Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Janet Schalansky announced that Arthurine Criswell, currently Acting Director of Permanency Planning for the agency’s division of Children and Family Policy, will assume the duty as Lawrence Area Director September 18.

Jim Wann, area director for Lawrence Area Office for the past 10 years, announced his retirement effective September 15. The retirement ends a 30 year career, all as an area director. Secretary Schalansky praised the work done by Mr. Wann over many years. She also said Ms. Criswell’s work for SRS and for private, non-profit social service agencie over many years will serve her well as Mr. Wann’s replacement.

"We are ending an era with Jim’s retirement, but Arthurine will step right in and continue the good work," Secretary Schalansky said.

Mr. Wann has been an area director for SRS for 30 years, including stints in Kansas City, Osawatomie, and Lawrence. Mr. Wann’s career began in Wyandotte County when the state had county-level social service agency. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry and Organizational Management degree from St. Paul’s School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo., in 1990.

"Jim’s commitment to providing qualify social services has been key to his success," Schalansky said.

In the private sector, Ms. Criswell served as executive director of the Mattie Rhodes Counseling and Art Center in Kansas City, Mo., where the focus was mental health and self-esteem issues for Latinos and African Americans. She also was program manager for the Truman Behavioral Health Child and Adolescent Services. She also is past president of the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson counties.

For the state, Ms. Criswell served as an SRS area director for five years in the Osawatomie and Kansas City offices. A masters-level social worker, she has also been the project director for the Kansas University Medical Center’s Children’s Rehabilitation Unit and the social services chief in Kansas City Area.

The Lawrence Area Office for SRS, located at 1901 Delaware in Lawrence, covers the following counties: Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, and Jefferson.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001