By David Peck

The longtime director of the Big Horn County Health Coalition is moving on to new challenges, though he’ll remain close to home.

Chad Lindsay announced his intention to resign last Tuesday at the February Community Advisory Board meeting. Although he hadn’t submitted a letter of resignation as of Friday, he said the resignation would be effective next month.

Advertising for the position has begun.

Lindsay, who has been the Health Coalition Director for seven years, has accepted an offer to become the chief financial officer for the Northwest Wyoming Treatment Center in Powell, as well as two group homes associated with the center. He will run the “business end” of the treatment center and group homes.

Ty Barrus, who Lindsay and the CAB once hired to be the substance abuse counselor for Districts One and Two, is the director of the Northwest Wyoming Treatment Center with Greg Bennett as the clinical director and Lila Jolley as the case manager.

The great thing about the treatment center, Lindsay said, is its location. In the past, youths who needed treatment had to go to Casper, where they would lose touch with their family and their school.

“It was hard for them to keep in touch with protective factors that could positively benefit them,” Lindsay said. “This is a local facility serving local youths, and it realizes the importance of having positive family relationships and academic progress in the student’s school.”

Lindsay said he will miss the Health Coalition and is appreciative of the career advancement the job provided him.

“I’ve loved my time with the Health Coalition,” he said. “My personal and professional growth with the Coalition has been exponential. But now I feel the need for new challenges and I’m excited to be able to be a member of the Coalition rather than director and support the innovative ideas the new director will catalyze.

“I’d like to thank everybody that has collaborated with and supported the efforts of the Health Coalition to provide opportunities for local youths. The Health Coalition certainly isn’t going away. It’s stronger than it’s ever been and funding is in place currently that will direct those efforts at least until 2014.

The deadline for applications for the new director is March 4, Lindsay said.

“The goal is to get an energetic and qualified person in this position as soon as possible so the transition and training period can begin,” he said.

Lindsay said he plans to remain in his hometown.

“We (he and wife Lindsay and family) love Lovell and will continue to live in Lovell and be active members of the community,” he said.