When Carmine Scotece stops running Butler County human services at the end of the year, he will leave behind a nearly three-decade legacy of helping others.

Although Scotece, 65, of Butler Township will technically retire next week from his job as human services director, he will work part-time from October through Dec. 31 while the county searches for his successor.

During Scotece’s tenure, which began in 1987, county human services departments were tied closer together, independent agencies were formed and numerous programs were started.

Scotece said tight coordination between departments such as Drug & Alcohol and the Area Agency on Aging helps human services run more efficiently and be more cost-effective.

“We pulled together the departments,” he said.

Scotece, who oversees a roughly $80 million budget, pointed out some counties outsource one or more human services departments to independent agencies.

“People have multiple needs for services,” Scotece said.

Along with the close-knit departments, which include Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities, Children and Youth Services and Community Action, the county works with nonprofit agencies.

Under Scotece’s watch, the Center for Community Resources and the Grapevine Center were among the agencies created.

CCR on Main Street connects people to a network of support services. The Grapevine Center deals with mental health recovery.

For Scotece, one of the most satisfying parts of his job has been seeing people overcome challenges.

“We’ve been very successful in helping people in recovery,” he said.

Scotece cited Bette Peoples, Grapevine executive director, as the best example.

Peoples was a human services client in the late 1970s. She later turned a support group into the Grapevine Center.

“You see those successes,” Scotece said.

The county works with 400 agencies and independent practitioners to help human services consumers.

Among the multi-agency collaboratives coordinated by the county are the Local Housing Options Team, the Early Care and Education Council, the Butler County Emergency Relief Initiative and the Butler Collaborative for Families.

During Scotece’s tenure, the county developed new programs and ways to service people.

In 1999, the county contracted with the state Department of Public Welfare to operate a managed care system for 17,000 county residents receiving Medicaid behavioral health services.

Unlike traditional funding allotments, this contract provided incentives if the county complied with all standards for service accessibility, quality and cost efficiency.

The county subsequently received an additional $5 million in state funding to expand services.

When the state implemented block grant funding for human services, which gives more flexibility in how the money is spent, the county was accepted in the first round of awards.

Scotece said human services programs would not be successful without community acceptance — people supporting those efforts.

County officials praised Scotece’s work, saying his departure is a loss for the county.

Joyce Ainsworth, deputy director of human services and director of Children and Youth Services, said Scotece will be missed.

“He’s done a lot for this county,” she said.

County Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, agreed.

“Carmine is, without a doubt, the top person in his field in Pennsylvania,” McCarrier said.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton cited Scotece’s leadership as a boon to the county.

“He wanted to build a good team and have everyone work together,” Pinkerton said.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein also lauded Scotece.

“He’s going to be hard to replace,” Eckstein said.

Over three decades, Scotece worked under eight boards of commissioners.

He said no matter what personalities were involved, the commissioners supported human services.

Scotece said now is the time for him to retire because good department heads and staff are in place.

“The system is in good hands,” he said.

Once finalists for the director post are selected, the state will ensure they are qualified before the county commissioners appoint a new director.

Although Scotece will work four days a week beginning next month, he will spend more time in Butler due to backing off from state committee work.

“I’ll be very visible,” he said.

During his last few months on the job, Scotece will focus on formalizing the guardianship process for people of all ages.

He said his post-retirement agenda includes spending more time with his wife, Barbara, and their two granddaughters, engaging in more research and doing consulting work.

He is enrolled in an advanced studies program on integrated health care at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

McCarrier said Scotece’s role always has been helping others.

“He has a heart for human services,” McCarrier said.