By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Butler County Children Services decided Monday to hire Jann Heffner as the agency's new executive director.

She had been executive director of Wendy's International's Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in Columbus from 1994 to 2001, and served as deputy director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services from 1991 to 1994.

The board had narrowed the candidates to Ms. Heffner and Mike Francis, who had resigned as Children Services board chairman in May to become the agency's acting executive director.

Hall Thompson, acting chairman of the Children Services board, described Ms. Heffner as a person with "dynamic leadership abilities and great communication and organizational skills."

"She has a great passion for kids," said Doug Carlberg, a board member.

Ms. Heffner's starting date has not been determined.

Children Services has the responsibility of protecting abused or neglected children.

Kathy Vallance, the agency's previous executive director, went on medical leave earlier this year and recently retired.

Ms. Heffner's hiring comes at a time when Children Services is in the midst of major reforms designed to make it more accountable to the public and to the families it serves.

Three years ago, a state audit criticized the agency for:

• Being understaffed.

• Not having enough foster parents.

• Taking too long to investigate cases.

• Having inferior computer technology.

The agency has been working to incorporate the audit's recommendations.

Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox has led a reform movement that has resulted in a complete turnover in Children Services board members, the departure of many supervisors and adoption of new policies and practices.

One of the most important reforms as been establishing a process that lets families challenge decisions by agency caseworkers and supervisors.

The reforms began during Ms. Vallance's tenure and continued under Mr. Francis, who is the chief financial officer of Transitional Living Inc., a nonprofit agency that provides services for the mentally disabled in Butler County.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com