Womazetta Jones

Womazetta Robinson-Jones (born April 24, 1969) is an American social services executive currently serving as the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) of the State of Rhode Island. Jones was appointed by Governor Gina N. Raimondo[1] and confirmed by the Rhode Island Senate.

Womazetta Jones
Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Assumed office
July 2019
GovernorGina Raimondo
Preceded byLisa Vura-Weis (acting)
Personal details
Born (1969-04-24) April 24, 1969
Chicago, Illinois
Children3
EducationWestern Illinois University (BS)
Chicago State University (MA)

Early life and education

Jones was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. In 1991, she graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in law enforcement administration and political science followed by a master's degree in psychology, counseling, and guidance earned from Chicago State University.[2][1]

Career

Jones began her career in 1991 as a social worker at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.[1] Throughout her career with DCFS, she served as a front line social worker, child welfare specialist, child protection investigator, supervisor for investigation teams, regional manager for investigation teams and training manager. Jones ultimately remained with the agency for over 15 years and became Deputy Chief for Child Protection and the Illinois Child Protection Statewide Training Manager.[2]

Jones also worked as an overseer of child protection for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. As director of the Safe Environment Office from 2007 to 2009, she was responsible for reforming the Archdiocese and protecting children after a priest abuse scandal.[1] Jones was responsible for an archdiocese-wide launch of new policies and practices to ensure the safety of children. This included enhanced background screening for all archdiocesan employees, clergy, educators, and ministers and implementing programs and initiatives that worked to keep children safe.[2]

She also spent time working for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Foundation.[1]

Jones joined the Social Services Department of Ramsey County, Minnesota, the state's second-largest county, as Division Director for Children and Family Services in June 2013 and was promoted to director of social services for Ramsey County in 2016. In her role as director, Jones was responsible for overseeing protection for children and adults and providing support and treatment for disabilities, mental health, and substance abuse disorders along with services such as child protection, foster care, child care licensing, and adoptions.[3]

Lawsuit

During Jones' Rhode Island Senate confirmation hearing, issues with Minnesota unions that resulted in a lawsuit came to light. The Providence Journal and NBC 10 obtained documents from an April 2017 lawsuit filed in the Ramsay County District Court against Jones and other officials by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5 that represented state and local employees. The lawsuit alleged that Jones and her colleagues were responsible for unfair labor practices and discouraging union-member child care workers from lodging complaints. Specifically, the lawsuit accused Jones and her colleagues of creating an environment where workers "faced push back from county management in their attempts to air concerns about crushing workloads and the risks the working conditions pose for vulnerable children."[4] AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 spokesperson Jennifer Munt said at the time "We are seeking a temporary injunction against the county because supervisors have threatened and disciplined social workers who question the county’s child protection system. These whistle-blowers deserve protection, not retaliation." One of the events the lawsuit focused on were comments made during a training session led by Jones for employees of the Ramsey County Social Services Department which included AFSCME union members.[4]

The meeting, which was video recorded, alleged that during her speech, "Jones systematically disparaged Ramsey County’s Child Protection staff, blamed them for racial disparities in out of home placements, and concluded her commentary with the following statement, 'Don’t email me about these things and don’t go talking to the Union. If you have something to say to me, meet me in the back of the room,' or words to that effect." The union alleged that the training was "calculated to intimidate bargaining unit members and to prevent and restrain them from exercising their rights."[4]

In June 2017 a settlement was reached. In part, the settlement agreed that both parties would refrain from unprofessional behavior including a ban on acts where the parties would "shout at, curse at, or threaten" the other party.[5]

When The Providence Journal asked Jones about the lawsuit, she said "It would be inappropriate for me to comment more broadly on the issue."[4]

Nomination to Rhode Island EOHHS Secretary

After a national search, Jones was introduced in May 2019 as Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's selection for the cabinet-level position of Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. She started in her role on July 22, 2019 after she was confirmed by the Senate. Jones replaced Lisa Vura-Weis who served as acting Secretary following the departure of former EOHHS Secretary Eric Beane.[3][6]

Secretary Jones is responsible for administering state agencies that provide services worth billions of dollars to over 300,000 residents, one third of the population of the state.[6][1] Her role oversees Rhode Island Medicaid, the Rhode Island Department of Health; the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families; the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals; and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, including the Office of Veterans Affairs and Division of Elderly Affairs.[3]

References
  1. Miller, G. Wayne (14 May 2019). "Midwesterner Womazetta Jones nominated to R.I.'s top health and human services post". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. "Archdiocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Youth names DCFS Official as new Director of Safe Environment". www.archchicago.org. Archdiocese of Chicago. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. "Governor Raimondo Nominates Veteran Social Services Leader as Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services". Rhode Island Government. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. Gregg, Katherine (20 May 2019). "Minnesota lawsuit accused Raimondo nominee of threatening union workers". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. Pelletier, Jared (21 May 2019). "EOHHS nominee could face questions about Minnesota lawsuit". NBC 10 News. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  6. Nesi, Ted (15 May 2019). "Raimondo picks Minn. official as new health secretary". WPRI 12. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
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