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Westmoreland County Names New Director of Children's Bureau
Posted 12-27-07
The Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners --
Tom Balya, Tom Ceraso and Phil Light -- today named Shara B.
Saveikis, M.S.W., as director of the county's Children's Bureau.
Saveikis, who worked for the Pennsylvania Department
of Public Welfare (DPW) for the past five years, will fill the
vacancy created by Marilyn McSparrin, who is retiring after 35 years
of county service, the last four as Children's Bureau director.
"Shara Saveikis brings a wealth of energy and
enthusiasm to this challenging and high-profile position," said
Commissioner Tom Balya. "Her experience dealing with child welfare
at the state level will no doubt enhance services at the county
level. I have the utmost confidence that she will serve our county's
families well as director of the Children's Bureau."
Saveikis has served as regional program
representative for DPW's Western Region Office of Children, Youth
and Families in Pittsburgh since 2002. She was responsible for
providing consultation, support and guidance to Allegheny County
Children and Youth Services and 10 private agencies, and evaluated
those services to ensure compliance with state and federal
requirements. Among her duties, she conducted child protective
services investigations and negotiated recommendations to agency
directors and county leaders.
Prior to her service with DPW, Saveikis worked as a
caseworker for Monroe County (Pennsylvania) Children and Youth. She
began her professional career as a counselor at Adelphoi Village in
Latrobe.
Saveikis has a Master's Degree in Social Work from
the University of Pennsylvania and earned her undergraduate degree
in psychology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She is
certified as a Direct Service Worker and as a Child Welfare
Supervisor.
Saveikis lives in Greensburg with her husband, Bob,
and their sons, Brock, 4, and Brady, 15 months.
"I am certain that Shara Saveikis will continue the
progress we've made to improve services for at-risk children,"
Commissioner Tom Ceraso said. "Westmoreland County also owes its
gratitude to Marilyn McSparrin for dedicating her career to helping
children and protecting families."
As director, Savikis is responsible for the overall
management of the bureau, which consists of nearly 100 employees and
annually serves about 4,000 families. The Children's Bureau
administers programs mandated by federal and state law to protect
children from abuse and neglect, and establish permanency for those
children. The Bureau oversees treatment programs, in-home services,
foster care and adoptions.
For more information on the Westmoreland County
Children's Bureau, visit
www.co.westmoreland.pa.us (choose Departments/Children's Bureau)
or call 724-830-3300. |
