Meet mental health agency's new interim director

NORWALK — Huron County Mental Health and Addiction Services announced a new interim director last week. The board selected Mircea Handru to lead the organization during this transitional period, which begins May 9, following the resignation of current executive director Kristen Cardone. State law mandates that each board of alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services employ a qualified executive director. The board is a public body comprised of volunteer members, including clients, family members and other community leaders representing Huron County. Its primary role is monitoring, evaluating, assessing, prioritizing, and planning for mental health and addiction services throughout Huron County. The board does not directly provide mental health and/or addiction services. According to the group's website, it contracts with various agencies for mental health and/or addiction services, such as prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. It was not immediately known when the agency would name its new director. Hearing from Handru Handru is also the executive director for the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties. He earned a master's degree in business administration from Tiffin University. Handru also serves on the executive committee and is the chairperson of the governance committee for the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, as well as serving on the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board, representing Region 17, composed of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky, Wyandot, Hancock, Wood, Crawford and Hardin Counties. According to Handru, the OneOhio Recovery Foundation is responsible for planning and managing 55% of Ohio's opioid lawsuit funds. In 2021, Handru was appointed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to the Terra State Community College Board and currently serves as the Chairperson. He also received the NAMI Ray of Hope award in 2019 and the Evelyn Lundberg Stratton CIT Champion of the Year award in 2022. Another shot at levy? With the failure of the county's mental health levy in the May 6 election, Handru has the task of returning the levy to the November ballot. However, the board has not decided whether it will be the same initiative that was voted down or return to the ballot as a simple renewal. "We need to pass this ballot in November, or the county is possibly looking at losing a number of services currently supplied (by the agency)," Handru said. Handru is from Romania and came to the United States 21 years ago. He became a U.S. citizen in 2014. Handru resides on a small farm in Seneca County with his wife, Erika, and two daughters, Florica and Anastasia.