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Girl Scout to Help Promote 988 Ohio Suicide and Crisis Hotline

Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (GC-MHRS) - Regular Meeting - March 26, 2025

Meeting Details: GC-MHRS Board held a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Board offices located at 13244 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024.  This meeting was in person only with no recording available. The agenda was available through a request to Office/Administrative Manager Teresa Slater by email at tslater@geauga.org.  

Public Comment Policy: No formal policy but in practice, public comment is permitted at the end of the meeting.

Board Members Attending: Chair Steven Oluic, Secretary Jimmy Lee Holden, Treasurer Michael Petruziello and Board Members Reba Dykes, Kathy Johnson, Douglas Lundblad, and Patricia Varanese

Board Members Absent:  Vice Chair Alberta Chokshi and Board Members Carolee Lesyk and Mary Ruth Shumway, 

Staff Members Attending: Executive Director Christine Lakomiak, Finance Director Jim Mausser,  Office/Administrative Manager Teresa Slater and Clinical/Compliance Manager Michelle Maneage. 

Others Attending: Agency representatives: Angi Daugherty (Family Pride), Melanie Blasko (Lake Geauga Recovery Center - LGRC),  Andrea Gutka (WomenSafe), Kristy Mowry (Red Tulip Project), and Brittain Paul (Ravenwood). Newell Howard and this LWVG Observer also attended as members of the public. 

There were 8 people in attendance. Potentially one was a reporter.  

Call to Order, Roll Call, and Pledge of Allegiance occurred as listed on the agenda. The meeting was called to order at 6:05 pm. 

Minutes:  Minutes for the February 19, 2025 regular meeting were approved. Minutes are available on the Board’s webpage here. 

Chairman’s Report:  Dr. Oluic encouraged those in attendance to drive by the Transitional Living Center (TLC) and see that block and brick work is done. Floors and studs are next. He said he hoped we are all paying attention to what is going on in the Federal Government and how changes will present funding challenges. Some of the provider agencies have already seen the initial effects. There have been two suicides in Geauga County since last meeting.  There is still a need to help people. 

Executive Director’s Report: Ms. Lakomiak discussed the following:

• OACBHA  (Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities)  

Ms. Lakomiak will be attending  March 28, 2025 in Columbus. Topics to be discussed include:

• Biennial Budget - the timing of the steps to approve the budget

• HB 26 

• State Block Grants, including Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ (MHAS) 

• Funding Formulas 

• Replacement Levies

• Update on the Marijuana Bill 

Reviewer Note: HB 26 would require local agencies to verify clients’ immigration status. Read more here Columbus Dispatch on Feb. 3, 2025.

• 988. Ohio Awareness Project mini grant: 

  • Geauga secured the 988 mini grant for $5,000.

  • An individual will be working with Ms. Lakomiak on 988 to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award. Ms. Lakomiak will be her advisor. As part of her experience she will help design and distribute promotional materials

Observer note: 988 is the Ohio Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

• Requests for Proposals from the provider agencies for State FY 2026 are due on  March 26, 2025. Some have already been submitted.

• Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk Training (AMSR)

  • This training was well attended and well received. Representatives from 14 different agencies and community members attended. There were very positive comments. A grant helped pay for the materials. The Maple Leaf provided coverage and did a feature article as well. Press release GC-MHRS staff submitted was in The Maple Leaf.  Staff are working on getting the word out about the availability of this training. More phone calls to the Board office about mental health needs following the AMSR training. Board  staff has been trained in how to triage calls. Awareness efforts seem to be working. The Board and staff as well a provider agencies a advocating  for increased awareness and suicide prevention.
    

• Drug Overdose And Suicide Fatality Review Board

  • GC-MHRS Board advocated for this Review Board.  Geauga County Commissioners just created the review board. The Health Department will lead the effort. Health Commissioner Ron Graham is the lead. He is health commissioner for Lake and Geauga County.
    

• Strategic Plan (2025-2026) will be addressed later in the Agenda.  This is an update of the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan.
  

Committee Reports 

• Programs and Policies - Chair Kathy Johnson said that they did not meet. The committee is scheduled to  meet on April 14, 2025.
  

• Fiscal and Capital - Chair Reba Dykes said they met on  March 3, 2025. They spent time on credit card policy.  There are specific parameters around the agency credit card such as a $10,000 credit limit and a transaction limit of  $2,000.  The Committee drew it the policy. It is included in today’s board packet. There was a Motion to bring it before the full board for approval. 

