Governor Albert Bryan has nominated former Dept. of Human Services employee Kimberley Causey-Gomez as commissioner to lead the sprawling department. Ms. Causey-Gomez served as assistant commissioner and administrator for the Division of Children, Youth and Families with the department before her departure from the agency in 2011. According to Government House, she is a licensed, certified social worker and human services professional and brings more than 25 years of volunteer and professional experience to the department.
Mr. Bryan praised his choice and said her installment would result in efficient service at D.H.S., a department that has seen leadership changes under the Mapp administration on a number of occasions, whose leaders were also criticized by senators.
“The Department of Human Services is an essential component of our administration’s efforts to improve the quality of life for Virgin Islanders. Ms. Causey-Gomez has a proven record as an effective leader within the department and will effectuate the changes needed to stabilize DHS and ensure the efficient delivery of services for our young children, seniors and residents with disabilities who rely on the department. She has Intimate knowledge of the department from her experience there and is ready to hit the ground running,” said the territory’s leader.
According to Government House, Ms. Causey-Gomez began her career in the Virgin Islands as a volunteer in 1992 with the Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands and later as an employee with Catholic Charities of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“I began my career in the Virgin Islands as a volunteer immediately after earning a graduate degree in social work. The interactions with the children who were removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, their families and the local staff had a tremendous impact on my life and its purpose,” Ms. Causey-Gomez said.
She added, “I had the unique opportunity to work with and for the people of the Virgin Islands in a non-profit environment as well as a Virgin Islands Government employee. The Virgin Islands became my home, and for over twenty years I committed my personal and work life to make a difference and to help break the cycle of poverty.”
Government House said life’s circumstances led the nominee and her family to leave the Virgin Islands several years ago, but she said she “returns to the Virgin Islands Government with a broader perspective, and motivation to maximize our strengths and to build upon opportunities.”
“The Department of Human Services needs to renew, refocus and rebuild and I am grateful to Governor Bryan and his administration for this opportunity to lead that charge,” she concluded.
Ms. Causey-Gomez holds a bachelor of social work with a concentration in family/child welfare and micro-practice and a master of social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a licensed certified social worker.
Ms. Causey-Gomez’s nomination will be sent the Senate’s Committee on Rules and Judiciary for vetting.
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