DSS Names New Richland County Director

COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina Department of Social Services has named Rasel “Reese” Palmer as Director of Richland County Department of Social Services.  Palmer brings to Richland more than 14 years of social services and behavior health experience in Connecticut, and most recently the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. In his most recent position, Palmer served as a member of the NJ Division of Children’s System of Care leadership team and was responsible for state-wide community based services for children and youth with behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities. He was also an integral member of a team of New Jersey child welfare professionals tasked with expanding the New Jersey System of Care and integrating services for youth presenting with addiction and intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Prior to his role with the NJ DCF Children’s System of Care, Palmer managed the fiscal, administrative and overall operations of a child protection office serving Mercer County, New Jersey, providing strategic leadership for an office of 130 social workers including investigation, permanency, adolescent, litigation, resource development and adoption units.

Palmer earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Communications and a Master’s of Science Degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT.   He and his wife reside in Columbia; they have three sons, and one daughter.