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CSB and JFS aren’t fighting merger idea
YOUNGSTOWN
The idea of merging the Mahoning County Children Services Board with the county’s Department of Job and Family Services encountered no opposition from CSB or JFS officials in a meeting with the county commissioners this week.
“We’re here not to fight, but to continue our service, and whatever your decision might ultimately be, we want to be of service,” said Calvin Jones, vice chairman of the 13-member, volunteer governing board of the agency that serves abused, neglected and dependent children.
The Rev. Lewis Macklin, CSB chairman, said it appears the consensus of his board is not to resist the merger discussion, but he said the child-welfare agency needs a new director, and applicants may lose interest in the job or take other jobs if the search remains stalled.
CSB has complied with the county commissioners’ recent request that the search for a new CSB director be halted while the future administration of the child-welfare agency is discussed.
Making service-delivery more efficient is a worthy goal, the Rev. Mr. Macklin said in the Monday meeting, but he added that the agency’s mission and service must never be compromised.
Any transition “needs to be seamless, thoughtful and planned deliberately,” Mr. Macklin said. “Do it in a way that advances families,” he urged.
Dave Arnold, interim CSB director, said he’s not opposed to merger discussions and understands the potential advantages of a merger, but any changes must be well thought out and carefully undertaken so as to not harm service delivery.
“We can get the job done if it comes to JFS,” said Robert E. Bush Jr., JFS director, adding that his agency will support whatever decision the commissioners make. “If they decide to combine, fine. If they decide to leave it like it is, that’s fine with us also,” he said.
Carol Rimedio-Righetti, chairwoman of the commissioners, said the commissioners are considering the merger because it might achieve administrative cost savings at a time when a wave of retirements will have depleted CSB’s top management by the end of this month.
“It’s important for us to take this information and make sure that we do the right thing with it,” said county Commissioner David Ditzler. “The people in need and the weakest are the most important that we need to take care of — older adults and younger children,” he said.