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DatelineDateline March 2008 Published by the Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities “Helping people to live, learn and work in the community” Momentum grows for Issue 29 As election day draws near, the Community Shelter Board, Epilepsy Morison. campaign to pass Issue 29 is gaining Foundation, Franklin County ADAMH, “In the momentum. Grove City City Council, The Child- past few Franklin County’s first MRDD levy hood League, The Down Syndrome weeks, in seven years will go before voters Association of Central Ohio, United they’ve Tuesday, March 4th. Way of Central Ohio, Upper Arlington really City Council and YWCA Columbus. stepped A burst of endorsements has been up.” seen in the past few weeks. Leading Endorsements were made also by the way was The Columbus Dispatch. Rabbi Harold Berman, former Colum- bus Board of Education member Jeff In the lead editorial of its Sunday Cabot, Representative Ted Celeste, edition, February 10th, the newspaper State Treasurer Richard Cordray, called on voters to approve the issue, restaurateur Cameron Mitchell and noting: Representative Jon Peterson. “The MRDD board has proved Campaign volunteers have posted an able steward of taxpayers’ dollars 5,000 yardsigns throughout the county, and deserves the continued support of and are now engaged in door-to-door county voters.” distribution of campaign literature. Organizations endorsing Issue “We’ve had a great turnout of vol- 29 include Columbus City Council, unteers,” said Superintendent Jed Agency bids Sue Sherwood “Aloha” Dr. Sue Sherwood, FCBMRDD’s As an undergraduate at St. Law- Chief of Psychology Services for the rence University in New York, Sue past twenty-five years, has retired from studied under Dr. Thomas Cunningham, the agency in order to accept a posi- a psychologist and former student of tion with the State of Hawaii. Dr. Henry Leland, the renowned Ohio The move will allow Sue to continue State professor, who developed the to work in her chosen field, while being widely-used adaptive behavior scale closer to her family. Sue’s daughter, geared to persons with mental retarda- Loretta, and son-in-law, Clint, make tion. their home in the Aloha State. In 1974, Sue began graduate stud- Her son, Sam, a college student ies at Ohio State where Dr. Leland majoring in marine transportation, is served as her mentor. Her dissertation expected to find his way to Hawaii with- on social skills and play therapy was out difficulty. completed with the help of FCBMRDD school staff and students. Family has long been important to Sue. A sister’s developmental dis- Sue joined the agency as a staff ability sparked her early interest in the psychologist in 1980, working primarily field and involvement as a volunteer in with clients from ARC Industries North Dr. Susan Sherwood summer camps and special education and East. In 1982, she was promoted classes. Continued on p. 2 Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel and his wife, Ellen, are actively involved in a Tressels number of charitable and educational causes in central Ohio. In June, 2003, Ellen Tressel gave the commencement address at the graduation of fifteen FCBMRDD students at West Central School. support Last month, the Tressels gave the Citizens Committee for Persons with Mental Retardation their personal endorsement of Issue 29. levy “Coach and Mrs. Tressel were very kind to take time away from their busy schedules to pro- vide their endorsement,” said Superintendent Jed Morison. “We appreciate it very much.” Sue Sherwood, from p. 1 to Chief of Psychology Services, suc- ceeding Dr. Marilyn Deutsch. Sue will be remembered by col- leagues for her commitment to respectful treatment of clients, ethical and research-informed psychological services, and her emphasis on inter- agency collaboration. She has chaired FCBMRDD’s Human Rights Committee since its inception, coordinated behavioral sup- port services, and overseen research. Sue has worked in collabora- tion with Ohio State to help develop Nisonger Center’s Dual Diagnosis Clinic and Behavior Support Services, The current Psychology staff team (from left) includes: Dr. Angela Ray, Dr. Karen as well as the Buckeye Behavioral Laub, Randall Cuenot, Karen Smith, Nick Boyer, Mona Decker, Anne Thomas, Dr. Analysis Project. Sue Sherwood, Deb Rinto, Patti Aellig and Karen Owen. She has been active with the Ohio For several years, she has served reflect her outstanding dedication to Department of MRDD, serving on com- on the national board of the Ameri- our agency and clients,” said Super- mittees on behavior planning, eligibility, can Association on Intellectual and intendent Jed Morison. “She will be and mental health services. Developmental Disabilities, and was greatly missed.” Through her “Managing for Results” President of the Ohio chapter for one Dateline joins the entire FCBMRDD activities, Sue