News and Press Releases for February 2007

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2/23/2007

Gov. Sanford Names Dr. Kathleen Hayes as DSS Director

Current Chief of Staff at Dept. of Juvenile Justice to Take Helm of Social Services Agency

Columbia, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford today nominated Dr. Kathleen Hayes of Columbia as the Director of the Department of Social Services.

Dr. Hayes has served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Juvenile Justice since 2003. Prior to her role at DJJ, from 2000 until 2003 Hayes served as the coordinator for Nexuskids, a partnership between USC and DSS aimed at providing opportunities to foster children. Before that, Hayes served from 1995 to 2000 as the Director of South Carolina Families for Kids, a collaborative effort between DSS and the United Way to promote and facilitate adoption.

Hayes also has extensive experience at DSS, having worked at the agency from 1985 through 1995 as director of Adoption Services.

"The Bible talks about serving the 'least of these,' and serving our neediest citizens is obviously DSS's primary role and something Kathleen has spent the whole of her adult life doing in a number of professional capacities," Gov. Sanford said. "She'll bring a lifetime of experience to this new role, and in particular her experience in facilitating adoptions and her managerial role at DJJ make her well-suited for this position. I want to thank Kathleen for agreeing to take on this task, and I welcome her to the team in this new capacity."

Hayes will begin work at the agency pending Senate confirmation.

"I'm honored that the governor has chosen me to lead the Department of Social Services," Hayes said. "Leading an agency like DSS will be a tremendous undertaking, but it's a role I look forward to, both in continuing the good work the agency has done and addressing the challenges it faces."