Lake County ADAMHS Board transitions to new fiscal year

Chad Felton, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read
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Jul. 2—The Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board this month officially transitioned to a new fiscal year during its annual meeting.

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, officials noted, 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, which will provide services for local individuals and families living with mental illness or substance use disorders.

During the meeting, the board elected new officers Roberta Kalb, chair; Joanne Zeroske, vice chair; Pamela Kurt, treasurer; Amber Torres-Gonzalez, secretary; and Matt Sabo, past chair.

Other members include Carl Dondorfer, Dave Enzerra, Michael Hatton, Stacy Kramer, Curtis Lau, Nicole Parker, Marty Phillips III and Jeffery Taylor.

The board also honored Kim Collise, who retired at the end of her term.

Joan Englund, executive director of the Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy Coalition, presented "Behavioral Health in Ohio: Improving Data, Moving Towards Racial and Ethnic Equity," which examined "the statewide data collection and analysis that is needed and currently not available to better understand issues related to behavioral health in marginalized communities."

According to officials, the coalition aims to "find recommendations to inform initiatives directed at improving systems, policy, and practice that work toward equity in behavioral health" in Ohio.

ADAMHS Board Executive Director Kim Fraser emphasized "the importance of collaboration of agencies" in forecasting the county's future.

"The reality is that our board is nothing without the incredible partnership of our network, and (the) strong continuum of care they provide our community," she said. "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 board also bestowed its three annual systemwide awards, all of which, "in a twist," went to Damir Pavicic of Painesville-based Bridges Mental Health Consumer Empowerment, "due to his 30-year commitment to serving Lake County residents (in his role) as executive director."

Bridges grew out of a statewide $330,000 innovations grant in 1990, authored by (current) state Rep. Jamie Callender and Pavicic.

The nonprofit's programming includes recovery and wellness groups, warmline (confidential, free phone service) support, food/nutrition management, physical exercise instruction, and life skills development.

Under Pavicic's leadership, the agency opened its independent location and gained certification from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.