McDonald appointed chief strategy officer for R.I. HHS

JAMIA R. McDonald has been appointed chief strategy officer for the R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services. / COURTESY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
JAMIA R. McDonald has been appointed chief strategy officer for the R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services. / COURTESY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

PROVIDENCE – Jamia R. McDonald has been appointed chief strategy officer for the R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services, according to Gov. Gina M. Raimondo.

One of her first tasks will be to start the turnaround of the troubled state Department of Children, Youth and Families, a news release from Raimondo’s office stated.

“My top priority is creating a stronger Rhode Island for our children and families to be safe and healthy,” Raimondo said in a statement. “Another priority is fostering innovation in state government. It is no secret that our team is inheriting several significant management and budget challenges at DCYF. Jamia has led the team that over the last year diagnosed these problems and now she stands ready to take action and make the necessary improvements that our kids deserve.”

“It is unacceptable that an agency charged with caring for Rhode Island’s children has so many significant challenges,” Raimondo continued. “The most vulnerable families and kids in Rhode Island deserve better.”

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Most recently, McDonald led the R.I. Emergency Management Agency, advising on emerging threats, homeland security matters and potential disasters.

Since June 2014, she has worked on the Governor’s Resource Team for DCYF, conducting an analysis on System of Care Network contracts.

The DCYF report, completed at the end of 2014, described the current implementation of the system of care as “fractured and inconsistent,” the news release said. McDonald, along with the agency’s acting director, Kevin Aucoin, will immediately act on the report’s recommendations.

Meanwhile, Raimondo said, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services will conduct a national search for a permanent director.

Read the report HERE.

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