During a workshop meeting Wednesday, the Schuylkill County commissioners introduced Elaine Gilbert, the county’s new director of Human Services. Gilbert, Sinking Springs, heads the county’s Mental Health, Department of Human Services, and Drug and Alcohol agencies. She was hired Feb. 23.

Gilbert, a graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, achieved a Master of Science in human services, counseling, from Capella University. Before coming to Schuylkill County, she was vice president of programs for Bethany Children’s Home in Womelsdorf, a position she held since 2014.

She also worked as operations director for Salisbury Behavioral Health in Reading from 1997 to 2014, starting as a lead therapeutic staff support, with promotions to program coordinator, assistant director and operations director.

Gilbert said she looked forward to working with the commissioners as well as staff from the agencies she’ll oversee.