Board Work Responsibilities Translate into Services

With one in four families experiencing either mental health or substance abuse problems in today’s world, it’s good to know that Portage County has quality, affordable services. The good mental health and safety of children are a priority of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County.

The Board oversees a “network of care for all generations” for Portage County residents.

• We fund counseling for children and adults who are victims of domestic violence and abuse.
• Our commitment to healthy youth extends to providing counselors who assist teachers and guidance counselors in all school systems.
• Our network has services for teens who get into trouble with alcohol and drugs while we also work hard at preventing substance abuse by funding education for hundreds of students each year.
• We maintain 24-hour emergency mental health and suicide prevention services.

The duties of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County are set by the state of Ohio. One of 60 similar boards in the state, the Board's official title is the Portage County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services.
Under Ohio law, these boards are given responsibility for seeing that services and
facilities are available locally for the treatment of people with mental illness
and/or alcohol/drug addiction.

For detailed information about Board services, click here.                   

State Departments Set Standards for Local Boards

Two state departments oversee the systems of care in Ohio. The Ohio Department
of Mental Health (ODMH) coordinates the boards' work in public mental health, sets
standards for care, carries out the directives of legislation and operates the state
hospitals. Alcohol and drug addiction programs are coordinated statewide by the
Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS). The state
agency also sets standards of care and implements state law in relation to alcohol/drug treatment services.

History Serving Portage County for More than 30 Years
County Agency has Long History of Stewardship

In 1968, people with vision in communities all across Ohio including Portage County believed there was a better way to care for persons with mental illness and addiction. Through new state laws, they worked to establish systems of local services.

The sweeping changes meant that children, teens and adults with problems could find the care they needed while remaining in their communities near family and friends. While the system has advanced over the years, one thing has remained constant: quality mental health and recovery care is available to all Ohioans, no matter what their incomes are or the severity of their illnesses.

An important benefit to communities, the public system ensures that supports are in
place to care for a vulnerable segment of society. Individuals in crisis receive professional care which makes communities healthier, safer places for all residents. Services are changing lives across Ohio as people who are receiving treatment for mental illness or substance abuse problems go to work, school and care for their families every day.

Time Line

• 1968: The Portage County 648 Board, also known as the Portage County
  Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board is established after the passage
  of the state Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act. The first
  chairman was Horace A. Page, Ph. D., professor of psychology at Kent State
  University.
   
• 1971: Suzanne H. Hetrick was appointed the first executive director. The
  Board’s first office was on the KSU campus. This was the first year services
  were provided through contracts with community agencies. Townhall II is one
  of the contract agencies.
   

• 1973: Portage Children’s Center becomes part of the system. Board moves to
  current offices at 1640 Franklin Avenue in Kent.
   

• 1978: Coleman Professional Services founded and joins system of services.
   

• 1980: State Senate Bill 160 separated the Portage County Mental Health Board from the county Mental Retardation Board.
   

• 1988: The state adds provision of alcohol and drug addiction treatment services to the Board’s responsibilities. The state is calling the new boards Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Boards.
   

• 1992: The Portage Board simplifies its name to the Mental Health & Recovery
  Board of Portage County.
   

• 1993: The Board begins funding Safer Futures shelter for victims of domestic
  violence, a program of Family and Community Services of Portage County.
   

• 1994: Board and agencies form the Mental Health & Recovery Network, an
  alliance of organizations dedicated to effective, coordinated mental health
  and recovery services.
   

• 2005: Board and agencies provide treatment services to more than 5,700
  county residents; caring for 2,200 children and teens and 3,500 adults; reaching more than 5,00 students with education; and handling 37,000 24-hour calls and contacts for crisis intervention, suicide prevention, information and screening for psychiatric hospitalization.

Members & Staff
Who are the Members of the Mental Health & Recovery Board?
A Diverse Group Collaborating to Keep Services Strong

Ronald Heineking of Kent, Chairman
Kristine McCully, R.N., of Rootstown, Vice Chairman
Leona Brown of Brimfield
Audrey Cielinski Kessler of Kent
Jennifer Colgrove of Ravenna
Karen Cox of Atwater Township
Barbara Evans, M.Ed., of Rootstown
Virginia Golden of Streetsboro
Hilary J. Kane of Mantua
Jeff Langstaff, LICDC, of Kent
Terri McGuckin of Kent
William A. Nome, Esq., of Kent
Clifford Perera, M.D., of Akron
Theresa Tarchinski-Nielsen, Esq., of Mantua
Daniel Todd of Streetsboro
Stanley Wearden, Ph.D., of Kent
Beth Wildman, Ph.D,, of Kent
William J. Wisniewski of Ravenna
 

Staff of the Mental Health & Recovery Board

Harold V. Farrier, Executive Director
Joel Mowrey, Ph.D., Associate Director
Mary Grant, Director of Compliance and Operations
Amie Cajka, Director of Community Relations
David Brokaw, Director of Finance
Dennis Missimi, Director of Special Projects
Laura Dotts, Secretary

To e-mail board members and staff, click here.

Join the Board A Rewarding Way to Serve Your Community
Become a member of the Mental Health & Recovery Board

When you serve on the Mental Health & Recovery Board, you know you are helping people in some very basic ways: to work toward living healthy, productive lives and to make communities safe by providing 24-hour crisis services. Our18 Board members make important decisions that affect services for 2,000 troubled or abused children and teens and 4,000 adults in our community every year.

Members volunteer several hours each month. There are some board seats which
require a person have certain skills or experiences, such as a physician or a family member of a person with mental illness.

Applicants must be 18 or older and must live in Portage County. Terms are four years.

E-mail us by clicking here if you are interested in learning more about Board
membership. Type your name, address, city, state, zip, telephone and e-mail, a
description of your occupation or if you are interested in advocating for mental health or substance abuse treatment services. We will be in contact with you.

Volunteer Get Involved
Volunteer with Mental Health & Recovery in Mind

There are many avenues to use your talents as a way to benefit the Mental Health & Recovery Board system of services. We need volunteers to help with:

• Office work

• Educational programs

• Mailings

• Events

E-mail us by clicking here if you are interested in learning more about volunteering. Type your name, address, city, state, zip, telephone and e-mail. We will be in contact with you.

   The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County
PO Box 743, Kent Ohio 44240
An equal opportunity service provider and employer
© 2003 The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County
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