Events of 2006
Issue 19 - Health & Human Services Levy

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MHS supports the passage of Issue 19, the Health and Human Services Issue, on the ballot of the general election on Tuesday, 7 November 2006. By replacing and reducing an existing property tax levy, passage of Issue 19 would provide funding for critical health and human service for more than 200,000 of Cuyahoga County's most vulnerable children and adults. It would provide protection and care for abused children, adoption services, and treatment services for children with emotional disturbances and learning disorders. For vulnerable adults, Issue 19 would provide home health care and other services that support independence and health.

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan (at right) discussed the importance of the levy with members of the Mental Health Advocacy Coalition at the Coaltion's meeting of Monday, 18 September 2006. He noted that citizens of Cuyahoga County have traditionally provided strong support for health and human service programs. Commissioner Hagan noted that per-capita funding for health and human services is greater in Cuyahoga County than in any other of the state's 88 counties, and greater than any but 10 of the nation's 3,100 counties. Renewal of the Health and Human Services levy is critical, he said. Even with the levy funds, he explained, during the most-recent budget process, the funding needed for County services was $100 million more than the funds available.

Leaders of Cuyahoga County's mental health and drug addiction Boards discussed how the current Health and Human Services levy benefits Cuyahoga County's citizens. William Denihan, Chief Executive Officer of the Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board (at left in this photo) said that the Board receives $27 million dollars from the levy each year to fund critical crisis and counseling services. Russell Kaye, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Board of Cuyahoga County explained that the levy funds vital and effective collaborations among provider of drug and alcohol treatment, mental health, and criminal justice services.

Issue 19 also supports the MetroHealth Medical Center's Level 1 Truama Center, its Comprehensive Burn Care Center, and Metro Life Flight Services. It also supports services that protect and care for abused, neglected, or exploited children and adults who are often served by our Mobile Crisis Team. Because the levy funds a broad range of critically-important services for vulnerable children and adults, MHS supports the passage of the levy, and encourages eligible voters to vote for it on 7 November.

Any registered voter may now choose to vote by mail, regardless of the reason. You need only complete and return an "Absentee Ballot" application, and the Board of Elections will mail a ballot to your home. To get an Absentee Ballot application, just click here. Your application must be received by the Board of Elections by 4 November, and your completed ballot must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 November 2006.

At a public awareness rally in support of Issue 19,held Wednesday, 4 October 2006 at the Rammelkamp Atrium of the MetroHealth Medical Center's main campus, Cuyahoga County Commissioners Jimmy Dimora, Peter Lawson Jones, and Timothy F. Hagan spoke in support of Issue 19. They presented the stories of 19 members of the community who provide or participate in services funded by the current levy, which would be replaced and reduced with passage of Issue 19. MHS Executive Director Steven M. Friedman, Ph.D., along with many of the agency's Directors attended the rally.

Commissioner Timothy F. Hagan spoke at the rally with MHS Executive Director Steven M. Friedman, Ph.D. Commissioner Hagan has served on the Board of Commissioners for 17 years, in non-consecutive terms. He is well regarded for his expert knowledge of community health and social service issues, and his enduring committment to meeting the fundamental needs of all the community's citizens. After serving in the United States Army in 1968, he learned the importance of community services as a social worker in a Youngstown public housing project. In Cuyahoga County, he has been a forceful supporter of innovative approaches to meet emerging community needs, such as the Early Childhood Initiative, and the Children Who Witness Violence program.

Alex Machaskee leads the County's Issue 19 campaign. Mr. Machaskee recently retired as President and Publisher of the The Plain Dealer. With his leadership, The Plain Dealer earned many Pulitzer Prizes and other journalism awards for its probing and analytical coverage of critical issues affecting the greater Cleveland area. He has also been an effective and tireless advocate for providing services for the area's vulnerable citizens. Clients of MHS have directly benefited from The Plain Dealer's Holiday Spirit, an effort of The Plain Dealer Charities to help clients of human service agencies during the holiday season. Last year, Holiday Spirit helped families of the MHS Children and Family Focused Services program.

Commissioner Jimmy Dimora serves as President of Board of Cuyahoga County Commissioners. Commissioner Dimora emphasized that all citizens of Cuyahoga County benefit from the services funded by the current levy that Issue 19 replaces. He provides the example of the MetroHealth Medical Center's Level 1 Trauma Center for treatment of the most serious accidental injuries. Commissioner Dimora oversees 16 County departments.

Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones spoke of the modest cost of the Issue 19 replacement and reduction levy. He noted that the average market value of a home in Cuyahoga County was $130,000. Passage of issue 19 would cost the owner of a $130,000 house only $31.42 per month. Commissoner Jones then spoke of the many benefits of the Issue to those who are most vulnerable, including homeless adults and children. MHS operates two emergency shelters, the 135-bed Community Women's Shelter for homeless women and children, and the 50-bed Emergency Shelter for Disabled Men that serves homeless men with disabling conditions.

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