 13,000 employees. From 1993 to 1999, he served as the Administrator for the Division of Economic Assistance, Iowa Department of Human Services, where he led the implementation of major reforms to the welfare system.

Doug served in a variety of leadership roles with the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) from 1999-2003 and served on the Michigan State Housing Development Authority Board and on the Michigan Governor’s Workforce Commission from 1999-2002. Doug spent 30 weeks in Washington, DC during 1995 and 1996, working with Congressional staff and other stakeholders on welfare reform, and has testified before Congress several times on a range of issues. Doug holds an M.B.A. from Drake University and a B.S. from Iowa State University and resides in Michigan.

Doug Howard's Insights

Article | Mar 15, 2024

Pragmatic ways AI is driving efficiencies and improvements to government service delivery

AI-enabled technology is making service delivery more attuned to people’s needs by enabling governments to personalize services in unprecedented ways, perform tasks that free up employee time to focus on more critical human interactions, and analyze data in faster and more robust ways.

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Article | Jul 7, 2023

Five attributes every government agency needs from a successful partner

A trusted government partner can help address budget, talent, technology, and consumer experience. These five key attributes can ensure success.

Article | Dec 21, 2022

5 keys to choosing the right government partner

In the midst of the pandemic, many agencies chose to lean heavily on outside partners to support their government benefits programs – often for the first time. Faced with new choices in managing how work gets done and who’s best suited to do it, governments began re-evaluating the ongoing role that private companies should play. Should they be viewed as essential partners (even as we anticipate the end of the public health emergency), or should they simply be thought of as a stopgap during times of overwhelming public need?

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Article | Aug 3, 2020

Closing gaps in government during a crisis

As we begin to move on from the “house is on fire” phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, states can more thoughtfully survey the situation to determine a longer-term course of action. Even in the best of times, health and human services agencies are frequently challenged by gaps in budget, talent, technology, and customer satisfaction. Now, short on manpower and money, many are reassessing their entire approach.

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Article | Jun 1, 2020

OPM opportunity: a game-changer for states

In the battle against COVID-19, state governments have been thrust into the national spotlight like never before. We’ve seen passionate leadership and measured, coordinated responses in the face of unprecedented uncertainty and resource shortages. Due to congressional mandates, private employers have been in line with the IPA’s merit principles for quite some time. As a result, the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has given the green light for contractors to do a broader range of government work, as long as they meet the merit principles. That could make a crucial difference for state governments and the people they serve.

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White paper | May 25, 2020

Surge support for unemployment insurance and assistance programs

Maximus is leveraging our government entitlement program experience associated with eligibility, work verification, workforce programs, enrollment, appeals, adjudication services, claims processing, call centers, and technology-enabled digital transformation functions to deliver UI services in a number of states and jurisdiction so that public needs can be more quickly and accurately met.

Video | Feb 12, 2019

Design work programs for Medicaid populations to achieve meaningful outcomes

The federal government is encouraging waivers to promote innovative approaches to increase employment in Medicaid populations. As states consider work programs in the context of promoting personal responsibility and self-sufficiency, Maximus Senior Vice President of Human Services North America Doug Howard suggests four design attributes that tie to meaningful outcomes.

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