After thirty-seven years with the agency, Executive Co-Director Peggy Johnson will retire from Youth Health Service, Inc. on June 30, 2025, and her successor, Sarah Begg, will join the established leadership team consisting of Executive Co-Director, Tammie Rizzio, and Director of Business Operations, Amanda Arbogast to lead the agency.
While Ms. Johnson has spent the last ten years serving in the role of Executive Co-Director, her contributions to the agency in its tenure are varied. During the formative years of the agency, she served as a case manager providing maternity and parenting support and education for young women and their families. As the community needs shifted, Ms. Johnson moved into an Early Intervention role working with little ones and their families aimed at increasing opportunities and reducing barriers to learning and developmental growth.
By the mid 90’s, the agency transitioned to providing behavioral health programs for kids of all ages, allowing her to further her specialization in early childhood, providing individual play therapy as well as group and family therapies and coordinating early childhood programming, which included the addition of Home Ties Child Development Center. Ms. Johnson has served as the Project Director for several grant programs around early learning opportunities in participating in childcare programs in the area and the development of the child and adolescent trauma center which led to YHS being an affiliate of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
When asked about memorable moments and hopes for the agency moving forward, Ms. Johnson stated:
The memories that stand out the most involve the people I have been blessed to know here – the amazing leaders who hired me all those years ago and not only mentored but befriended me as well; the dedicated co-workers past and present, so many who have become life-long friends; those caring professionals throughout our communities who supported the mission of YHS and the children we serve; the volunteers who donated their time, talent, and energy to help us; and the faces, the voices, the stories of the children and caregivers who have passed through this way. As I am wrapping up my last days as Co-Director, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences of the past and tremendous hope and confidence for the future of Youth Health Service and the important work being done here.
Ms. Johnson will certainly be missed by her YHS family, community partners and clients; her contributions to the agency and the community at large have been forever impactful and the field of early childhood education and development, and behavioral health are better in our community because of her influences.
The community may express their well wishes and congratulations to both Ms. Johnson and Ms. Begg by sending cards to Youth Health Service ATTN: Ms. Johnson/Ms. Begg 971 Harrison Ave. Elkins, WV 26241.
Executive Co-Director, Tammie Rizzio presents a plaque that celebrates Peggy Johnson’s years of service.