Butler County has filled two critical positions in county government.

Joyce Ainsworth has been appointed director of Children and Youth Services, replacing Edmund Skrocki who will retire May 23 after 33 years with the county and eight years as CYS director.

Donna Jenereski has been named director of the Council on Drugs and Alcoholism, replacing Betty Gaul, who left the county in February to accept a position with Southwest Behavioral Health Management.

Ms. Ainsworth moves to CYS from the county's mental health/mental retardation program, where she had been mental health director for the past seven years. Ms. Ainsworth has been a county employee since 1989.

Ms. Jenereski has been with the county drug and alcohol program for more than nine years and has been acting council director since Ms. Gaul's departure. She has been a county employee since 1994.

"These are very critical roles for Butler County and I'm happy to have them filled. I have complete trust and confidence in their abilities,'' said Carmine Scotece, director of Human Services, who oversees both offices.

Nonetheless, he said that Mr. Skrocki's pending retirement will be a "big loss" for Butler County.

"Losing Eddie is hard to face. He has done so much for our agency, for children. And his personality is perfectly suited to the position: he's such an easygoing guy and is able to bring people together and help them work with each other,'' Mr. Scotece said.

Mr. Skrocki started with the agency as a caseworker, rising through the ranks to the top position.

Mr. Scotece said one of Ms. Ainsworth's important characteristics is an ability to collaborate. "A key component for our future is collaboration with other offices, looking at how services can be shared,'' he said, noting that Ms. Ainsworth helped integrate a program last year that directed program funds from her office to children within the CYS program, realizing a cost savings for the county.

In addition, he said, she is familiar with CYS, having sat on the Children and Youth Advisory Board, and has managerial experience as an office director.

Likewise, Mr. Scotece said, Ms. Jenereski is suited to the position of drug and alcohol program director.

She initially came to the county as a CYS caseworker then shifted to the drug and alcohol program where she became a supervisor. He said she is capable of working with other agencies within the drug and alcohol community and within county government.

Ms. Ainsworth's current salary is $53,454. Her new salary will be $68,600. Mr. Skrocki currently earns $69,100.

Ms. Jenereski had been earning $53,454. She will not receive a raise because her salary had been adjusted when she was named acting program director. Before being named acting program director, she had been earning $43,963. Ms. Gaul had been earning $53,988.

Butler County Commissioners approved the appointments May 1.