Crisis Hotline: 1-800-888-6161
Non-Emergency Navigator: 440-240-7025
Crisis Hotline: 1-800-888-6161
Non-Emergency Navigator: 440-240-7025
Approximately 200 people filled Lakeview Terrace on August 31 to remember those whose lives were lost to accidental overdose in Lorain County. In 2020, 138 lives were tragically lost to accidental overdose. The families of those whose lives were lost as well as those in recovery spoke about their experiences. Several partners from the Lorain County Opioid Action Team provided resources.
Leading up to the event, a number of locations around Lorain County displayed 138 flags and signage in memory of the 138 lives lost in 2020 due to accidental overdose. On August 31, employees at the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County dressed in purple in honor of the lives lost. The Lorain County vigil was one of hundreds that were held around the world on August 31 for International Overdose Awareness Day.
Below are some scenes from the event.
The Lorain County Board of Commissioners voted today to allocate $4 million for a crisis stabilization center aimed at helping those struggling with addiction and mental health issues.
“The $4 million in funding from Lorain County matches $4 million previously allocated by the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County for a crisis center,” said County Commissioner Michelle Hung. “The facility would help divert those struggling with addiction and mental health issues from the criminal justice system to get the help they need and ease the burden on law enforcement to deal with these medical issues in the midst of their day-to-day work in ensuring public safety.”
Commissioner Matt Lundy added, “A crisis stabilization center is not just a game-changer, it’s a life saver, and it’s critical to our local economy. Instead of flooding our courts and jails, we can dedicate ourselves to putting people back to work and most importantly back with their families. This is one of the most important decisions and investments this board will ever make to change lives in our county.”
The Lorain County facility will offer 32 beds, 16 for those struggling with mental health issues and 16 for those seeking help for addiction. It will be staffed by medical professionals specializing in addiction and mental health. The $4 million allocated from the County Commissioners is funded by dollars from Lorain County’s recent opioid settlement and from The American Rescue Plan.
“When a person experiences an addiction or mental health crisis, it may not always be clear to them, their loved ones and law enforcement how to handle these specialized medical issues,” said MHARS Board Executive Director Michael Doud. “This crisis center is a front door to access services in our community. It is an investment in modernizing the level of care we are able to provide Lorain County residents struggling with addiction and mental health issues.”
Today’s vote was preceded by a presentation to the Board of Commissioners from Executive Director Doud, The Nord Center’s CEO Don Schiffbauer, The LCADA Way’s President & CEO Dan Haight and MHARS Board of Directors President Dan Urbin.
Urbin, who shared with the Board of Commissioners the story of his road to recovery added, “My passion has been to help others who seek a life of recovery from their disease. Living a life of sobriety for me is best defined by being ‘considerate and understanding.’ We are pleased with the Commissioners’ decision to fund this important and long-awaited facility here in Lorain County. To have a crisis center in Lorain County would indeed be very considerate and, without a doubt, very understanding.”
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OhioGuidestone, a valued MHARS Board provider, is the recent recipient of a $23,600 Amy Levin Fund award for training and implementation of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for youth.
The MHARS Board congratulates OhioGuidestone on its receiving of these funds. A committee consisting of a Levin family designee, two board members and two staff reviewed the proposal and determined it was consistent with the spirit and intent of the Amy Levin Fund.
TF-CBT is nationally recognized as a best practice, evidence-based model in the treatment of youth who have experienced trauma. It is a treatment model that improves a range of trauma-related outcomes following 8-25 sessions with a child/adolescent and their caregiver. Although TF-CBT is highly effective at improving youth post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis, a PTSD diagnosis is not required in order to receive this treatment. TF-CBT also effectively addresses many other trauma impacts, including affective (e.g., depressive, anxiety), cognitive and behavioral problems. It also can also improve the participating parent or caregiver’s personal distress about the child’s traumatic experience, effective parenting skills and supportive interactions with the child.
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The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), in partnership with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Children’s Initiative and the Ohio Department of Medicaid, has announced that the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County is the recipient of a $224,368 grant for Mobile Response Stabilization Services (MRSS).
“This grant will allow us to reach youth and their families with critical services when and where they are most urgently needed,” said MHARS Board Executive Director Michael Doud. “It is an important addition to our toolbelt to ensure we improve our crisis response in Lorain County.”
