It’s been said that the real measure of a community is the manner in which it cares for its most vulnerable citizens. Indifference is not an option. We all share in the responsibility to provide help and hope when our citizens need it. 

Many of us are following closely the news stories on Ohio’s biennial budget.  The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Clark, Greene and Madison Counties receives dollars from the state budget to make sure that counseling, case management, housing, medication and hospitalization are available through local agencies. These agencies provide direct, life changing support to people facing mental health, drug and alcohol problems. They also provide counseling, treatment and education programs for a wide range of related issues including, domestic violence, child abuse, support for wounded military members, suicide prevention programs, sexual assault and depression and isolation of older adults to name just a few.  

Across all three counties twenty-five (25) MHRB contract agencies served 17,855 individuals in 2008.

A breakdown by county follows:     

Clark County

·        83% increase in people receiving services since 2000.

·        8,391 people were seen for services in 2008.  In 2000 the number was 4,549.

·        Local levy dollars account for 37% of services.

Greene County

·        131% increase in people receiving services since 2000.

·        7,551 people were seen for services in 2008.  In 2000 the number was 3,262.

·        Local levy dollars account for 34% of services.

Madison County

·        123% increase in people receiving services since 2000.

·        1,373 people were seen for services in 2008.  In 2000 the number was 616.

·        Local levy dollars account for 16% of services. 

The MHRB and local agencies in our three counties have already received around $1 million in cuts from the state.  A portion of these cuts is temporarily covered by changes to the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP).  This coverage goes away in December 2010. Agencies are receiving an additional cut of $294,000 beginning July 1, 2009. The current budget proposal calls for a 34% cut to mental health services and a 28% cut to alcohol and drug services.  Additional cuts mean lay-offs, fewer and less frequent services, a longer wait for services and a decreased ability and opportunity to provide life-saving medicines.  While local levy dollars support services in all three counties, any reduction of the remaining state and federal funds places chronically ill individuals at high risk. 

The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Clark, Greene and Madison Counties believes strongly in the statement “Treatment Works; People Recover.” It is vital to our communities to fully understand the serious threat being formulated to some of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. Indifference is not an option. 

Kent Youngman, President/CEO