Gerken seeking public oversight for Mental Health Recovery Services Board
This in via e-mail from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken (Thank you!):
COMMISSIONER GERKEN TO SEEK PUBLIC OVERSIGHT FOR MENTAL HEALTH & RECOVERY SERVICES BOARD
Toledo, OH – Commissioner Pete Gerken will announce Tuesday a plan to seek public oversight for the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board (MHRSB).
Commissioner Gerken is requesting public oversight after the devastating closing of Connecting Point, in addition to other concerns raised about the Board from mental health professionals and advocates in our community.
“In these very hard times, it is most important that we take care of our citizens, especially those whose health and wellness impacts the entire community,” said Commissioner Gerken. “When Connecting Point closed, hundreds of clients were left without a clear direction where to go. The Mental Health Board had a duty to take action, and my concern, which I’ve heard from many others in the community, is that they did not meet expectations.”
This ad hoc committee will provide oversight of the MHRSB to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent fairly, responsibly, and with purposeful follow-up. Not only has Connecting Point’s closing been a major concern for Commissioner Gerken, but the procedure of giving contracts to providers without any procurement process has also raised red flags.
“Several respected professionals in the mental health community have come to me asking to look at the current practices of our MHRSB,” said Gerken. “We want to be as effective with the limited dollars we have in every agency, and there needs to be an open, transparent, and fair process with any contract that is awarded.”
Commissioner Gerken plans to announce his plan and the partners committed to helping on Tuesday morning.
WHAT: Gerken to Announce Mental Health & Recovery Services Board Oversight Committee
WHEN: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 9:15 a.m.
WHERE: One Government Center Lobby (in front of Commissioners Chambers)
Commissioners already have oversight of this board, as they appoint the board members…and the structure of this board was a direct result of Comm. Gerken and Wozniak since they are the two who pushed for the merger of ADAS and the Mental Health Board.
Why do we need another body to watch MHRSB when we have commissioners who are supposed to do that?
(just asking….)
May 19th, 2009 at 8:56 amBecause there was not enough oversight before, and there are still many unanswered questions from Connecting Point. Such as what’s going to happen to the money from the sale of the Cherry Street property?
May 19th, 2009 at 10:23 amI assume Commissioners Gerken and Wozniak will explain how this happened under their watch. Mr. Konop needs to address this as well.
The explanations should not include tap dance music…
Full disclosure is needed on the “how did it happen?” at Connecting Point.
What did the Commissioners know and when did they know it?….including all information (or lack thereof) received from the MHRSB.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:35 amI am hopeful that those appointed to this committee actually have some insight as to a) how to treat community based clients and b) what this community’s mental health needs truly are.
I know Commissioners tend to believe they know everything they need to know, but this community desperately needs someone trained in commuity mental health issues running this program and not the winners of the “commissioner beauty contest”.
Thank goodness its beginning to get the attention it deserves, and not a moment too soon.
mj
May 19th, 2009 at 11:02 amTom, I agree and Mindy, well written, I agree completely.
May 19th, 2009 at 11:09 amCommissioners Konop was actually a member of the Connecting Point Board
May 19th, 2009 at 6:47 pmThe sale proceeds from the Cherry Street will go to ODMH and Fifth Third Bank who have the mortgages on the property.
May 19th, 2009 at 8:41 pmMaybe Jon it appears there could be some issues with that as far as the title.
May 19th, 2009 at 8:42 pmPete Gerken & Lucas County Residents, today I attended the Office
on Aging Spring Fling at the Lucas County Rec Center as well as you
were there.
There were many booths with info of local
services and products for Senior
citizens; however, Lucas County Mental
Health of any services or info was
NOT PROVIDED at all!!
Many articles, etc. regarding the
Elderly and depression, etc. and
that mental health care is needed even
more so than ever for them also!!
The Lucas County Mental Health System
May 19th, 2009 at 10:22 pmneeded to be there today! Evidently
the Lucas County Mental Health Board
and Agencies ignore the help that
Senior Citizens need at this time
in their lives too!!
It is my understanding that the title issues with Connecting Point, are that Fifth Third Bank thought they were first on the title, but in fact ODMH is first on the title.
Also, I know for certain that one mental health agency never received any invitation to the Office on Aging Spring Fling. So, it is kind of hard to attend if you are not invited.
Also, please keep in mind that the Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board does not run these agencies. They do control some funding, but operating decisions are under the control of each agency. Connecting Point was mismanaged. Everyone knew that, including the County Board. They could have cut funding off earlier, but it was not their responsibility to waste tax payer money and bail them out. They should have cut Connecting Point off earlier and transferred services to other agencies, which eventually happended.
Lastly Pete Gerken, should be down in Columbus making sure this County stays funded for Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol services instead of wasting his time with an oversite committee. This County is going to loose a lot more agencies over the next few years, if the State cannot get their act together. It appears Lucas County is going to have to cut most of its non-Medicaid services in the near future, which is going to be devastating to this Community and others.
May 21st, 2009 at 11:18 amWell, LUCAS COUNTY MENTAL RETARDATION
had a booth and info at the Office on Aging Spring Fling as many
other service agencies, etc.
There were large ads in the Toledo Blade too that gave info
aand to contact Office on Aging to reserve a booth at it!
Don’t they know how to read??
Mental Health Board, Agencies, and
May 21st, 2009 at 11:43 amProfessionals evidently just always epect HAND DELIVERED
ENGRAVED, GOLDEN INVITATIONS!
THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO ALMOST ANYTHING,
FROM ANYONE INCLUDING THE MEDIA EXCEPT
WHEN THEY WANT A TAX LEVY TO PASS OR
DONATIONS FOR THEMSELVES!
Jon, I was told the opposite, that ODMH is not on the deed as first that the bank is and I can’t confirm which it is, since that information is not listed on Areis.
Sue, good point, it was advertised…
May 21st, 2009 at 11:56 amSeems as if it is always the SAME OLD
EXCUSES FOR LUCAS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH
PEOPLE AND FRIENDS WHO DO TRY TO DEFEND THEIR ACTION,
OR BETTER YET NO ACTIONS, TO BLAME
THE STATE OR STATE OFFICES OR GOVERNMENT
REGULATION when in fact it is mainly
the Lucas County Mental Health Board’s
and/or Agencies along with their own administration/s incompetent business
techniques and/or negligence! They alwasy BLAME EVERYONE
OR EVERYTHING ELSE BUT THEMSELVES!
So, they merged with Substance Abuse to give them services, so now they want
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:19 amto forget about giving adequate mental health services
tfor the Lucas County Children from Connecting Point and also Senior Citizens!