The MHARS Board of Lorain County is one of eight behavioral health boards in Ohio to receive an MRSS grant. Ohio’s MRSS program provides mobile, on-site and rapid intervention for youth ages 0-21 who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This allows for immediate de-escalation of the situation in the least restrictive setting possible, prevention of the condition from worsening and the timely stabilization of the crisis. The mobile crisis component of MRSS is designed to provide time-limited, on-demand crisis intervention services in any setting in which a behavioral health crisis is occurring, including homes, schools and emergency departments. Depending on the needs of the child, the stabilization component may include a temporary, out-of-home crisis resolution in a safe environment.
“These investments are an important step forward for Ohio in meeting the needs of children and families experiencing a mental health crisis,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “While nobody can predict when and where a mental health crisis will occur, Ohio’s MRSS Program represents an important first line of defense in providing timely access to services, improving outcomes for children and families, and reducing burdens on law enforcement and emergency departments.”
“The goal of this program is to intercede before urgent behavioral situations become unmanageable emergencies,” said OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss. “This expansion will allow us to engage young people and their families immediately to de-escalate a crisis and provide local stabilization services that help keep them safe and healthy in their own homes and communities.”
Click here to view OhioMHAS’s press release.
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The MHARS Board of Lorain County works with amazing providers to serve those in need in our area. At a “Christmas in July” picnic on July 30, we celebrated them in thanks for all they do.
The event was held at the Gathering Hope House next to the MHARS offices. Dozens from people from various entities attended the annual event.
Check out these snapshots of the day, which included lunch served by MHARS staff and a welcome from our new Executive Director Michael Doud.
On July 29, the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County bid farewell to former Interim Executive Director Elaine Georgas who retired after 30 years of service.
A retirement open house was held in her honor at the Amy Levin Center at the MHARS. Board of Directors President Dan Urbin presented her with a plaque in recognition of her service as well as a plaque that will be placed alongside a tree that was planted by the Amy Levin Center in her honor. County Commissioner Matt Lundy presented Georgas with a proclamation. Staff presented her with a gift on their behalf.
Below are scenes from the event.
The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County will be joined by fellow Lorain County Opioid Action Team partners to hold a vigil on August 31 on International Overdose Awareness Day. The vigil will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Lakeview Terrace at Lakeview Park in memory of the 138 lives tragically lost in Lorain County in 2020 due to accidental overdose.
“Each year, the number of Lorain County residents who die from accidental overdose continues to rise and it is a problem not only in our area but around the country,” said MHARS Executive Director Michael Doud. “By increasing the public’s awareness of their proximity to those struggling with substance use disorder and reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths, we can all do our part to reduce the number of our loved ones lost to overdose.”
This year’s event will feature a candlelight vigil and shoe display memorializing those who have walked the road of addiction and died. In addition, those in recovery and the families of those lost to overdose will share their stories. Community partners will also be on hand to share important resources. The event is free and open to the public.
Leading up to the event, two free trainings will be held in August. All are invited to these trainings especially persons in recovery, the loved ones of those struggling with addiction, first responders, counselors, social workers, medical personnel, faith leaders, veterans, teachers, business leaders and community members:
In 2019, there were a record 874 IOAD events of all kinds, held in 39 countries. Last year, despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, the world united again to hold 602 events. People and communities come together annually to raise awareness of one of the world’s most urgent public health crises – one that, unfortunately, is only getting worse.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s most recent World Annual Drug Report, 585,000 people around the world died as a result of drug use in 2017. Statistics for 2020 show that the situation has become even more critical since the current pandemic began, decreasing tolerance of people who struggle with substance user disorder and disrupting both services and the drug supply chain.
Those who are unable to attend the event but would like to support from afar are welcome to light up their homes in purple on August 31. They are also encouraged to wear purple at home, school and/or work and share photos of their gatherings on social media with the hashtag #EndOverdose.
We will livestream much of the event on our Facebook page at facebook.com/mharslc. Click here to view the event flyer.
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Former Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County Interim Executive Director Elaine Georgas has announced she will retire effective July 30. Please join us in celebrating her work and retirement at an open house on July 29 at the Amy Levin Center next to the MHARS Board offices. Drop-in hours are from 3-6 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres will be served.
In 1991, Georgas joined the staff at the ADAS Board of Lorain County and became its Executive Director in 1999 until it merged with the county mental health board in 2019. Click here to read more about her retirement announcement.
