The Fayette County Commissioners recently signed a resolution endorsing the renewal of a levy that will be on the upcoming November 2 General Election ballot. The levy is for the Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Services Board.
According to the resolution, “mental illness does affect one in five persons in any given year,” and “substance abuse and addiction does affect businesses and families across all socioeconomic groups.” As treatment is effective and people are able to recover and live productive, rewarding lives and are able to contribute productively to the community, “access to mental health and addictions treatment and related services is critical to maintaining healthy individuals, livable communities and a productive workforce.”
The 1.0 mill, five-county ADAMH levy addresses local needs and priorities for mental health and recovery services to children and adults in the community, according to the resolution.
The levy assists with funding various programs including the Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center (SPVMHC), which offers various services in different counties including locally via the Fayette County Clinic. The Fayette County Clinic, located at 1300 E. Paint St. in Washington Court House, offers outpatient counseling services, case management, emergency services, psychiatric services, partial hospitalization services, substance abuse services and residential/transitional services, according to paperwork from clinic officials.
In a prior news article, the Record-Herald interviewed three staff members of SPVMHC: Substance Abuse Specialist/Mental Health Therapist Julie C. Ream (LSW, LCDC III, OCPSA), Executive Director Barbara Mahaffey (PhD, LPCC-S), and Associate Director Gena Bates (LPCC-S).
According to Mahaffey, community members tend to confuse SPVMHC and the ADAMH Board as the same entity — but they are not the same. SPVMHC has been in existence since 1966 when the Paint Valley Guidance Center was opened in Chillicothe. In the 1970s, the center changed to the SPVMHC and expanded into five counties in 1978.
“It was in 1980 when the (Fayette) county commissioners were given funds to buy this land, build this building (current Fayette Clinic location) for the specific use of a mental health clinic through the Ohio Department of Mental Health (which is what it was called back then) and is now called Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services,” said Mahaffey.
Financially, according to documents from Mahaffey, SPVMHC has paid $476,000 to Fayette County in form of rent payments since May of 1981. There has been $148,726.69 invested in capitalized maintenance of the building and an additional $143,331.60 invested in expanded maintenance costs.
Funds used for that maintenance and rent were financed through the ADAMH Board Levy passed by Fayette County voters. SPVMHC is a private and nonprofit agency that contracts for only a portion of its services from the Paint Valley ADAMH Board.
So, while the ADAMH Board and local SPVMHC are not the same entities, and the funds from the levy go to various agencies as SPVMHC is only one contracted entity with the board, the levy that is up for renewal does assist in providing local services through SPVMHC.
Ream explained that Fayette County has always supported the levy and the need for mental health care.
If not renewed, the levy will expire Dec. 31 of next year.
The resolution states, “The Fayette County Board of Commissioners hereby endorse the Paint Valley ADAMH Levy Renewal for approval in the November 2, 2021 election.”
More information will be shared on the levy and upcoming election as November nears.
In other news from the Commissioners’ office, a contract was entered into with Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department for funds—including Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP) and Senior Community Services Block Grant (SCSBG) funds. The total funds available under the contract will be $20,149 unless modified.
Those funds will be awarded to cover the service of home delivered meals. The contract will last from June 1 of this year through Sept. 30 of next year.
An existing contract with Commercial Cleaning Solutions, Inc. out of Greenfield was amended to include janitorial services 3 days a week at the new offices, hallway and meeting room in the Economic Development Building along with their current services at the Agricultural Center, Building Department and Courthouse. The amendment adds $128 weekly to the existing contract.
A proposal was accepted from The Window Man for replacement doors at the Fayette County Agriculture Building, 1415 U.S. Highway 22, for $7,776.
Stay with the Record-Herald weekly for more updates from the Fayette County Commissioners. The Fayette County Commissioners’ Office is located at 133 S. Main St., suite 401 in Washington Court House, and their office hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They can be reached at 740-335-0720. Condensed minutes from the meetings are available on the county website.
Reach journalist Jennifer Woods at 740-313-0355.
