KAYSVILLE — Maybe retirement will stick, this time, for Ron Stromberg, who is leaving Davis Behavioral Health after a two-year stint at the helm.

He brought 30 years of experience in human services to the job, which he assumed in a sort of caretaker role after previous director Maureen Womack accepted a position in Virginia.

Stromberg told county commissioners Tuesday of his pending departure – which won’t happen until later this year in reality, pending success in finding a replacement.

“I retired once, I’ll try it again,” the Bountiful resident said.

“He has done a fantastic job,” said County Commissioner Bret Millburn. “Almost unanimously the staff has been pleased with the great work environment.”

“The state statute requires that local commissioners (in each county) oversee mental health services. In Davis County, they contract with Davis Behavioral Health (DBH) to provide it,” Stromberg said.

“I’m aware of some other counties where mental health doesn’t have the backing of their county commission,” unlike here, he said.

Stromberg came to DBH even as funds for all state and county-provided services have been stretched.

Part of the solution to create more efficiency and save funds is to consolidate services at the Kaysville/Layton headquarters, which is currently being remodeled, he said.

That was one of his goals he outlined shortly after arriving at DBH.

But challenges will continue as “Obamacare” would add a larger number of Medicaid clients to the mix, he said, adding, “As the sole provider (of mental health services in the county) we anticipate a lot of growth.”

Those clients will have to be dealt with even as budgets are being squeezed, he reiterated.

Stromberg started his career many years ago as superintendent of the old boys industrial school in Ogden.

But during his 37-years-plus career, he has held many key roles, or led several of the state’s human service agencies. That includes the old Division of Youth Corrections, which he created. It’s now called Juvenile Justice.

Later, he assumed directorship duties of the Office of Social Services and the Adult Division of Protection Services, among others.

“I have worked with almost every aspect of human services, adults and children, was even over the public welfare system,” Stromberg told the Clipper in a 2009 interview.

DBH is a quasi-independent agency which provides myriad services, from counseling/therapy for adults and children to job training and placement.

By state statute, it must provide at least 10 mandated mental health services.

“They provide much more than what is required by law. It’s even more challenging with decreased funding,” he said.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com