Drug agency chief resigns
The board expects to hire a new executive director by late May.
YOUNGSTOWN -- David L. Schaffer has resigned as executive director of the Mahoning County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Agency to take a similar position with the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Tuscarawas and Carroll counties.
Schaffer's resignation is effective June 2, said Michael S. Senchak, president of the Mahoning County ADAS Board.
Senchak said a search committee has been formed to find a replacement for Schaffer and that the board expects to make a decision on a new director by late May.
"Living and working in Mahoning County has been a tremendous privilege for both me and my family," said Schaffer, who has been executive director for 10 years.
"I have been fortunate to be a part of developing some very meaningful programs to help our community reduce substance abuse-related problems now and into the future," he added.
Accomplishments
During his tenure, Schaffer assisted in securing a number of federal and state grants to expand treatment and prevention services to individuals and families impacted by drug abuse, Senchak said.
"Schaffer has been an asset to the alcohol and drug addiction services continuum in Mahoning County and the state of Ohio. His leadership, expertise and comprehensive approach will be missed," Senchak said.
Schaffer is past president of the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities and the Mahoning County Family and Children First Council.
He was appointed by Govs. George Voinovich and Bob Taft to serve on the Governor's Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services and is a former faculty member of the National Drug Court Institute.
He also is a volunteer member of the Visiting Nurse Association of Mahoning Valley and the Mahoning/Youngstown Community Action Partnership.