The office that assists Island residents with state and federal services such as food assistance and health insurance is being overseen by a new director, one who county officials say they hope will bring new innovations to the public programs that assist thousands of Vineyarders.
Diane Conroy-LaCivita, a recent Island resident with experience in nonprofits, immigrant safety, and senior services in New York, was appointed to the lead position at Dukes County Health and Human Services on Jan. 5. Conroy-LaCivita moved to the Vineyard full-time in 2025 with her husband Joseph LaCivita, who was hired to the role of Tisbury town administrator last year.
Conroy-LaCivita is set to manage the Dukes County Health Care Access and Public Benefits Access departments as well as oversee emergency fund distributions and other public programs.
For Island residents who are enrolled in Massachusetts Health Connector insurance or federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, along with other public assistance, the Dukes County offices are the local liaisons for residents who need any type of help navigating these programs.
When changes were happening in the health insurance market this fall, Dukes County Health Access Specialist Sarah Kuh saw a massive spike in calls from Islanders who were looking for guidance. And in October, Wendy Maseda, the public benefits case worker for SNAP recipients on the Island, said she navigated through dozens of calls and emails a week after the food assistance program was abruptly frozen.
Dukes County Manager Martina Thornton said in a press release that she’s looking forward to the new management by Conroy-LaCivita. Thornton said there’s a “proven track record” in Conroy-LaCivita’s professional history of collaboration with community organizations and innovative solutions for programs.
“I am confident that she has the right skill set needed to bring a professional level of services to our community and be effective in her new role,” Thornton said in the release.
Conroy-LaCivita brings 35 years of leadership experience to the role. Most recently, she was the executive director of Colonie Senior Services Centers in Albany, New York, a nonprofit that provides services like healthy activities programming, housing, and transportation to senior citizens.
Prior to her role in senior services, Conroy-LaCivita was the executive director of the International Center of the Capital Region, a nonprofit in Troy, New York that organizes international outreach events and focuses on positive assimilation of immigrant communities in the state.