Although an RSVP is not required, it is appreciated. Please RSVP via Eventbrite by clicking here.
If you are unable to attend or would like to record or write a farewell message, please visit our Kudoboard.
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LORAIN, OHIO – Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County former Interim Executive Director Elaine Georgas has announced she will retire effective July 30.
“It has been a privilege to serve in various roles over my career to build systems and services that enhance Lorain County’s system of care for prevention, treatment and recovery services to support our residents and their families,” Georgas said. “I cherish the expertise and friendships from our board’s committed staffs and board members, community providers, city, county and state leadership – who I worked alongside – to accomplish what we have done together. My future is still being written.”
Following the merger of the former Lorain County Board of Mental Health and the Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services (ADAS) Board of Lorain County in 2019, Georgas led the newly formed MHARS Board for more than two years as interim Executive Director. In that time, she helped the new MHARS Board navigate the challenging process of merging two staff teams, a new Board of Directors, an integrated budget, blended roster of service providers and consolidated locations among other things. During the process, the MHARS Board also was responsible for communicating those changes to the community, governmental leadership, partner agencies and countless other stakeholders. In early 2021, following an extensive search with the aid of a consulting firm, the Board of Directors announced it had selected a new Executive Director to fill the role, Michael Doud.
“I sincerely thank Ms. Georgas for all she has done to merge the two boards. She has laid a good foundation for the MHARS Board’s important work as we continue to move forward,” Doud said. “I also thank her for her 30 years of service with the ADAS and MHARS Boards on behalf of our staff and the countless others whose lives were bettered by her work.”
In 1991, Georgas joined the staff at the ADAS Board of Lorain County and became Executive Director in 1999 until the merging of the two boards. She holds a B.A. in Finance from Cleveland State University and an Associate of Arts degree from Lorain County Community College.
Some of her civic and other accomplishments include the following:
“I have known and worked with Ms. Georgas for about 15 years, with both the MHARS board and the former ADAS board. In that time, she has demonstrated a strong knowledge of substance use disorders and mental health issues as well as a passion for helping others. She has always gone above and beyond to get the job done,” said MHARS Board of Directors President Dan Urbin. “I wish her well on her retirement and thank her for her service to Lorain County.”
Please save the date for a farewell event that will be held in recognition of Georgas’s tremendous work. All who would like to wish her well are invited to an open house on July 29. More info will be posted soon on the MHARS website at www.mharslc.org.
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The below letter appeared in the July 7, 2021 MHARS Board eNewsletter. If you’re not subscribed, sign up for our updates by clicking here.
Dear MHARS Board Supporter,
Hello. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County. As a native of Lorain, I am thrilled to be serving the people of Lorain County.
Prior to joining the MHARS Board, I worked in behavioral health throughout Northeast Ohio for more than 30 years. Most recently, I was the Chief Operating Officer of the Emerald Development & Economic Network Inc. (EDEN), a non-profit community housing development agency in Cleveland. Before that, I was the Director of Adult Behavioral Health Services at the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS Board) of Cuyahoga County for 20 years. I have also worked at The Nord Center and St. Joseph/Community Health Partners in Lorain as well as Alternative Paths BHC in Medina. I’m a graduate of Cleveland State University, where I earned my B.A. I also hold a Master of Science degree in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and am a Social Worker licensed by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board.
After the merger of the mental and behavioral health boards of Lorain County about two years ago, there have been great strides to unite the services and mission of both under the leadership of former interim executive director Elaine Georgas. I thank her for her leadership and assisting me during my transition to this new role.
There are a number of challenges facing this community and I’m confident we will be able to face them. My goal is to see the continued enhancement of our crisis response system for both children and adults. There is a need for further investment in prevention and early intervention services. We must support the development of a continuum of housing and recovery support services to support the crisis system for those individuals exiting the most expensive service to be made available in this community. All of this is not an easy task but I’m very optimistic, as I see the enthusiasm shared by many of the key stakeholders in this community to support change. We want this to be the community of choice. I’m honored to lead this organization of talented professionals as we work in collaboration with the broader community in Lorain County.
I look forward to continuing the invaluable work of this Board and meeting with community leaders, supporters, the faith community and all those we serve. Very soon, you’ll see a number of important announcements about the MHARS Board and opportunities for you to support our various initiatives, programs and partners. We hope you’ll join us in promoting our good work and services.
Thank you,
Michael Doud
Executive Director
MHARS Board of Lorain County
