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New Phone Number for Eligibility
The agency's Introduction and Eligibility (formerly Intake) Department has a new phone number for first-time callers. Please call
(513) 559-6990.
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Calendar and upcoming events
Email about events that might be of interest to the community and added to the calendar here.
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People for DD Services
The agency's 2014 Levy Campaign has a Facebook page!
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Revised HIPAA Confidentiality Policy
The agency has revised its Confidentiality Policy to meet HIPAA guidelines that go into effect July 24, 2013.
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Thank you from Boston
The Queensgate office, which houses Service Facilitators, Funding, Benefits and other Community Services, sent a card to the City of Boston after the marathon bombing. They were kind enough to send a note back! Click here to read it.
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In Memoriam
We were sad to learn that Lynn Sundermann, long-time board member and supporter of our agency and people with disabilities, died on May 30. She was 68. Lynn served faithfully on our board from 1994 to 2006. The Board named an award at our annual banquet after her when she completed her service. The award recognized people with disabilities who had achieved a personal milestone. Lynn selected her award winner every year, including this year a few months before she died. Read more at: Lynn Sundermann Obituary on Cincinnati.com.
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Agency awarded grant for at-risk youth services
The agency, in partnership with other local agencies that serve people with disabilities and mental illness, has been awarded a state grant to fund services for at-risk youth, resulting from an initiative by Ohio Governor John Kasich.
The grant is being awarded by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health and Addiction Services. HCDDS's grant is one of seven across the state, chose from 38 applications.
"We are grateful to be one of the seven areas in Ohio to receive support from the Governor to help families and youth who are at risk of harming themselves or others," said Alice Pavey, HCDDS Superintendent. "We in Hamilton County are especially fortunate to work with such a wide range of community partners who are joining with us in this grant to develop more comprehensive services than we've been able to provide with local funds."
Partners in the grant are Lifepoint Solutions, Finding Hope, Hope for Children and Families, Resident Home Corporation, Lighthouse Youth Services, and the Hamilton County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board.
The Directors of the Ohio Departments of Developmental Disabilities (John Martin) and Mental Health & Addiction Services (Tracy Plouck) are to visit Hamilton County soon to discuss the grant.
Be on the lookout for more details!
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I hope you are enjoying the summer with your families and friends. We've been enjoying some interesting developments at Hamilton County DD Services in this season.
First, the DD Services subcommittee of the Hamilton County Tax Levy Review Committee (TLRC) released its mid-term levy report about our agency in June. We hosted members of the subcommittee last year at Fairfax and Jackson as they were preparing for this report.
The report noted that we have "continued to be good stewards" as we have "adjusted to the challenging economic environment." I was also particularly proud of the comment "as they have met challenges they have continued to maintain a high level of excellence in the services they provide" and "indeed their services are an asset to Hamilton County."
Doesn't get much better!
The TLRC is a volunteer committee appointed by the Hamilton County Commissioners to review and study our agency and make a recommendation to the Commissioners about the amount of levy they will allow us to put on the ballot every five years.
Our next TLRC process will start at the end of this year for the 2014 levy. The Hamilton County DD Services property tax levy provides 72 percent of our agency's funding.
Speaking of funding, we were excited to receive notice recently that we've been awarded a grant through an initiative of Governor Kasich's called "Strong Families Safe Communities."
The grant is for $693,000 and will help us work with several community partners to provide crisis services for children and youth, which is a gap in our community.
Last but certainly not least, we have begun strategic planning in earnest with members of our leadership team and other managers within the agency for 2014 and beyond. We are reviewing various key data points about our services and the trends amongst services to people across the state and nationwide.
Looking forward to involving more staff, providers, individuals and families and other key stakeholders this fall, and having the plan completed by January.
Alice Pavey, Superintendent, Hamilton County DD Services
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Director of Program Services accepts position with State
Kim Hauck, Director of Program Services, which encompasses adult centers, schools and Early Intervention, left her position effective July 5, 2013 for The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities in Columbus with the Early Intervention Department.
We wish Kim the best and will miss her. Matt Briner, Assistant Director of Program Services, is taking on her responsibilities in the interim.
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Speaking Up Summer issue is out
The Summer issue of Speaking Up, a newsletter by agency advocates, has been published. This issue contains stories about employment and the Advocacy Leadership Network. Click here to read it! |
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Summer Picnic!
The Multisystems Service Facilitation team held a picnic in June. The group had lunch at Bechtold Park, played sports and socialized. The group has get-togethers and outings every quarter. The purpose of these quarterly events is for individuals to be social, have fun, and to feel appreciated for their hard work. The Multisystems team works with those who are involved in the criminal justice system. The team hopes that individuals will gain skills and supports that will help them continue to make healthy, safe and happy choices. |
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Meet Logan
When first meeting Logan, it's easy to tell where his interests lie.
He often wears his red, white and blue striped bow tie, flag pin and styles his hair in an Elvis pompadour.
"He's always been interested in the presidents and America. He is very non-partisan, too. He loves them all," said his mom Rene.
Even his love of Elvis spawned from his interest in presidents.
Logan was the recipient of a trip from the Make a Wish Foundation when he was eight years old. He wanted to meet the president, of course, but there was a three-year waiting list. So Logan and his parents did the next best thing- took a VIP tour of Washington DC.
"They drove us around in a limo and had police escorts to all the monuments," said Logan. "Everyone thought we were famous."
One morning on the trip, Logan visited the National Archives before opening and was immediately drawn to the famous picture of Richard Nixon meeting Elvis.
"He said, 'WHO IS THAT MAN WITH RICHARD MILHOUS NIXON?!'" Rene recalls. "He's been a fan ever since."
"I even have an Elvis jumpsuit," said Logan. His favorite Elvis songs are the patriotic themed ones, An American Trilogy and America the Beautiful.
Logan, who is a soon-to-be eleventh grader at Mariemont High School, has no official diagnosis for his disability and is treated symptomatically. He has profound hearing loss, an immune deficiency, and receives a blood infusion every week. He's been to the surgery department at Children's Hospital over 100 times.
"We have had a lot of downs, but lots of ups too," said Rene. "It evens out."
He has a knack for meeting and befriending politicians and military personnel. He recently met County Commissioner Todd Portune, who quizzed him about presidential trivia, and has many signed pictures featuring him and a political figure shaking hands. He also recently became an honorary member of the Emerald Society of Cincinnati, an organization of police with Irish heritage.
In addition, Logan loves acting and is a member of Dramakinetics, an integrated arts and drama organization, and enjoys going to Visionaries and Voices to create art twice a month. He also does volunteer speaking engagements for Children's Hospital.
"We love to travel, learn about history and watch Elvis impersonators," said Rene, "Logan just wants to enjoy life!"
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