Lake County, OH: The Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board officially transitioned to a new fiscal year Tuesday during its annual meeting and dinner event held at LaMalfa. Nearly 140 people attended.
Established by Ohio Statute, the ADAMHS Board is responsible for planning, funding, monitoring, and evaluating Lake County’s community-based mental health and substance use recovery services. Those services are delivered through a network of agencies. Board members – all Lake County residents who serve without compensation – include medical professionals, mental health and recovery experts, consumers (people who need and use services), relatives of consumers, community leaders and business professionals.
The Board approved $13.14 million in ongoing non-Medicaid funding for its 2023 fiscal year. Those funds will provide services for local individuals and families who are living with mental illness or substance use disorders.
During the meeting the Lake ADAMHS Board elected new officers for its new fiscal-year. The slate includes Roberta Kalb, Chair; Joanne Zeroske, Vice-Chair; Pamela Kurt, Treasurer; Amber Torres-Gonzalez, Secretary; and Matt Sabo, Past Chair. Other fiscal-year 2024 Board members include Carl Dondorfer, Dave Enzerra, Michael Hatton, Stacy Kramer, Curtis Lau, Nicole Parker, Marty Phillips III and Jeffery Taylor.
The Lake ADAMHS Board honored Kim Collise whom retired at the end of her term from the Lake ADAMHS Board.
Following the formal Board meeting, Board members, staff and guests shared dinner and a program that included guest speaker Joan Englund, the Executive Director of the Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition. Joan presented on Behavioral Health in Ohio: Improving Data, Moving Towards Racial & Ethnic Equity. Her presentation discussed the statewide data collection and analysis that is needed and currently not available to better understand issues related to behavioral health in marginalized communities. Her coalition aims to find recommendations to inform initiatives directed at improving systems, policy, and practice that work toward equity in behavioral health in Ohio. The Lake ADAMHS Board Executive Director, Kim Fraser, used her time at the podium to underscore the importance of collaboration of agencies, the expansion of data being collected, and the staff assistance in forecasting our County’s future. “The reality is that our board is nothing without the incredible partnership of our network, and strong continuum of care they provide our community,” she explained. “They stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lake ADAMHS, stomping out stigma and helping connect those in need with vital services including prevention and education, evidence-based treatment services, and recovery supports”.
The ADAMHS Board bestowed its three annual system-wide awards at the event. In a twist, Damir Pavicic from Bridges: Mental Health Consumer Empowerment, in Painesville, was awarded all three awards due to his 30-year commitment to serving Lake County residents as the Executive Director. Bridges grew out of a statewide $330,000 innovations grant in 1990, authored by state representative Jamie Callender and Damir Pavicic. Bridges’ programming includes recovery and wellness groups, a Warmline-providing supportive listening, food/nutrition management, teaching of physical exercise and overall development of life skills. Under Damir’s leadership the agency opened its own independent location and gained certification from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Over the past three decades Damir has been a vocal advocate for behavioral health, gaining the ear and respect of local, state, and federal leaders and legislators. Many of these political figures were in attendance on Tuesday to present certificates of recognition to Damir.
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 photos attached are owned and able to be used for media. Photo credit David Schick from Lake ADAMHS.
Guest speaker Joan Englund (middle) – Executive Director of the Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition with Kim Fraser (left) – Lake ADAMHS Executive Director and Jackie Bruner (right) – Lake ADAMHS Director of Operations.
Damir Pavicic (left) from Bridges: Mental Health Consumer Empowerment, in Painesville, was awarded all three annual awards due to his 30-year commitment to serving Lake County residents as the Executive Director. Photo: Judge John Eklund (speaking), Judge Robert Patton (middle) and Commissioner John Hamercheck (right).
Contact: David Schick
The Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Menth Health Services (ADAMHS) Board
Phone: 440-350-2193
Email: DSchick@LakeADAMHS.org