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CSB chief to retire day before election
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Marcia Tiger, who became executive director of the Trumbull County Children Services Board in September 2006, will retire Nov. 1 and be replaced by Nick Kerosky, current executive director of the Ashtabula County Children Services Board.
Kerosky’s first day was Oct. 1.
Tiger, of Poland, has worked at the agency since 1975, starting out as therapist coordinator, then becoming a superviser and then 20 years as director of residential services, then budget director and family services director.
Among the highlights of her time at the agency was the opening of the secure-care unit in 1997 that provided a place where severely behaviorally and emotionally disturbed Trumbull County children could be helped locally.
The secure-care unit is a collaboration with the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board (formerly Lifelines) and the state mental-health board.
The idea continues to be innovative because so many other counties send children to out-of-county facilities, which makes visitation with their families more difficult, Tiger said.
Just after she became executive director in 2006, the agency also undertook the construction of the new residential children’s center at its Reeves Road complex. The residential children’s center provides space for up to 24 behaviorally and emotionally disturbed children, she said.
In 35 years, the challenges kids face have not changed drastically, Tiger said. Most kids come into CSB’s care because of abuse and neglect at home, but one of the causes of abuse and neglect, the drug abuse by their parents, has become an “epidemic,” Tiger said.
“We’ve had tough kids all along. The biggest thing is kids need structure — consistent care and structure,” Tiger said, adding that many kids respond quite well once those things are introduced into their lives at CSB.
Kerosky has worked for the Ashtabula County CSB for nearly 27 years, 24 of those as community- relations professional and three as executive director.