On May 7, 2002, the citizens of Hamilton County passed the mental health tax levy which will generate $32,700,000 in its first year. This is a renewal millage of 2.47, plus an additional millage of .27. The additional cost to a $100,000 homeowner is $7.95 annually. These levy dollars will support needed growth in existing mental health programs and allow for new mental health programs such as the planned mental health court. A substantial part of the increased levy funding will be used to address children’s mental health service needs as outlined in the County 2002 Budget recently passed by the Board of County Commissioners.

Services provided by the Mental Health Board with funding from the levy include:
Community Support Services: Rehabilitation, case management and related support services to 7,388 adults and children with disabling or serious emotional impairment.

Crisis Services: A crisis intervention system responds when people feel overwhelmed or distressed by mental illness, including a Respite Center, a Crisis Stabilization Center, 281-CARE Hotline and a Mobile Crisis response team which responded to 1,659 calls.

Hospitalization: The Board contracts with community hospitals for consumers needing a highly structured, safe and secure environment.

Counseling: Individual and group therapy reaching more than 5,000 adults and 1,400 children annually.

Housing/Residential: A range of affordable living environments to suit individual treatment needs, including long-term and emergency accommodations. Includes a network of 75 family-style care homes serving 300 adults and subsidized apartments in 79 buildings in 30 neighborhoods throughout the county.

Consumer-Operated Services: The Consumer Network, an advocacy and self-help organization with a 24 hour Warmline, a monthly newsletter and the Recovery Initiative, an information and research program. The C.A.P.E. Social Club and the Mighty Vine Wellness Club round out a network of consumer run services.

Vocational Services: About 500 adults are currently enrolled in the Board funded job training, coaching and placement programs-a key to independent living.

Assessments/Evaluations: Diagnostic screening of seniors entering nursing homes. Diagnostic assessment for acute mental illness in adults and children through Psychiatric Emergency Services and the Mental Health Access Point.

Prevention & Education: Support groups for victims of violence and abuse as well as consultation and 10,000 training hours for professionals, volunteers, single parents, etc. Evaluations for preschoolers through Childreach. On-site counseling through the Interagency School Crisis Team.

In 1997, the Board established the Mental Health Access Point (MHAP), an efficient and consumer-friendly way for people in need to receive the right service at the right level of care at the right time. MHAP, now open 24 hours a day, can be reached by calling (513) 558-8888. A model for other communities, MHAP responded to over 39,000 calls last year and granted authorization for 3,293 adults and children to receive inpatient or residential crisis stabilization or partial hospitalization and completed 1,332 diagnostic assessments.

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Paid for by Mental Health Works, Inc., a nonprofit organization promoting support for quality
mental health services in Hamilton County.
Mental Health Works, Inc. - 2600 Victory Parkway - Cincinnati, OH 45206,
Rich Batterberry, Treasurer.
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