Thank you to everyone who supported Issue 1 with a 67% vote of approval! Because Issue 1 passed, Stark MRDD will be able to keep the Eastgate Early Childhood and Family Center and the Rebecca Stallman Southgate School open. Also, we will be able to bring in the 73 adults on the waiting list. Thank you very much Stark County!
Below are photos from the Stark MRDD Kimono Project going on within the four workshops and the schools.
As a result of an Arts in Stark grant, Stark MRDD has undertaken a Kimono Project. We will add daily posts about the project along with comments and photos from those participating. Check our blog to see the progress.
Please help us secure email addresses for people who will permit us to send emails to them about Stark MRDD issues and concerns. We are trying to build a base of support to help us fully communicate with Stark County citizens. You can send your email addresses by posting a comment under this section. We will not post your comment (unless you ask us to) and we will not post your email address online. Your email submission will only be viewed by the Department of Public Information staff in order to add it to our email distribution list. Thanks for you help.
Following is an article that ran in The Repository on Sunday, November 23, about the confusion around Issue 65 - a 1 mill levy to support the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board — not Stark MRDD.
Mental health, retardation boards often confused
Sunday, November 23, 2008
BY BENJAMIN DUER
BENJAMIN.DUER@CANTONREP.COM
CANTON A financial crisis may threaten future services of the Stark County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
Stark MRDD officials expect to put a tax levy on the May ballot, hoping it could offset a growing deficit. But they could run into a slight problem that could derail the levy’s chances.
That problem:
Some voters believe that Stark MRDD had a levy on the Nov. 4 general election ballot, and that it was approved, officials say.
The MRDD board did not have a levy on the ballot.
Roughly 50.5 percent of voters approved a 1-mill property tax for a different agency earlier this month — the county’s Mental Health & Recovery Services Board. That agency focuses on mental health issues — including depression, stress and bipolar disorder — and drug and alcohol addictions.
“We both have mental in our name, but there’s a difference,” said Paula Mastroianni, spokeswoman for the mental health board.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Stark MRDD provides services to individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. About 2,850 clients are served.
Roughly 21,000 residents receive some type of help from the county’s mental health and recovery services board.
Stark MRDD Superintendent H. Michael Miller said the two organizations do treat some of the same individuals, focusing on different issues.
About 20 to 25 percent of Stark MRDD clients also receive help from the county’s mental health board, Miller said.
“We’re both social services, but there’s no co-mingling of funds,” explained Mastroianni.
Yet, some voters mistakenly believed they approved a property tax for Stark MRDD on Nov. 4.
How did this happen?
CONFUSED
Officials believe there are several explanations for the voter confusion over the mental health services board and MRDD:
– Mastroianni believes some voters saw “mental” and just assumed the Nov. 4 levy was for Stark MRDD.
“We are not the same,” she said.
Mastroianni said her agency expects to wage an aggressive campaign to educate the public about their services in 2009.
– Other media reports mistakenly referred to the mental health levy as an MRDD levy.
– Miller said Stark MRDD helped campaign for the “sister” social agency, the county’s mental health board.
Stark MRDD board member Larry Marcus believes the confusion could hurt the board’s chances of passing a crucial levy in May. Marcus said confused voters could get upset if they believe they already approved an MRDD levy.
“We’re in very clear financial crisis,” he said.
Stark MRDD officials do not know how much money they’ll seek in with the May levy, only that a levy will be on the ballot. In March, voters rejected a 3.9-mill tax for Stark MRDD, which would have generated $28 million a year.
Since then, the agency has enacted a financial plan that could save $5.8 to $7.3 million a year in expenses. That plan includes pay freezes, reducing five administrative staff positions, restructuring bus service and resources.
Despite the cutbacks, chief financial officer Marc Crouse said Stark MRDD faces a $4.1 million deficit in 2010, growing to $16.1 million in 2011, without new revenue sources or other substantial reductions.
If a levy isn’t approved in May, Miller said, the Rebecca Stallman Southgate School in Canton may have to be closed and the pre-school program at Eastgate Early Childhood and Family Center in Louisville may be ended.
“No decision has been made (on any possible cuts),” said Miller.
But, he said, even if those cuts were made, it wouldn’t be enough to offset a budget shortfall.
Stark MRDD would like to hear your thoughts and ideas about providing services for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. We are in a changing environment from the federal government down and it’s more important now than ever before to stay in touch and to share ideas about how to support individuals with developmental disabilities in Stark County. Please share your ideas with us!
There is a lot of discussion in Stark County right now about Medicaid waivers. Stark MRDD just recently hosted a Parent/Guardian Information Night featuring Peggy Martin and Patrick Lanahan from the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities presenting the facts about Medicaid waivers. If you have a question about waivers or a story that you would like to share, please talk to us and write a post. We want to get as much factual information out as possible so parents and individuals can make informed decisions. We will respond to your post right away.
There is a lot of discussion going on around the state about taking the words “mental retardation” out of the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities’ name and have it become the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Additionally, many of the county boards are also considering this change. We would like to hear your thoughts about this subject. Do you think the words “mental retardation” are negative words? Do you think that we can help remove labels from people if we no longer use mental retardation to describe that particular developmental disability? If we were to do this in Stark County, do you think our Stark County citizens would understand who the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities is and who we serve? We want to hear your thoughts. Please TALK TO US and post your thoughts on taking the MR out of MRDD.