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Special Recognition at May 2024 Board of Directors Meeting

At its monthly meeting on May 20, the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities gave special recogntion awards to a fellow public agency and a Service & Support Administration Coordinator. 

Lucas DD Special Recognition of the Month

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities would like to recognize the collaboration between its MUI unit and the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County

Two males and two females posing for award they received from Lucas DDThere are times when the MUI unit will receive a call about a person in need of assistance and they are not in our system, meaning they are not currently served by Lucas DD.  At times, the MUI unit will refer the person to our Intake unit, but typically before we do that, we make a referral to MHRSB’s Manager of Client Rights and Housing. Most people have a challenging time assessing whether someone has a developmental disability or a mental health condition, or neither, or those that are considered dual diagnoses, meaning there is both a developmental disability and a mental health condition.  It is because of this challenge that the MUI unit will get as much information as possible from the caller so even if the person is not currently served by Lucas DD, when the referral to the Manager of Client Rights and Housing is made, they are able to identify if the person is receiving or has received mental health support.

Two recent incidents showcased the success of this collaboration and how it supports our community. 

In March, Lucas DD received a call about a female posting concerning statements on social media about being arrested and how she may die in jail.  The caller voiced a deep concern for her well-being.  The MUI unit was able to look up her name in our system and learned that she had been assessed and determined ineligible for DD services and supports.  This prompted the MUI unit to email Charletta Slaughter, the current Manager of Client Rights and Housing.  Ms. Slaughter got as much information as the MUI unit had gathered from both the caller and our system.  This allowed Ms. Slaughter to determine that the female was in fact being served by a local mental health agency.  Ms. Slaughter notified the agency, which responded to the female and offered support and crisis stabilization.

Later that same month, the MUI unit received an email from Ms. Slaughter regarding a police report she had received about an altercation at a group home.  She was able to determine that the address was not for a mental health group home and made a referral to Lucas DD.  The MUI unit reviewed the referral and attached police report and was able to immediately inform her that the incident did occur at a DD-supported living residence and that an Investigative Agent had already been assigned and was investigating the incident.

This collaborative relationship was been successfully in place since 2020, starting with former Lucas DD employee and current MHRSB Director of Programs and Services, Amy Priest.  Eventually, Mrs. Priest referred the MUI unit to Mr. Michael Carter, who at the time was the Manager of Client Rights and Housing. Mr. Carter, who is now the Director of Community Engagement & Equity, was instrumental in an incident where a female, receiving both organizations’ services and residing in a mental health group home during the pandemic, required increased monitoring and support to ensure her health and wellbeing.

The Board is so grateful for Amy, Michael, Charletta, and all other MHRSB staff that help ensure those we serve are provided essential supports to meet their full potential and wellness. We are pleased to present you with the May 2024 Special Recognition Award!  

Lucas DD Staff Person of the Month

Service and Support Administration Coordinator Katie Varn is a positive and supportive leader for her team and all individuals served by Lucas DD. She is quick to respond to her staff, offers to participate in meetings with individuals when needed, and even volunteered to testify on behalf of a SSA in order to protect the relationship between the individual, guardian and Lucas DD. 

SSA Director Kristin Aemisegger with SSA Coordinator Katie VarnShe advocates for the goals and best interests of our individuals. Katie effectively leads her team in resolving team issues, adapting to policy changes, like Appendix K termination, and continuously shares rewarding messages and words of encouragement with her staff. 

If Katie is not sure about an answer, she makes sure she finds out and gets back with staff as soon as possible. She makes her entire team feel more like a family! 

In her 17 months at the Board, she has already established herself as a capable, supportive and kind coordinator. When told about a situation in which an individual’s parent verbally abused one of the SSAs on her team, Katie stepped in and resolved the situation professionally and effectively, communicating with the parents in a way that ensured there would be no disruption in client care. She is responsive, empathetic, and calm under pressure. 

She works hard to make sure she understands not only her role as a coordinator, but the roles of the SSAs on her team, so that she can best assist as needed. She creates a safe place that allows her team to come to her with anything and everything, and for that, Katie, your team sends its apologies! She not only identifies and addresses any struggles her team is having, she identifies and addresses their strengths and accomplishments as well. 

Katie is an asset to Lucas DD, the community, and her entire team, which co-signed the nomination in appreciation of everything she has done for them. Congratulations, Katie!  And thank you for all that you do to further the Board’s mission. The Board is pleased to honor you as the May 2024 Staff Person of the Month.

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