[KHTS] – Santa Clarita Valley Child & Family Center officials announced Wednesday retirement plans by CEO Darrell Paulk.

His retirement is expected to become official Sept. 1, officials said in a news release.

“The SCV Child & Family Center Board of Directors, with regret, has accepted the notification from Darrell Paulk of his retirement as President and CEO,” the statement read. “Darrell is leaving due to health issues he has had to face during the last 18 months, as well as a desire to retire closer to his son, daughter-in-law and new granddaughter.”

The statement thanked Paulk for his leadership over the last six years.

The board appointed Joan Aschoff, Psy.D., to assume the role of president and CEO of the Child & Family Center upon Paulk’s retirement.

The Santa Clarita Valley nonprofit just held its biggest fundraiser of the year at Mann BioMedical Park in Valencia. The event, which was the group’s 26th annual, set an attendance record for the event.

Aschoff began her career in community mental health, and later moved into positions in managed behavioral health and financial services, according to SCV Child & Family Center officials.

Prior to Child & Family Center, she served as vice president for Unum, where she was responsible for the western region medical department consisting of a multidisciplinary team of physicians.

Aschoff earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University Fullerton and her Doctor of Psychology from Indiana State University.

Aschoff and her family have resided in the Santa Clarita Valley for 17 years. She is currently the executive VP of Clinical Programs at Child & Family Center.