DES MOINES, Iowa —

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia has resigned.

Gov. Kim Reynolds' office announced the news Monday. At the same time, they announced Garcia's successor, Larry Johnson, who is currently the director of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing.

Reynolds appointed Garcia in November 2019 to lead what was then the Iowa Department of Human Services, according to a news release, and Garcia eventually took over HHS when DHS was merged with the Iowa Department of Public Health.

"Serving as the inaugural Director of Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services has been a profound privilege," Garcia said in the release. "I’m deeply proud of our work to support Iowa's families, from strengthening child protective services to

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