Challenges await new hire

The new superintendent of the Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities is coming into the position with some new goals and a few challenges, as the programs at Ewing School and WASCO grow and the budget shrinks.

Susan Tilton, who has worked for nearly 30 years in services for people with disabilities and more than 15 years for the Washington County board, has replaced Mary Ann Chamberlain as superintendent. Chamberlain retired in December.

"It was kind of a natural progression," said Tilton, who had been assistant superintendent for 10 years. "I worked a lot with (Chamberlain) and for the past year, we had a plan in place that I would take over."

Tilton is taking leadership of a program that, like a number of agencies and school districts that rely on state funding, has been having to operate with less money.

Lowell resident Jennifer Snyder, who has two children in Ewing School programs, said she's noticed no difference in services and hopes there won't be.

"I'm absolutely thrilled with what they've done for my kids," she said. "They both love it there, and it's a great bunch of people. They're getting everything they need."

Snyder's son Kenny, 3, just aged out of the Early Intervention program and starts preschool Tuesday at Ewing, where her daughter Emma, 4, is already a preschooler. Both have had issues with speech and articulation, Snyder said.

"Before, no one could understand what they were saying," she said. "Now even the neighbors have been saying how clearly they speak. They are much more confident."

Tilton said one of her goals as superintendent is to bring those life-changing services to even more people.

As well as continuing services for the 72 children at Ewing School and 187 adults receiving services at WASCO and beyond, she wants to focus on those who aren't getting the help they need.

"I want to make sure we're serving people that are not getting services right now in the community," Tilton said. "My focus is more on those folks who don't come into our buildings. So many people out there don't ever touch our doorstep, but they need assistance."

The help needed may range from assistance in finding employment to in-home care, Tilton said.

Funding has been the biggest barrier to reaching out and providing more services to those who aren't looking for a school or workshop to attend, she said.

The board has had a 30 to 40 percent cut in its state funding over the last four years and now receives most of its $6.7 million budget from federal and local dollars.

"In 2008, we received $900,000 from the state, and in 2011 that will be less than $500,000," Tilton said. "It's just been dwindling."

The board has absorbed most of the cuts by not replacing staff members who leave or retire and is down to 69 employees. When Tilton began working there in 1994, there were close to 100.

"We're cost cutting everywhere we can, but the biggest part of our budget is salaries since we provide services," she said.

Tilton said she's hopeful they'll be able to serve more people, and reach out into the community, through a Medicaid waiver program.

"It will be a way to serve more people without spending more local dollars," she said. "With the significant cuts we've had from the state, Medicaid is really the only potential new source."

The number of people receiving services from the Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities has already been rising in recent years, steadily climbing each year from 434 adult and child enrollees in 2005 to 527 now. The numbers have jumped from each year by at least 15 people and as many as 24.

Aside from financial challenges, Tilton said she took the reigns of programs in very good shape.

"We have some new board members who are real go-getters with a lot of enthusiasm," she said. "And the staff are all such special people and are so caring. It's like a family."

In the years she has worked in the field, Tilton said she's been constantly amazed by the dedication of those who work with people with disabilities. She first ventured into the field while working on a practicum at the Athens Mental Health Center in the early '80s.

"I just loved it and I've stuck with it ever since," she said. "I hope to stay here until I retire."

Board President Jonathon Dehmlow said there was no real consideration of any candidates other than Tilton, who was hired at a salary of $86,000.

"We just felt we had a really good candidate with her," he said. "She has a lot of familiarity with the different facets of the board and organization and has a real good feel about the staff and what's important to them and how to get them to work as a team. I'm really excited about her taking the position."