Roll Call vote was Ayes: Unanimous

Observer note: After discussing making a motion to bring the Credit Card Policy before the GC-MHRS Board for approval under Action Items, the Board seemed to change to voting on approving the policy as contained in the packet at this time.

• The Fiscal and Capital Committee also worked on policies for dealing with Federal awards. These are required for agencies. Increased requirements for audits, security controls, procurement procedures and cybersecurity are examples of what is addressed with these policies. The Board Association (OACBHA) was involved in drafting the policies and the State Auditor approved.  The Geauga County Prosecutor also reviewed and approved without revisions. Much of the language is routine. 

A question was asked if this opens up the GC-MHRS to Federal audit. Mr. Mausser explained that Geauga County has an annual (comprehensive) audit that meets the Federal Audit requirement.   It’s called a Single Audit. The County Single Audit addresses each department individually.  This policy does not require an additional audit. Non-profits (Non Governmental) agencies have new reporting requirements. 

Board Review and Action Items - All Approved Unanimously

• Resolution 25-03-1 Reimbursement to Geauga Safety Center - GC-MHRS shall distribute to the Geauga County Safety Center $17,577 for payment for their reimbursement request for psychotropic medications administered to inmates for the 1st half of FY 2025. The Executive Director of the Board is authorized to disburse funds in accordance with this Resolution. This is done every quarter. The Sheriff provides documentation of expenses for psychotropic medications. They are eligible to be reimbursed.

Roll Call Vote: Ayes - Unanimous

• Resolution 25-03-2 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness Projects Grant Award  - OhioMHAS has awarded $56,000 of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) to the GC-MHRS. This grant shall be used to develop, enhance and continue initiatives that are aligned with the BSCA. The Executive Director of the Board is authorized to disburse funds in accordance with this Resolution. 

The grant application that was submitted and approved outlined a very detailed plan for response to a crisis. A collaborative and coordinated response is planned. 

Roll Call Vote: Ayes - Unanimous 

Geauga County Behavioral Health Disaster Plan -

This plan was originally brought to the GC-MHRS Board on 10/14/2024. The staff made sure the Disaster Plan aligned with Ohio Revised Code (ORC). Since then Board staff met with the Emergency Management team about the Plan.  As a result some small changes were recommended such as adding University Hospital Geauga (UH) as a partner.  Now the plan is brought before the Board for final approval with small changes noted. 

There was a question about the cost of training the respondents.  Ms. Lakomiak explained that  this document becomes part of the Emergency Management team booklet so they know they can bring in Behavioral Health should the crisis they are dealing with require Behavioral Health Services.  The cost of training is minimal and  is funded under grants they have received. For example GC-MHRS got money to modify their website with “be prepared - where to go” for clients in treatment to know where/how to receive services in a disaster situation. This Behavioral Health Disaster Plan provides education to the community about what behavioral health can do in an emergency. This is required yearly by ORC and must be shared with the Emergency Management Team (EMT).  It is required that this plan be updated annually and submitted to the EMT.

Roll Call Vote: Ayes - Unanimous

Federal Awards Policies and Procedures

The Program and Policies Committee went over policies for handling awards. These are policies the GC-MHRS Board is required to have. The State Board Association drafted a suggested policy that reflected the recent required changes.  The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA) wrote a draft which was made available to members and the OH-MHAS .  The State Auditor approved the draft.  The Policy and Procedures Committee of the GC-MHRS Board went over prior GC-MHRS Board policies (from 2020) line by line comparing it with the State Auditor reviewed draft from  OACBHA. The GC-MHRS Board committee reviewed these policies being voted on today.  The Geauga Prosecutor has reviewed and approved them.  There will be a process in place to review every year and changes made if the requirements change. 

There are five separate policies included: 

• Procurement Policy and Procedures

• Federal Awards Cross Principles Policy and Procedures

• Federal Awards Internal Controls Policy and Procedures

• Federal Awards Subrecipient Monitoring Policy and Procedures

• Federal Awards Financial Management Policy and Procedures

Roll Call Vote:  Ayes - Unanimous 

Mr. Petruziello expressed thanks to the committee and staff on behalf of the Board. 

