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Burdman, Family Services merge to improve operating efficiencies
YOUNGSTOWN
The name changed to Compass Family and Community Services with the merging of Burdman Group and Family Service Agency social services agencies, but the programs Mahoning Valley residents are familiar with remain the same.
The goal of the merger of the two agencies was not to eliminate employees or programs, said David Arnold, head of the former Family Services and vice president and chief operating officer of the newly formed Compass.
The merger was solely mission driven, said Arnold of the new agency, which conducted its first board of directors meeting Friday.
There is little overlap of services between the two agencies and the programs each organization brings to the table fit neatly together, creating less need for clients to travel from one social service agency to the next for assistance, Arnold said.
The merger should result in efficiencies that will free up more money for programs and services. And through the integration of programs and services, clients will benefit from a service delivery system that will better meet their needs by eliminating redundant paperwork and wait times for service, said Joseph Caruso, president and chief executive officer of Compass. Caruso was head of the former Burdman Group.
Patricia Murphy of Howland was elected chairwoman of the Compass board. Murphy, head of the former Burdman board, said the merger process took about a year.
“It was the vision of the two directors that enabled us to come together,” she said.
Other officers of the 25-member board, and agency from which they came are: John R. Janoso Jr., immediate past chairman, Family Service; Mark Gasser, president-elect, Burdman; Lance Morrison, treasurer, Family Service; Connie Pierce, secretary, Burdman; and John Manhollan, member-at-large, Family Service.
Compass has an annual operating budget of $8.8 million. Before the merger, Burdman’s annual operating budget was $6.5 million and Family Service’s was $1.9 million.
The combined agency has 80 funding sources with no one funding source providing more than 20 percent of the money.
The largest sources of funding are the Mahoning County Mental Health Board and the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board, Caruso said.
The combined agency has 100 full-time and 200 part-time employees.
Administrative offices are at the former Family Service facility at 535 Marmion Ave., and fiscal offices are at the former Burdman Broadway Avenue facility.