Issue 9, the Lorain County Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Renewal Levy Passes with Overwhelming Support from Voters

Voters approved – with 72.42% support in all but one precinct reporting as of 9:30 p.m. – a renewal of a five-year Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Levy in Lorain County to ensure that families continue to have access to mental health crisis options in emergencies, treatment and prevention programs for children and adults, and addiction recovery services.

“We would like to thank all residents in Lorain County for showing their support of evidenced based prevention and treatment services,” said Michael Doud, Executive Director. “The passage of this levy allows the Board to reinforce a strategic plan to best utilize service delivery today and provides hope for tomorrow. We are committed to meeting the recovery needs of our service area with evidence-based programming that will strengthen our community and individuals in need of mental health care. This YES vote allows us to better provide for those in need.” The Board would like to thank our coalition of providers, our partners, and community volunteers. On behalf of the nearly 16,000 Lorain County residents who receive mental health and recovery services across our health network, we would especially like to thank the voters for their continued support.

“The Board and staff are very grateful to the community for their belief in the work and services the Mental Health, Addiction & Recovery Services Board does in Lorain County,” said Board Chair Dan Urbin.

About the Levy:
The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services levy was a renewal of a $3.9 million, 0.6- mill, 5-year levy on the November 8, 2022, ballot. It is less than $1.25/month ($14.95/year) per $100,000 of property value. This levy, which won’t raise taxes, is one of the smallest in Lorain
County. State and federal funding for mental health and addiction treatment has remained relatively flat. In Lorain County, local support typically provides 59% of the annual operating budget that makes services possible. Passage of the renewal levy continues valued mental health and
addiction services to sustain a safe, vibrant community.

PHOTOS: Friends of the MHARS Board Open House

The Friends of the MHARS Board hosted an open house at the Amy Levin Center at the MHARS Board offices Sept. 19, providing attendees with an opportunity to learn more about what we do, meet members of our board and staff, and learn about volunteer opportunities.

We thank the approximately 100 people who attended. If you are interested in supporting the campaign but were unable to attend, click here to sign up for various options to support us in getting this critical levy renewal, Issue 9, passed on Nov. 8. Issue 9 is a five-year renewal of the existing levy funding the MHARS Board, and is not a tax increase. Learn more about Issue 9 at voteforissue9.com.

Check out scenes from the event below, and find out how you can help support the critical work of the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County by voting for Issue 9. 

PHOTOS: First Responders Week of Appreciation

In support of those on the front lines of the opioid crisis, the Mental Health, Addiction & Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County and volunteers showed their gratitude for First Responders Week of Appreciation. Volunteers took thank you baskets to law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, children’s service workers, 911 dispatchers, behavioral health workers, and others helping to save lives in Lorain County.

Thank you, first responders, for all you do! Here are some scenes from deliveries throughout Lorain County.

About the MHARS Renewal Levy 

About the MHARS Renewal Levy 

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to place a five-year renewal of the existing levy funding the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot. This renewal — which is not a tax increase — will be used to make sure that families have mental health crisis options in emergencies, treatment and prevention programs for children and adults, and addiction recovery services.

Mental illness and addiction are medical issues, not moral failings or character flaws. Recovery is possible, and your help passing this levy is crucial to help those struggling and their loved ones, not just now but into the future.

Here’s what you need to know about the renewal levy and how it will help the MHARS Board perform its essential services.

Just the Facts 

The MHARS levy is a renewal of a $3.9 million, 0.6-mill, 5-year levy on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot. It is less than $1.75/month ($21/year) per $100,000 of property value. This levy, which won’t raise taxes, is one of the smallest in Lorain County.

State and federal funding for mental health and addiction treatment has remained relatively flat. In Lorain County, local support typically provides 59% of the annual operating budget that makes services possible. Passage of the renewal levy will continue valued mental health and addiction services to sustain a safe, vibrant community.

The Purpose 

The residents of Lorain County have been essential partners in ensuring that families have mental health crisis options in emergencies, treatment and prevention programs for children and adults, and addiction recovery services. The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Renewal Levy is critical to ensure cost effective prevention and intervention programs continue. These include:

• Investing in heroin and opioid addiction recovery programs
• Providing mental health and recovery services for children and families who cannot afford to pay for them, have nowhere else to turn, and could go untreated
• Helping teachers identify and connect students to treatment
• Providing training that improves skills of clinicians, law enforcement, and community members

The Bottom Line 

1. Nearly 16,000 Lorain County residents received mental health and recovery services across our health network in 2021. This renewal contributes a significant amount to keeping those services available for families – 24% of the clients served in our network are children.
2. Good steward of taxpayer dollars. The Lorain County Commissioners regularly reviews the levy and voted unanimously to place it on November 2022 ballot for renewal. By providing intervention and prevention services, the levy helps significantly reduce the burden on county resources. When compared to other alternatives, interventions funded by the levy are efficient and effective investments.
3. The levy is one of thesmallest county-wide operating levy, $1.75/month, and if approved by voters, it would continue to maintain support services promoting stronger and more vibrant communities in Lorain County.
4. With this levy renewal, we will continue to promote stronger, safer communities by funding programs essential to effective mental health and addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

Do Your Part – VOTE! 

