Regional disability/mental‑health services CEO briefs board on staffing, CFO departure and district plans

A regional disability and mental‑health services executive addressed the Franklin County Board of Supervisors on staffing and program changes. The executive said Chief Financial Officer Betsy Stursman is leaving (her last day is tomorrow) and the region will not replace the CFO position; instead the CEO expects to pick up financial responsibilities and to replace a program‑management position with an internal or external hire.

The presenter said the region is finalizing district plans — an 18‑month plan that implies the organization will hold a contract for the next fiscal year — and that the state’s continuity period ending Dec. 31 will reduce client rolls for some programs, prompting a reassessment of caseloads. The CEO described a historic variation among regions in services and funding, and said the state is pushing for consistency, partly to comply with federal Olmstead requirements favoring community‑based supports over more restrictive institutional placements.

The CEO also noted staffing challenges, saying the region had 42 staff when they took over and will be at about 19 after the CFO departure; hiring and administrative support needs will be evaluated. Board members asked questions about local presence and staffing coverage across the 44 counties the presenter said the program serves.