Butler County promoted from within to fill the post of Children and Youth Services director.

The county on Thursday announced the appointment of Charlie Johns, who was the assistant CYS director for the past five years.

Johns, 37, of Bruin said he’s ready to get started.

“I am really looking forward to the future and working on what I need to work on,” he said.

Johns said it’s important for people in the county to learn how CYS operates.

“I want to do my very best to make the community understand what we do,” he said.

Johns was hired by the county in 2001 as a CYS caseworker.

He is a 1996 graduate of Karns City High School and has a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitative science from Clarion University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Geneva College.

Johns succeeds Joyce Ainsworth, who was promoted last month to county human services director.

Ainsworth said Johns was the best choice out of the three applicants for the post.

“The county is very lucky to have him,” she said.

Ainsworth said CYS is in good hands with the new director and the current caseworkers.

“I’m really excited about the future of this agency,” she said. “We have a great management team.”