Summer, 2006

Mayor Bill Roth of Fairlawn reads to a crowd of children at Barnes & Noble with a life-sized Cifford the Big Red Dog by his side.

On Mother’s Day weekend a record crowd of families and children of all ages gathered for the Mile of Quarters event held at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Bath. With the help of our presenting sponsors, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation, 98.1 WKDD and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, we were able to raise over $20,000 for prevention education programs for adolescents at the Community Health Center, as well as spread the word about the importance of preventing drug and alcohol abuse.

The event began with a lively miniature golf challenge between local organizations, media, labor unions and elected officials. The winners included: Arcadis, Summit County Engineer’s Office, The Suburbanite and the Electrical Workers Local Union #306.

The Mile of Quarters was highlighted with visits from Clifford the Big Red Dog all weekend. Mayor Bill Roth of Fairlawn and Summit County Clerk of Courts Diana Zaleski read stories to crowds of children on the Barnes & Noble Story Time Stage.

The Suburbanite staff (Tammy Proctor, right, editor) was Media Cup Winner in the 2006 miniature golf challenge held during the Mile of Quarters weekend in May.

Thank you to our 2006 Major Sponsors!

• OMNOVA Solutions Foundation
• 98.1 WKDD FM
• Barnes & Noble Booksellers
• John Dellagnese & Associates
• Summit County ADM Board
• GPD Group
• Great Lakes Industrial Knife Co.
• Summit County MRDD
• The Berroteran Group
• Testa Builders
• AirTran Airways
• Sheraton Suites
• InfoCision Management Corp.
• TriMor Corporation
• Alcon Tool Company

OMCDC serves a nine county area in Northeast Ohio including: Stark, Summit, Cuyahoga, Portage, Medina, Carroll, Lorain, Holmes and Wayne counties. This summer will mark the opening of our first two projects in Wayne County. A ribbon cutting ceremony and press conference will be held Friday, August 4 at 9 am.

Wren’s Way and Pigeon Creek will serve two underserved populations in Wayne County. Wren’s Way is 14 units of permanent housing for individuals with developmental, physical or mental handicaps. Pigeon Creek is a 26-unit housing program designed for low-income elderly individuals. This permanent housing complex will fulfill the need for safe, secure and dependable housing for this population in need.

Both Pigeon Creek and Wren’s Way are located in a fast-growing area of Wooster, Ohio. Within a mile radius of both projects, one can find several shopping and grocery centers, major medical facilities, numerous houses of worship and a variety of recreational activities. Additional shopping outlets, restaurants, and other services are located in the area as well.

All future tenants will be current residents in Wayne County.

Pictured above, Wren’s Way will offer permanent housing for handicapped individuals. Both Wren’s Way and Pigeon Creek will be complete and occupied this summer.

Peachtree Estates III awarded

The Ohio Multi-County Development Corporation (OMCDC) was recently awarded $826,400 as part of the $135 million in funds distributed nationwide for Section 811 housing by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Peachtree III will be the third and final phase of Peachtree Estates, which was originally opened in 2001 with the goal of reuniting single parents in recovery with their children. This new phase will add six 3-bedroom units and a community room. By mid 2007, Peachtree Estates will be providing 20 units of housing for families in recovery.

For more information about the OMCDC please visit www.omcdc.org.

ACCREDITATIONS, LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
• Ohio Department of Alcohol
• Ohio Department of Health
• Ohio State Board of Pharmacy
• Ohio Civil Rights Commission (HEW 504)
• Federal Drug Enforcement Administration
• Substance Abuse Mental Health
• Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, CLIA
• Medicaid Certified Treatment Agency
• City of Akron Health Department
• Ohio EPA Certification
• Ohio Department of Human Services

Growing health care partnership brings national bus tour to Akron

Ohio State Senator Kim Zurz addresses some of the health care issues in Ohio. Ted Ziegler, CEO, Community Health Center, also spoke about the local impact.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a growing national program to help patients access prescription medicines, made a visit to the Community Health Center on Friday, April 21. The 'Help is Here Express' is a traveling education center that travels around the country to raise awareness and educate the public about patient assistance programs for prescription drugs.

Rx For Ohio: A Partnership for Prescription Assistance is the state chapter of PPA. Since its inception in 2003, Rx For Ohio has directed more than 703,000 Ohioans to over 475 programs that offer free or discounted medicine.

