In January 2003, Edith assumed the position of Deputy Director with the Wayne County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In May 2006, she was promoted to the position of HHS Director. In this role, she had oversight for a $650 million operation covering health and human services in the 13th most populous county in America. She directed eight divisions:  Patient Care Management Systems (indigent health; Public Health; Mental Health; Jail Health; HIPAA; Head Start; Wayne County Library and the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office. As director, Edith oversaw an array of health care and comprehensive human services program.

 

Throughout her life, Edith has been inspired by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s quote: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."  She is dedicated and committed to breaking the barriers in health care access and improving delivery services.

 

Edith's background includes serving as Director of Human Resources for the State of Michigan Department of Community Health for six years prior to joining Wayne County.  She worked 23 years for the state in the following departments: Corrections-Macomb Correctional Facility, Mental Health-Northville Psychiatric Hospital and the Michigan Employment Security Commission.  Edith has extensive experience working with collective bargaining agreements and served as the coordinator for the Americans with Disabilities program, as well as served as the EEO director while at the Michigan Department of Community Health.

     

Edith received her Executive Masters of Business Administration in Health Care Management from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.  She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

 

Edith serves on the Board of Trustees for Wayne County Health Choice, a health coverage program that offers affordable health coverage to employees at small businesses, college students and other young adults, and temporary employees, as well as senior prescription discounts. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Detroit Area Health Council, a multi-stakeholder regional coalition that addresses issues of health care quality, access and cost in Southeastern Michigan.  She is a board member of the Detroit Executive Leadership Council of the National Kidney Foundation-Michigan.  She is a participant is the Kellogg Foundation sponsored Place Matters Design Lab, a health care initiative regarding disparities in 20 counties throughout the U.S.  She also represents Wayne County on the March of Dimes-Metro Detroit Division Board of Directors. Board of Directors.  In 2009, Edith was appointed by Robert A. Ficano, Wayne County Executive, to the Wayne County Department of Human Services Board of Directors.

 

She is an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  She has one son, who is pursuing an advanced degree from Wayne State University.  She is a member of Greater Love Tabernacle COGIC in Detroit, Michigan where she serves on the William Rimson Scholarship Board and serves as chairperson for the annual scholarship banquet.  She is also chairperson of the Friends of Osborn University High School alumni organization.