has provided docu- year. community in wishing Dr. Sherwood mented outcomes for the work of staff “Sue’s hard work and profession- the very best in the future. and affiliated providers. alism over the course of many years “I loved my job...” Of what accomplishments are you “Also, we’ve transitioned the behav- most proud? ioral support services from the facilities (Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt of an interview with Dr. “Number one would be the fact to the Psychology Department, which Sue Sherwood, Chief of Psychology that we’ve attracted and maintained has worked out very well.” Services, regarding her career with an outstanding staff, who are providing “Within our system, as a whole, the FCBMRDD.) “cutting edge” evaluation, treatment and most significant changes have been What prompted your decision to consultation services. Second would the growth of residential services and retire? be our success in providing positive the expanded role of service coordina- behavioral support, reducing the use tion.” “I’ve been presented a wonderful of aversives.” opportunity both professionally and Do you have any regrets about leav- personally. I’ve accepted a position What are the biggest changes you’ve ing the agency? with the State of Hawaii’s Department witnessed over your career? “Well, I loved my job, and I’ll defi- of Health. I’ll be continuing my career “Within our department, one of the nitely miss my friends and colleagues in developmental disabilities, while in a biggest changes is that over half the who have been such a strong network warm climate, near my children, and in behavioral health services provided over the years. This is a great work a beautiful as well as culturally diverse through the agency are now provided environment, so supportive in so many setting.” by private contractors.” ways.” 2 3/2008 10 reasons to vote for Issue 29 1. Passage of Issue 29 will main- 4. The success of FCBMRDD’s in the number of persons served, the tain much-needed services for over programs can be seen in the quality of agency’s staffing level was trimmed 14,000 Franklin County residents with life of persons served. For example, from 1,675 to 1,440. disabilities and their families. Although over 2,000 adults with disabilities are 7. Revenue from Issue 29 will these services vary in kind and scope employed thanks to job training and provide matching funds that will gener- depending on the needs of the indi- placement services. Also, of those ate federal dollars for services to local viduals, all are necessary to allow children completing preschool, 90 per- residents. Franklin County has led individuals to live their lives to the full- cent can attend regular schools. the state in securing federal funds for est. 5. Issue 29 is the first levy MRDD services. 2. The number of persons nee- requested by FCBMRDD in seven 8. Issue 29 will, in effect, replace ing services is growing. Since 2001, years. The agency has kept its prom- two levies. A 1.65 mill continuing levy the number of persons served has ise to the community not to return to approved by voters in 1982 will be increased at a rate of about 4.3 per- the ballot sooner. replaced, 1.85 mills added, and a sep- cent per year. This trend, believed 6. FCBMRDD has demonstrated arate 2.32 mill, ten-year levy approved to be due to population growth and fiscal responsibility. Over the period in 1998 will be allowed to expire. increased longevity, is expected to of 2001 to 2007, despite an increase continue in the future. 9. Issue 29 will help ensure that Franklin County residents 3. The services pro- with disabilities can be as vided by FCBMRDD are productive and self-reli- of the highest quality. In ant as possible. In many 2006, the agency earned a cases, they achieve a high five-year accreditation, the degree of independence maximum length offered, and thus require little help from the Ohio Department from tax-funded sources. of MRDD. In January, the agency earned a three- 10. Issue 29 supports year accreditation, again many community organi- the maximum possible, zations including Catholic from the Commission on Social Services, Children’s Accreditation of Rehabili- Hospital, Easter Seals, tation Facilities. Goodwill Columbus, Jew- ish Community Services and Special Olympics. Northeast to hold Spaghetti Dinner For the past 21 years, Northeast In conjunction with the dinner, the School has sponsored a spaghetti din- school will also host a raffle of many ner, and this year, that tradition will donated items, including gift cards, continue. jewelry, and handmade quilts. On Saturday, March 8th, the pop- The school is located in Gahanna ular event will run from 4 to 8 p.m. at 500 N. Hamilton Road. Diners will have the option of eating at the school or taking their dinner home. Dinners will include generous por- tions of spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, salad, beverage and desert.