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Lucas Co. Agencies Set to Vote on Merger: Drug, Mental Health Boards May Combine

Posted on: Monday, 20 February 2006, 09:00 CST

By Erica Blake, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

Feb. 20--After spending months studying the affects of combining their agencies, members of Lucas County's Mental Health Board and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board seem ready to merge their services.

A group formed early last year wrote a 15-page study that said a merger would benefit consumers and save the county more than $270,000 in administrative costs. The boards of each agency will meet tomorrow and vote on the recommendation, which includes merging by July 1.

"We don't anticipate a 'no' vote. We believe we've done the work and we've answered the questions that have been asked of us," said Jacqueline Martin, executive director of the Lucas County Mental Health Board and a member of the study group. "We believe that this is in the best interests of the consumers we serve. … If we want to have a continuum of care that is seamless, we have to have one vision, one direction."

The eight-person study group consisted of members of both boards, including both chairmen and executive directors. It met 10 times in six months.

The group recommended forming an 18-member board called the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County. The board would be made up of four appointed members each from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services as well as 10 members from the Lucas County Board of Commissioners.

A proposed organizational chart includes one executive director and two associate directors. The plan also includes the elimination of five full-time positions and one part-time position to save about $317,000. Because of other costs associated with combining the boards, the projected savings the first year would be about $272,000.

The mental health board, which has passed levies in Lucas County, has a $45 million budget.

The ADAS board, which is funded with state and federal money, has a budget of about $10 million.

Lucas County Commissioner Maggie Thurber said she is concerned that voters have often denied levies for the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board and that the merger may appear as a way to fund the agency.

"I have some concerns about public perception," she said. "ADAS couldn't get their levy passed and this is one of the issues identified as a reason for the merger - availability of some additional monies through Mental Health's success at the polls. I haven't yet had time to evaluate how much this issue impacted the decision."

Across the state, seven counties have separate boards of mental health and alcohol and drug addiction services, according to the Ohio Department of Mental Health. Forty-three combined boards exist in Ohio, with some serving multiple counties.

Before Lucas County joins the ranks of combined boards, the state legislature first must open up the process. State Rep. Mark Wagoner, (R., Ottawa Hills) said he is planning to add an amendment to an upcoming budget bill that would allow county commissioners to merge the board. Without the amendment, the Ohio Revised Code prevents the two boards from merging.

Cheri Walter, chief executive officer of the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, said there are pros and cons in merging. She said the decision should be a local choice.

Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak said the commissioners could merge the agencies despite the wishes of the boards, but that's not the intention. Study group members "are calling it a great decision," she said. "They worked together in a real equal fashion. This is about better service delivery and efficiency."

Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or 419-724-6076.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

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Source: The Blade

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