John Clayton

Assistant Secretary

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration

Biography:

 

John Clayton is a Senior Executive who invested most of his professional career in the leadership of human service programs.  He has served as the Assistant Secretary for the Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) since April of 2007.  JRA administers facilities and programs for juvenile offenders.

 

Prior to this appointment, he served as the Director for the Community Services Division within Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services since October 2004.  With over 2,800 employees, the Community Services Division administers cash, food and medical assistance programs through a network of over sixty Community Service Offices and Customer Service Centers strategically located throughout the state.

 

Before coming to Washington in 2004 John had been the Director of the Arizona State Department of Economic Security.  The agency employed more than 12,000 staff and provided a vast array of human and children’s services programs including employment readiness training, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, food assistance, child protection, child support, child care, refugee assistance, unemployment insurance, aging/adult services, adult protection, and services to people with disabilities.

 

His civic and professional activities include working with the American Public Human Services Association, Child Welfare League of America, YMCA, and the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators.  John is also involved in youth mentoring and coaching youth athletics.

Throughout his career, John has followed four golden rules whether as a direct service staff or a manager:  

1. Be bold. 2. Never fail to act. 3. Keep your promises. 4. Make a difference.

John is committed to providing excellent customer service.  He strongly believes the key to this is capable and committed staff.  John is dedicated to providing training and development opportunities that enlighten, encourage, empower and equip staff and an organization to understand and respond to the needs of youth and families at the highest possible level.