She took over at a time when Medicaid programs were undergoing major changes under Walker, and after the governor rejected an expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act.

Those changes included requiring childless, able-bodied participants in the state’s FoodShare food stamp program to work at least 80 hours per month or seek employment. In the first year, more than 41,000 lost their benefits, but nearly 12,000 found jobs through the program’s new job training program, DHS reported in April.

“Wisconsin employers are looking for qualified, skilled workers, and increasing the ability of able-bodied adults to fill these positions will allow more employers to grow and expand, improving the state economy and offering more Wisconsinites a path to independence and prosperity,” Rhoades said at the time.

Rhoades’ time with DHS also included overseeing the mental health initiatives in Walker’s 2013-15 budget, which included the opening of three peer-run homes that offer respite for people with mental health or substance use challenges.