Kimberly Ricketts is a seasoned public sector executive and social innovator with over 30 years of experience in cross-sector leadership across government, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations. A proven change agent, Kimberly has dedicated her career to strengthening systems that serve children, families, and communities, driving large-scale transformation in child welfare, behavioral health, and human services.
Kimberly currently serves as Principal and Founder of KR Strategies & Solutions, LLC, where she provides high-impact consulting and interim leadership for public agencies and nonprofits undergoing reform. Most recently, she served as Special Consultant to the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, where she launched critical initiatives to reduce foster care reliance, expand community-based supports, and implement new IV-E eligible placements to eliminate the use of hotels and office stays.
From 2010 to 2024, Kimberly held national leadership roles at Casey Family Programs, the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on child welfare. As Managing Director and later Senior Director, she led a national team of Strategic Consultants in state and territorial partnerships to implement evidence-based practices and foster leadership capacity, culminating in the creation of a coaching framework tailored to child welfare executives, including leaders of color.
Before joining Casey Family Programs, she was appointed by the Governor of New Jersey as the second Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, where she led a staff of 7,000 and oversaw a $1.5 billion budget. Her tenure led to a 25% reduction in foster care placements, improved health services, and substantial gains in federal funding. Earlier, in NJ government she served in other leadership roles like, Chief of Staff and Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, Executive Director of the Governor’s Mental Health Taskforce, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, Chief Administrative Officer of Law and Public Safety and in each role, elevated her talents in advocating for the underserved, under privileged and leveraging resources to support as such and ensuring the workforce had the tools necessary to excel.
Leading up to her service in New Jersey State government, she held leadership positions with the then New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, as well as Assistant Clinical Administrator and Director of Marketing and Development at Act Corporation, a community behavioral health agency serving Volusia and Flagler Counties in Florida.
Kimberly holds a bachelor’s degree in human services and child development and a Master of Education from UNC Charlotte. She remains deeply engaged in community service, most recently serving as Board Chair for the Studio Samuel Foundation, which has programs based in Ethiopia, working with young girls to prevent child marriage, child labor, and trafficking.
Her leadership is rooted in values, guided by equity, and focused on sustainable systems change that uplifts individuals and communities alike.