"The 'Help is Here Express' is an innovative way to increase awareness of a program that can benefit the millions of people who cannot afford their prescription medicines," said Ted Ziegler, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Center. "As one of the local partners of Rx For Ohio, we truly understand how important it is to make sure people are aware of this program." Ohio State Senator Kim Zurz also spoke at the press conference, highlighting the extreme complexity of health care issues, especially surrounding prescription medications, "I commend organizations like Pharma for taking the lead and making programs like the Partnership for Prescriptions Assistance available to all Ohioans."

This valuable program is available free nationwide at 1.888.4PPA.NOW or online at www.pparx.org. Locally, people can also visit www.rxforohio.org to find out if there is an assistance program that may be right for them.

THE CHC IS FUNDED IN PART BY:

• The City of Akron, Department of Planning
• The Summit County Department of Development
• The County of Summit Department of Job & Family Services
• The County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board
• Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
• The Akron Health Department
• Summit County Family & Children First Council
• H.U.D.
• Ohio Department of Development
• Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services
• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
• Area Agency on Aging
• Community Health Center Foundation
• Akron Public Schools
• US Department of Justice Department of Youth Services
• Stark County ADAS Board

CHC, Ballinger TBI Clubhouse awarded grant

Ted Ziegler, CEO, presents Betty Bacalu, executive director of the Ballinger TBI Clubhouse with a check for $17,000 from a recent grant awarded for adolescents and TBI treatment.

The Community Health Center was awarded a $50,000 grant from the State of Ohio and the office of State Auditor Jim Petro. The grant will be used for additional adolescent programming via the TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities) Program. The TASC Program offers treatment to adolescents as an alternative to incarceration.

The Ballinger TBI Clubhouse was awarded a portion of the grant to provide additional services to individuals affected by a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). "This first grant will enable us to provide more quality activities and programs for our club members and their families," commented Betty Bacalu, Executive Director of the Ballinger TBI Clubhouse.

According to the CDC, brain injury affects approximately 1.5 million Americans yearly, occurring every 22 seconds. This clubhouse is the first in Northeast Ohio and only the second in the state. Their goals include reducing isolation of TBI victims and strengthening the network of friends and family of victims. The Ballinger TBI Clubhouse is located at CHC's Summit Terrace and operates with 100% volunteer staff. For more information about the Ballinger TBI Clubhouse visit their website at www.ballingerclubhouse.org.

Ted Ziegler was the recipient of the 2006 Seiberling Lifetime Achievement Award at The University of Akron Public Administration and Urban Studies eighth annual Urban Light Banquet and Silent Auction on April 21.

Ted has been the CEO of the Community Health Center for over 25 years, growing the corporation from a small alcohol and drug treatment center into a full-service agency focusing on health care from all aspects.

"During his tenure as CEO, Ted has been instrumental in designing, building and maintaining safe and sober communities for individuals of all walks of life, including single parents, young adults and low-income individuals in Akron and beyond," said Dr. Raymond Cox, department chair, Public Administration & Urban Studies.

According to Ziegler, a major highlight of his career was the completion of the Nela Manor project in Highland Square.

"We owe Congressman Seiberling credit for projects like Nela Manor in the community," he said. The award's namesake, Congressman John Seiberling, worked tirelessly to preserve national landmarks in Ohio and nationwide. He was an original designer of the historic tax credit project.

The Seiberling Award is given to individuals who exemplify the area of public service through distinguished leadership and citizenship activities.

CHC Employee Spotlight
Alumni award recognizes CHC’s own

Paula Warren, RHIA, director of Information Services at the Community Health Center was recognized at the Stark State College spring commencement ceremonies with the 2006 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award.

Paula has been with the CHC since 1984. In addition to her duties as director, she is the privacy officer, court liaison and ensures overall compliance with medical privacy laws. Since 1985 Paula has served as an Adjunct HIT Instructor at Stark State College and, in her words, “giving back knowledge and real-life experiences through her profession to her students in the classroom.”

Paula holds an Associate’s Degree in Health Information Technology from Stark State College and received her bachelor’s degree in management in 1999 from Malone College. Professionally, she has acquired certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) and is very active as a consultant and committee member with various associations.

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Straight News is a publication of the Community Health Center and the Community Health Center Foundation.

Ideas for articles are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor at:
702 East Market St., Akron, OH 44305 330.315.5590

CHC and CHC Foundation are equal opportunity employers and providers of services.

Theodore P. Ziegler, CEO

Editor: Chrissy Lockhart

Contributors: Rachel Fox,
Jo Ann Wilsford


The Community Health Center is a contract agency of the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board.

The Community Health Center facilities and services are certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.