Head of Human Services announces her retirement
The head of Butler County's Human Services Department will bring her 30-year career to a close with the department next month.
Joyce Ainsworth said Friday she will retire on Oct. 25.
“I'm at that age. I've been here for 30 years and am ready to spend time with my family,” said Ainsworth.
That family includes two children, her husband, Bill, and her 97-year-old parents.
“I've worked for the department in multiple different capacities since I joined it in 1989 as a mental health specialist,” she said.
The county commissioners announced Ainsworth's retirement on Friday. She started out as a mental health specialist in the late 1980s.
She said her greatest accomplishment was as head of the 100-employee department that has mental health, intellectual disabilities and early intervention responsibilities, she said. “I am proud at being able to bring all departments together to work collaboratively.
“It's so important that we all work together, and I believe I brought the spirit of collaboration to the department,” said Ainsworth.
Brandon Savochka, the department's mental health director, has been chosen as her successor. Ainsworth and Savochka will work together to ensure a smooth transition before her departure.
The first order of business, she said, will be to find someone to be the department's mental health director.
When asked if she had any advice for her successor, Ainsworth said, “Just to trust his directors. He's got a fabulous team to work with.”
“Human services is an ongoing concern,” said Ainsworth. “You can never really do everything you want for folks, but we've done a lot. We have a good network of providers and great directors doing the best they can.”
