Christine Schuyler’s Tenure As DHHS Director Ends Nov. 29
Reorganization Plan For Human Services Departments To Be Released By Early 2023
MAYVILLE, N.Y.: -- Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel, Jr. announces the departure of Christine Schuyler as the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director effective Nov. 29, 2022.
“Christine’s current term expires the end of this month and I have made the decision to not re-appoint her to another 5-year term, and move in a different direction with the structure of the County’s delivery of human services,” said Wendel. “I appreciate Christine’s service and dedication to the residents of Chautauqua County during her 14-year tenure with the County and I wish her all the best with her future endeavors.”
Schuyler first began her career with Chautauqua County in July 2008 when she was appointed as Public Health Director for the Chautauqua County Department of Public Health. She then took on the dual role of Commissioner of Social Services in June 2011 as the Department of Public Health and Department of Social Services began its merger into the Department of Health and Human Services. In November 2012, she was then appointed as the Director of the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services.
In her roles with the County, Schuyler upheld the department’s mission of building a healthy, safe and strong community; promoting the health of all County residents; and providing essential human services.
She also improved the health and human service delivery and actively championed education and awareness efforts to improve the health and safety of Chautauqua County residents. She helped identify and address priority community needs such as maternal and infant health, childhood lead poisoning, child and adult abuse and neglect, mental health and substance misuse, and housing and health equity. She further collaborated with numerous agencies, not-for-profits, healthcare providers, businesses, schools, and universities to improve the health and well-being of residents. She also provided exceptional and robust responses to the H1N1 pandemic in 2009 and the global and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Under her leadership, the County Health Department was one of the first local health departments to attain registration as a New York State Opioid Overdose Prevention Program and the County was one of the first to implement a child welfare electronic record management system.
“I am extremely proud of the transformational work and tremendous accomplishments my department has achieved over my tenure,” said Schuyler. “I have been blessed to lead such important work and to be surrounded by dedicated professionals and amazing people.”
With Schuyler’s departure, Wendel has assigned DHHS Physician Michael Faulk additional duties to act as Interim Public Health Director overseeing the DHHS Division of Public Health. Deputy Commissioner of Social Services Jon Anderson will serve on an interim basis as Acting Social Services Commissioner overseeing DHHS’s five social services divisions. The County Executive expects to announce the reorganization of the County’s human services departments by early next year.
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