Oklahoma Finance Chief To Temporarily Head DHS

Oklahoma Office of State Finance Director Preston Doerflinger is stepping down temporarily to serve as the interim director of the Department of Human Services.

The commission that governs DHS named Doerflinger to the post Thursday. Doerflinger described the move as temporary and said he'll resign when a permanent director is found. The Governor's Office said Doerflinger will be reinstated as finance director at that time.

State Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Terri White resigned as interim DHS director after concerns were raised that her appointment violated state law prohibiting dual office holding.

Longtime DHS Director Howard Hendrick announced in January that he was resigning as head of the agency that had come under fire in recent years following the high-profile deaths of some children in its care.