You can help us build stronger communities in Lorain County and maintain these vital services by voting FOR the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services renewal levy on Nov. 8.

ARE YOU REGISTERED?

CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION:  Visit MYOHIOVOTE.COM to check your registration and where to vote.

GET REGISTERED:  If you have a valid driver’s license, visit MYOHIOVOTE.COM to get registered online. Deadline is Oct. 11.

VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT

If you are a registered voter, download an application form at MYOHIOVOTE.COM. Mail in the filled-out form and you will receive your ballot in the mail. Remember to mail back or drop off your ballot by Nov. 7 to:

Lorain County Board of Elections
1985 North Ridge Road East
Lorain, OH 44055
voteloraincountyohio.gov 

EARLY VOTE

You can also vote early, in person, by visiting the Board of Elections. Early voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 12 and runs through 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7.

VOTE ON ELECTION DAY

Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8. Make sure to check your polling location with the Board of Elections.

The residents of Lorain County have been essential partners in ensuring that families have mental health crisis options in emergencies, treatment and prevention programs for children and adults, and addiction recovery services. The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Renewal Levy is critical to ensure cost effective prevention and intervention programs continue. These include:

• Investing in heroin and opioid addiction recovery programs
• Providing mental health and recovery services for children and families who cannot afford to pay for them, have nowhere else to turn, and could go untreated
• Helping teachers identify and connect students to treatment
• Providing training that improves skills of clinicians, law enforcement, and community members

Renewal Levy for Lorain County MHARS Board Placed on November 2022 Ballot

LORAIN, OHIO – The Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to place a five-year renewal of an existing levy funding the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County on the November 2022 ballot.

Voters last approved, with 74 percent support, a five-year levy in 2018 to ensure that families have mental health crisis options in emergencies, treatment and prevention programs for children and adults, and addiction recovery services. The MHARS renewal levy is critical to ensure cost effective prevention and intervention programs continue.

The levy request on the November ballot, won’t raise taxes, but it will continue to promote stronger, safer communities by funding programs essential to effective mental health and addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

“Nearly 16,000 Lorain County residents received mental health and recovery services across our health network in 2020,” said Michael Doud, Executive Director. “The levy, which won’t raise taxes, continues to care for individuals in Lorain County and their families in times of crisis.”

With the construction of the new Lorain County Crisis Receiving Center – a 32-bed facility for those experiencing mental health and substance use disorder crises – the levy renewal will be an essential part of strengthening the crisis continuum in the county.

“This levy will not raise taxes,” said Dan Urbin, Chair of the MHARS Board of Directors. “In 2021, there were 147 overdose deaths. The number of overdoses from January to May 2022 has surpassed the number of overdoses from the same time period last year, January to May 2021. These dollars are essential to address mental health and the addiction epidemic in Lorain County.”

The levy will be assigned an issue number in September. The voter registration deadline for the November 8 election is October 11.

MHARS Board Observes June as Pride Month

June marks Pride Month in the United States. The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County supports access to services for all community members and understands the impact that support, inclusion and empathy can have. The celebration of Pride symbolizes the recognition, inclusion and vitality of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

To highlight the importance of access to mental health care, affirming services and life-saving support, last year’s National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021 found that:

• 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth.
• 12% of white youth attempted suicide compared to 31% of Native/Indigenous youth, 21% of Black youth, 21% of multiracial youth, 18% of Latinx youth, and 12% of Asian/Pacific Islander youth.
• 94% of LGBTQ youth reported that recent politics negatively impacted their mental health.
• More than 80% of LGBTQ youth stated that COVID-19 made their living situation more stressful — and only 1 in 3 LGBTQ youth found their home to be LGBTQ-affirming.
• 70% of LGBTQ youth stated that their mental health was “poor” most of the time or always during COVID-19.
• 48% of LGBTQ youth reported they wanted counseling from a mental health professional but were unable to receive it in the past year.
• 30% of LGBTQ youth experienced food insecurity in the past month, including half of all Native/Indigenous LGBTQ youth. 75% of LGBTQ youth reported that they had experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity at least once in their lifetime.
• Half of all LGBTQ youth of color reported discrimination based on their race/ethnicity in the past year, including 67% of Black LGBTQ youth and 60% of Asian/Pacific Islander LGBTQ youth.
• 13% of LGBTQ youth reported being subjected to conversion therapy, with 83% reporting it occurred when they were under age 18.
• Transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having pronouns respected by all of the people they lived with attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected by anyone with whom they lived.
• Transgender and nonbinary youth who were able to change their name and/or gender marker on legal documents, such as driver’s licenses and birth certificates, reported lower rates of attempting suicide.
• LGBTQ youth who had access to spaces that affirmed their sexual orientation and gender identity reported lower rates of attempting suicide.

Check out The Trevor Project National Survey to view interactive survey results and to learn more about the relationship between mental health, support and access to affirming services.