On June 13, 2008, Governor Jon S. Corzine nominated Kimberly Ricketts M.Ed. to be the third Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families. Ricketts was sworn in as Acting Commissioner on July 1, 2008. Before joining State government, Ricketts spent 13 years working with children and families in community, behavioral health and social service organizations in North Carolina, Florida and New Jersey.
Before becoming Commissioner, Ricketts served as the Administrator of the Department of Law and Public Safety since August, 2006 where she oversaw a $1 billion budget and more than 9000 employees. As a member of the Attorney General’s senior staff, Ricketts was responsible for all administrative, budget and fiscal aspects of all ten divisions within the Department, including the New Jersey State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice and the Division of Law, as well as more than 160 facilities. As Administrator, Ricketts achieved substantial management efficiencies and cost-savings by reorganizing the Administrative unit of the Office of Attorney General and improving utilization of existing resources. Under Ricketts’ leadership, the Department implemented the Consolidated Grants Management Office, resulting in an expedited review and approval process and improved coordination of department resources. Ricketts was also a critical participant in the creation and rollout of the Governor’s Strategy for Safe Streets and Neighborhoods, which attempts to reduce violent crime by preventing youth violence, enhancing law enforcement anti-gang strategies and successful reentry of ex-offenders into society.
Ricketts first joined the Department of Law and Public Safety as the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in April, 2005, serving as the primary advocate for consumers across the State on issues ranging from identity theft to various financial and consumer frauds. The Division also regulates more than one half-million people licensed in nearly 80 professions and occupations through Professional and Occupational Boards. As a direct result of her leadership, New Jersey gained national recognition as the only State in the nation to file suit against the oil industry for unfair commercial practices that resulted in higher gasoline prices for New Jersey consumers. The Division collected more than $1.3 million in fines from four major oil companies in settling the suits.
Before joining the Department of Law and Public Safety, Ricketts served as executive director of the Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health from November, 2004 until April, 2005. Under her leadership, the task force evaluated New Jersey's public mental health system, producing more than 50 primary recommendations in four and a half months. These reforms included a $40 million increase in mental health funding, including a Special Needs Housing Trust Fund and funding for job training and placement.
Prior to her work with the task force, Ricketts held various positions at the Department of Community Affairs, including Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Staff, where she was responsible for oversight of the Division of Local Government Services, Division of Fire Safety, and the Division on Women, among others.
Early in her career, Ricketts spent 13 years working in the behavioral health and social services field. In North Carolina and Florida, Ricketts worked with children and families as a senior residential counselor working toward reunification or adoption of children in the state’s care. In Florida, Ricketts served as an Assistant Clinical Administrator of Children’s Services, overseeing case management and counseling services on-site at Head Start locations, low-income housing developments and in a clinically appropriate after school program for severely and emotionally disturbed children and their families. Ricketts also ran a 24-hour co-ed runaway shelter in Florida, providing shelter, reunification and transitional services to adolescents and their families, including a SafePlace program.
Ricketts graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with an undergraduate degree in human services and a minor in child and family development. She also received a master of education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Ricketts, 41, currently resides in Highland Park, New Jersey.
