|
|
Date:
|
September 10, 2007
|
|
Contact:
|
|
|
Phone:
|
(330) 315-3715
|
| |
|
|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Issue 20 Kickoff Supports Alcohol, Drug Addiction And Mental Health Services Board
WHAT: Kickoff of Issue 20 to support the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Service Board
WHEN: Wednesday, September 12, 2007, 3:00 pm
WHERE: Perkins Park, in front of Children's Hospital in downtown Akron
WHO:
Sober Nation motorcycle group
PANDA (Prevent and Neutralize Drug and Alcohol Abuse) Children's Group from Community Health Centers
Former ADM client, artist and Barberton Speedway racer Terry Klausman
Campaign Honorary Co-Chairs: Sheriff Drew Alexander, County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, Attorney Marc Merklin and Community Volunteer Madeline Bozzelli. The Rev. Dr. Ronald Fowler, Campaign Honorary Co-Chair, will be out of town but represented.
Campaign Chair Ted Ziegler
ADM Board Executive Director Don Davies
WHY:
Issue 20 provides an essential insurance policy for every family in every Summit County community. No matter when someone you love needs help, the ADM Board is ready with drug and alcohol treatment, a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline and mental health services.
Issue 20 helps children who are tragic victims of physical and sexual abuse with programs they need to recover.
Issue 20 keeps our community safe with programs that stop young people's drug and alcohol abuse, prevent suicide, and train police how to handle people with severe mental illness.
Issue 20 makes sure that Summit County takes care of our veterans by providing critical mental health services to the men and women returning from active duty and to their families.
Issue 20 saves taxpayer money. Drug treatment costs 15 times less than putting someone in jail for a drug related crime. It costs $7480 a year to treat someone with mental illness, while it costs $24,517 to keep someone in prison. And when people recover, they become productive citizens who work, pay taxes and take care of their families.
Issue 20 makes up for 12 years with no funding increase. Both our community's need for services and the cost of providing services has continued to rise. However, the ADM Board hasn't asked voters for an increase since 1997.
Issue 20 which will take effect in 2009 and last for six years, is a replacement with reduction from 3.05 mills to 2.95 mills. The levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home a total of about $7.60/month.
Issue 20 supports the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addition and Mental Health Services Board, a network of 30 affiliated agencies in our community. The ADM Board has a long history of managing taxpayer money responsibly to provide services that work. 96 cents of every dollar in the ADM system goes to direct service agencies.
|
