Kim Merolla-Brito - Teams Need Trust, Plans Need Flexibility

Dr. Deb and Kelly are joined by Kim Merolla-Brito, the director of Rhode Island’s Department of Human Services, to talk about how her background as a social worker informs her leadership of the department. Kim discusses communication and transparency with stakeholders and staff as non-negotiables, and how to improve program quality and integrity while keeping data and core values at the center of decision making. Before becoming the DHS Director in Rhode Island, Kim spent five years as an assistant administrator and a policy specialist. She also spent more than a decade as a caseworker and policy systems specialist at the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Human Services Change Makers is a podcast by Human Services Group. For more information about HSG, or to get in touch, go to https://www.humanservicesgroup.com, or email Deb Shropshire ([email protected]) or Kelly Harder ([email protected]).