Credit Card Policy - This was presented to the Board in February, discussed and approved earlier in this agenda.

Financial Reports - Mr. Mausser reported the February 2025 totals as follows:

• The Board FY 2025 (7/1/24-6/30/25) office budget is through February and Mr Mauser said, “we have currently expended 60.4% of the budget.”

• Mr. Mausser continued, “The County calendar year (1/1/25-12/31/25) Budget Performance Report we have expended just over $1.25 million through February.”

• The Auditor's Fund Balance: The February Unencumbered Balance is just over $2.7 million.

• The Voucher recap #703 for February $547,256.47.

• The Audit from 2022 was approved. The State Auditor is working on audits of 2023 and 2024 simultaneously.
  

Old Business - 

1. Meetings with the construction team for the TLC are continuing. They have been good communicators. They are looking at some cost saving options. Mr. Mausser reported that there were some change orders received today.  Some for more money, some for less. The latest batch resulted in saving GC-MHRS Board about $2,000. Hoping for completion in November/ December 2025. Contractors are clear the goal is to be at or under budget. 

2. Generators are on order but still waiting for the equipment to be delivered to the contractor so he can install them. There was no down payment.  3-6 months is normal wait time.  It is in process. 

New Business -

Strategic Plan 2025-2026 (Draft plan) 

Observer Note: In the Board Packet for today’s meeting  there was a copy of the Strategic Plan from 2020- 2021.  Ms. Lakomiak presented a  draft Strategic Plan (2025 - 2026) for the Board to review using a PowerPoint. This Observer will summarize the 5 goals and strategies. Specific actions for each goal were also discussed but are not captured in this Observer report. When the final Strategic Plan (including modifications from tonight) is made available, a link will be provided. 

Ms. Lakomiak reminded Board members that last month the board had established priorities for the Strategic
Plan. In the meantime  Ohio MHAS came out with their priorities. Ms. Lakomiak noted that Geauga and Ohio’s priorities are very similar.

Mission Statement.   The Strategic Plan begins with the mission statement. The mission statement had not been updated in a while. Changes were suggested by staff and were discussed by the Board. Tabled to revisit later. 

Goal 1: Enhance access to crisis services

Strategies: Enhance access to Crisis Hotlines, Educate the public about available crisis services and Strengthen Crisis responses within our continuum of care.

There was discussion and suggestions made about various ways that youth might advise the development of crisis response for youth, particularly if the crisis is school based.

               

Goal 2: Enhance Criminal Justice and Recovery Supports

Strategies: Increase Residential treatment, strengthen and support Stepping Up, Expand Crisis Intervention training, and strengthen treatment and  recovery programs

There was discussion of ways to increase collaboration and bring in new partners, such as increased work with Courts. 

Goal 3: Preventing Overdose and Substance Abuse related harms

Strategies: Enhance treatment options, gather and report data, implement Fatality Review Board.

Goal 4: Build Resilience in Children, Youth and Families through Prevention Services

Strategies: Enhance Early Intervention and community programming to target this population,  and  explore ways to partner with others. 

Discussion followed about the Educational Services Center (ESC).

Goal 5: Build hope through Education, Advocacy, and Support for a future free from Suicide

Strategies: Strengthen the community presence of the Suicide Prevention Coalition and Improve community access to Education about the signs of suicide.

There was discussion about how to reach those most at risk and how to educate their family members, seniors, and veterans 

ASMR training. How to assess risk of suicide, all community members can benefit from this program. Ms. Johnson reported that it was very valuable. Also discussed how to track progress. Ms. Lakomiak will review quarterly and keep track as each goal is achieved. 

Motion to approve the Strategic Plan 2025-2026 contingent on making small additions as a result of Board input during the discussion. Board staff will make the modifications, 

Roll Call Vote: Ayes - Unanimous

Public Comments: 

Dr. Oluic asked for public comment. There were no comments. 

Announcements of upcoming events:

There were none.

Meeting adjourned at 7:23 pm. 

Board Minutes: Available at https://www.geauga.org/board-minutes/

Next meeting:  The next meeting will be the regular meeting on April 16 , 2025 at 6:00 pm. Meetings are held at the Board offices located at 13244 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024. 

More Information: https://www.geauga.org/

Observer: Kathy Franz

Editor: Gail Roussey

Reviewer: Carol Benton

Date Submitted: 4/4/25

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