10/9/8/08
News Brief: The Licking County Board of MRDD
recently hosted two public hearings regarding the
agency's 2009 Annual
Action Plan. To review a draft copy of the 2009 Annual
Action Plan summary, please click
here.
To read the 2008
Annual Action Plan: click
here.
WELCOME LETTER
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
September 2, 2008
Welcome to the brand new, stand-alone Website of the Licking County
Board of MRDD.
We are Licking County's most comprehensive provider of
services and supports for people with developmental
disabilities. We serve more than 1,300 people with
mental retardation and other developmental disabilities
throughout the county.
Some of these people are beautiful
babies and playful toddlers, some are working adults,
and some are young people in school who learn more
slowly. They all seek to lead their lives to the best of
their abilities, and be successful community
partners.
Created under Ohio Law in 1967, the
Licking County Board of MRDD makes the most of our
funding. We measure our success by the sounds of
children learning to speak, the smile from an adult
getting his first job or apartment in the community, and
the thanks received from a family getting the help
needed to keep an older family member with disabilities
living at home.
Our staff takes very seriously the
stewardship of your tax dollars, and we take great care
to provide quality services to the more than 1,300
children and adults we serve. Like other agencies, the
LCBMRDD continues to receive significant cuts in state
funding. In 2002, state funding was 20 percent of our
budget. Last year, it was just 10 percent. In response,
we have become very good at working with families to
determine what their priorities are, and putting our
resources where they are needed most. A broad network of
community service organizations is tapped to assist in
providing needed services in the most cost-efficient
manner. We appreciate our many community partners,
especially in the provision of residential services --
an area of growing need and interest to people with
disabilities in Licking County and throughout Ohio.
HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE PAST YEAR
This past May, 34
preschool students were congratulated as they move from
the E.S. Weiant Center in Newark to kindergarten in
their home school districts this fall. Both
typically-developing students and those with
disabilities attend classes at the Center, which is
operated by the LCBMRDD.
A total of 144
preschool-age children received early childhood
education services at the E.S. Weiant Center during the
last school year.
In 2007, a total of 262
infants and toddlers received early intervention
services at both the E.S. Weiant Center in Newark and the Ann
Davino Center in Pataskala. Early intervention services include
speech therapies, and occupational and physical
therapies.
In January 2008, we celebrated five
years operating the Ann Davino Center, located in the
former Jersey Elementary School. We thank the
Licking Heights Local School District for their
cooperation and partnership in this venture that
benefits the people of western Licking County.
Last year, LICCO Inc., the sheltered
workshop operated by the LCBMRDD's Adult Services staff,
continued to partner with local businesses to provide
meaningful work experiences to the more than 220 adults
employed there.
Through support from LICCO's Community Employment
Services, another 159 adults worked in the community,
adding their earnings to the local economic picture. Exclusive LICCO product lines --
including Spirit Line Jewelry, Quality Time Products and
Simply Notables -- saw dramatic sales increases in the
last year, which created additional work experiences for those with disabilities.
The number of individuals and families
needing and waiting for residential support continues to
be a challenge. In 2007, more than 200 adults and
children received residential services through the
LCBMRDD. We continue to make progress by accessing a
Medicaid Waiver program that helps pay for the cost of
these services. In addition, 296 families received
support services such as respite care and/or home
modifications (or adaptive equipment) to help them care
for their sons and daughters at home.
Also in 2007, more than 480 school-age
children and 474 adults received service coordination
(case management) support through the Licking County
Board of MRDD.
Safe and reliable
transportation with flexible scheduling is offered to
individuals enrolled in LCBMRDD programs. Our fleet of
about 30 vehicles includes state-certified buses and
vans. Several are equipped with wheelchair lifts and
other adaptive devices to enable passengers with
physical disabilities to be transported safely and
comfortably. Transportation Services
travels about 600,000 miles each year throughout the
county.
Year after year, we thank
our community for its kind support -- particularly our
partners in service delivery, Board members, local
employers, and especially the citizens of Licking County
who provide the means necessary to meet the needs of the
individuals we serve.
Please continue to
check back to this Website for updates. We would like to
know what you think and to solicit your suggestions for
how we can improve your online experience. Please forward your comments to our Webmaster: admin@LCBMRDD.org.
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