City Manager Chris Price has named a new Director of Human Services to replace Jill Baker, who will be retiring shortly. Pamela T. Little-Hill, currently the Director of Social Services in the city of Portsmouth, will begin work in Chesapeake effective January 1, 2022. Little-Hill will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of social services, child welfare, juvenile detention, and adult protective services, among other department functions.

In a career spanning more than 30 years, Little-Hill previously served as Portsmouth’s interim Director of Behavioral Healthcare Services from August 2020 until April 2021. Prior to coming to the City of Portsmouth, she worked for the Hampton/Newport News Community Services Board as the REACH Director from 2013 until 2016. She has an extensive background in the oversight of family service, crisis, benefit, mental health, and intellectual disability programs.

“The Department of Human Services plays a key role in ensuring the well-being of our community and I am pleased to bring such a truly outstanding leader to our team,” said City Manager Price. “Pamela Little-Hill has both a wide range of experience and a deep commitment to the people we serve, making her the ideal person to build upon the department’s strong foundation for demonstrating that Chesapeake is The City That Cares. I look forward to working with her, and her team, to continue to support our residents and each other.”

Little-Hill holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the City University of New York at Hunter College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from City University of New York at Queens College. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“Success in the human services field starts and ends with people,” said Little-Hill. “It starts with a strong team, which Chesapeake possesses, and culminates in the successful delivery of services to people in need. I look forward to bringing my experience to the City, working with and learning from this amazing staff, enhancing current services, and developing new initiatives to meet the needs of our residents.”

Little-Hill will receive an annual salary of $155,000. Additional information about the Chesapeake Department of Human Services and the programs it provides can be found online at CityOfChesapeake.net.