At its monthly meeting on Sep. 22, the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities recognized the family of an individual served by the Children's Department, the recent retirement of longtime Lucas DD Legal Counsel Mary Anne Burns, and named the Board's Training Facilitator in the Service & Support Administration Department as the Staff Person of the Month.
The Board also recognized Helping Hands of Ohio, a provider that recently made a profound difference in the life of an individual served, who was in urgent need of stability, safety, and a true place to call home.
Special Recognition: Garcia Family
Alana G. was just 3 months old when she came through Early Intervention for her evaluation, and over the past few years has shown incredible growth and progress. She was referred to Early Intervention by her doctors after suffering a stroke at birth and had significant hypotonia.
Alana went through numerous tests, was and still is involved in Physical Therapy, Occupational therapy and Speech therapy, travels to Columbus to the neuro muscular clinic twice a year along with many other doctor appointments.
Alana was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome when she was about a year old. She has had many struggles along the way with eating, showing emotions, gross motor and fine motor skills and making vocalizations. She was recently also told she needed to get an evaluation for Autism.
Mom says she never feels like she can get ahead as there is always something new to knock her back down. Despite the struggles, so many positive things have happened as a result of services received in Early Intervention as well as the work and follow-through that mom and family have provided for Alana.
They have truly embraced all of what Early Intervention is and has to offer. They take every strategy and coaching recommendation given by Alana’s team and make it happen. Mom rearranges her schedule to meet the day-to-day needs to make sure she is getting the necessary services and help needed.
Mom reaches out anytime she has a question or needs advice on next steps for Alana. She regularly sends photos and updates to note the progress happening between visits with Lucas DD staff. Mom also invites Alana’s developmental specialist to her therapy sessions and doctor appointments and asks for advice or guidance anytime she feels she is unsure of something.
Alana’s family is always striving to do what is best for Alana and that shows through all the skills she has mastered. Mom has gotten involved with the local Prader-Willi support group and is currently looking into getting her involved in playgroups through Early Intervention to help with her social skills, language and peer interaction.
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is pleased to present the Garcia family with its September 2025 Special Recognition Award. Congratulations!
Special Recognition: Helping Hands of Ohio
Helping Hands of Ohio is known for its outstanding community-centered work.
That unwavering dedication recently made a profound difference in the life of an individual served, who was in urgent need of stability, safety, and a true place to call home.
This individual’s journey had been marred by hardship from a young age—separated from their family as a teenager and then relocated from their hometown to Toledo. In the years that followed, they endured unexpected traumas, some caused by those who were meant to offer protection and care.
When hope was uncertain, Helping Hands of Ohio answered the call. With compassion at the core of its mission, they provided not only a safe and stable living environment, but also something far deeper: A sense of belonging. The team went above and beyond in offering genuine relationships, emotional support, and the long-term care needed for the individual to begin healing from the pain of the past.
This provider’s kindness has left a lasting impact—not just on this individual, but on all who witness the power of a community coming together.
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is pleased to honor Helping Hands of Ohio with its September 2025 Special Recognition Award.
Retirement: Mary Anne Burns
Today we recognize and honor Legal Counsel Mary Anne Burns for 40 years of dedicated service to the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Mary Anne began her career at the Board in November 1984. During her tenure as Legal Counsel, she has been a tireless advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, always ensuring their best interests were at the center of every decision. She worked diligently to ensure they had full access to community services.
Her work has guided the Board through union negotiations, contract reviews, and legal matters—ensuring that we were well represented and well protected. Beyond her professional expertise, her commitment, integrity, and unwavering dedication to those we serve have left a lasting impact on our organization and community.
Mary Anne was also a two-time recipient of the prestigious Josina Lott award in 2002 and 2014.
Mary Anne has also served her community by actively participating on a number of committees over the years. She promoted the value and abilities of persons with developmental disabilities to the professional organizations she was a part of which includes the Toledo Bar Association, Lucas County Bar Association, Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Toledo-Lucas County Commission on Disabilities.
Mary Anne exemplified the values and mission of the Board. The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is pleased to recognize your outstanding career, Mary Anne. We are deeply grateful for your four decades of dedicated service and the legacy you leave behind.
Congratulations and best wishes on your retirement!
Staff Person of the Month: Jackie Titsworth
In 2025, her 15th year at Lucas DD, Jackie Titsworth took on the newly created position of Training Facilitator in the Service & Support Administration (SSA) Department. Though she was not given specific direction beyond the job description, Jackie took off running with it from Day 1 and made it her own.
Jackie is committed to revamping the SSA Orientation for new hires to make sure that they are receiving the best training to better serve our individuals and families. Jackie has rewritten many of the traditional trainings and made them more interactive with things like creating a fake profile of a sample individual served. Not only does this help a new SSA learn how certain assessments and forms are completed, it also illustrates how the information entered would affect the individual case.
Her dedication to working 1-on-1 with new staff and current staff has resulted in new ideas that have benefited Service & Support Specialists in how to do their jobs and provided training guides to help them complete an OISP. These guides are complete with all of DODD rules and county procedures included.
Earlier this month, Jackie led the organization of the SSA Boot Camp, which is something that has never been done here before. She gathered a group of Assistant Directors, coordinators and specialists to train everyone else in the SSA department on the OISP. Each small group session discussed a section of the OISP and went through it to provide what information needs to go in the section and how it’s all connected. Many employees shared how helpful the boot camp was and how happy they are that the idea came to fruition.
Not only is Jackie a great employee, but she is also an incredibly kind coworker. She regularly checks in with others to make sure they are doing okay and offers to help wherever and whenever she can.
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Thank you, Jackie, for your continued hard work and dedication to help our individuals and your coworkers reach their potential. The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is pleased to recognize you with the September 2025 Staff Person of the Month Award. Congratulations!