CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. today announced Kimberley Causey-Gomez as Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services (DHS).
Causey-Gomez, who is a former 12-year employee with DHS, 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. 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.
Governor Bryan hailed Causey-Gomez as an effective leader who will change the course at DHS and refocus the department to provide effective and efficient service to Virgin Islands residents.
“The Department of Human Services is an essential component of our administration’s efforts to improve the quality of life for Virgin Islanders,” Bryan said. “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.”
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,” Causey-Gomez said. “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.”
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.
“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 newly-appointed commissioner added. “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.”
While life’s circumstances led her family to leave the Virgin Islands several years ago, Causey Gomez said today that 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 said.
