Lake County ADAMHS Board and Lake County Captains Award 2023 Behavioral Health Hometown Heroes

August 23, 2023

Lake County ADAMHS Board and Lake County Captains Award 2023 Behavioral Health Hometown Heroes

Lake County, OH: This past Friday, the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board and the Lake County Captains awarded 16 behavioral health professionals the title of Hometown Heroes for 2023. These heroes were selected by their peers for exemplary work in the behavioral health field as daily warriors fighting for those living with a substance use disorder and/or mental illness. The 16 agencies are licensed through the state of Ohio and are part of the Lake ADAMHS continuum of care.

Here are the following winners:

• Bridges Mental Health Consumer Empowerment empowers adults to a better life through group support and education. Bridges: Mental Health Consumer Empowerment’s Hometown Hero is Karen Baker.
• Catholic Charities – Lake County provides mental health counseling, youth employment programming and other supportive services to improve the quality of life for Lake County residents. The Catholic Charities’ Hometown Hero is Sharon Shumaker.
• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center supports survivors of rape and sexual abuse, promotes healing and prevention, and advocates for social change. Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s Hometown Hero is Lauren Spector.
• Crossroads Health is a nonprofit behavioral and primary health care provider serving the Northeast Ohio area. Crossroads Health’s Hometown Hero is Drew Williams.
• Extended Housing is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent and end homelessness for individuals in Lake County with a serious mental illness. Extended Housing’s Hometown Hero is Leah Houser.
• Family Pride is a community-based behavioral health agency that strives to support and inspire our community’s well-being through highly qualified, engaged staff who provide responsive and flexible services to individuals and families in Northeast Ohio. Family Pride’s Hometown Hero is Morgan Whitely.
• The Fine Arts Association seeks to create and discover beauty to foster a community empowered by the arts with locations in Willoughby, Euclid and Painesville. The Fine Arts Association’s Hometown Hero is Beth Price.
• Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers is a private non-profit corporation providing services to adults whose lives have been impacted by their own or another’s use of drugs or alcohol, problem gambling or mental illness. Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers’ Hometown Hero is Flo Gibson.
• Lifeline leads the fight against poverty by empowering community members to achieve self-sufficiency and by improving the quality of life for all residents. Lifeline’s Hometown Hero is Andrea Johnson.
• NAMI Lake County exists so that all individuals and families affected by mental health conditions can build better lives. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Hometown Hero is Linda Keith-Harper.
• Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare’s Class 1 Residential Care facilities in Willoughby and Madison provide safe, supportive transitional housing along with residential services. Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare’s Hometown Hero is Christine Marcinate.
• With health centers in Lake, Cuyahoga and Ashtabula counties, Signature Health helps patients reach their full potential through mental health, addiction recovery and primary care services. Signature Health’s Hometown Hero is Angelica Soto.
• Torchlight Youth Mentoring Alliance provides various mentoring programs to local youth in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties. Torchlight Youth Mentoring Alliance’s Hometown Hero is Tina Ringenbach.
• University Hospitals, the science of health, the art of compassion. University Hospitals, Lake West/TriPoint Medical Center, Emergency Department’s Hometown Hero is Kim Hearn-Vance.
• Celebrating 125 years of service, Windsor Laurelwood provides acute inpatient services and outpatient services for children as young as 6 years old, adolescents and adults with mental health issues, while also providing the full continuum of care for those adults with substance use disorders. Windsor Laurelwood Center for Behavioral Medicine’s Hometown Hero is Sache Reed.
• WomenSafe’s mission is to provide emergency shelter and support services to survivors of domestic violence throughout Northeast Ohio. WomenSafe’s Hometown hero is Liz Brant.

Congratulations to all the winners. Thank you for your steadfast effort and skill in helping those in our community.

About the Lake County ADAMHS Board: The Lake County ADAMHS Board plans, funds, monitors, and evaluates services available to residents who are living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. For more information, please visit www.HelpThatWorks.us.

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The photo attached is owned and able to be used for media. Photo credit David Schick from Lake ADAMHS.