More Info

Morrow County Board of MR/DD

Early Intervention
Serves children with disabilities or diagnosed medical conditions, and their families, birth to third birthday. Provides specialized therapies, classes and home based services, and service coordination. Currently the Early Intervention program has been temporarily suspended due to a lack of funds. 

Adult Services
Serves adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities ages 16 years and older. Provides Habilitation and Skill Development Training, Senior/Retirement Programs, Pre-Employment Skill Training, Community Skill Training, Employment Opportunities and Community Job Follow-along. Whetstone Industries Employment Opportunities include:
sorting/assembly work, mobile work crews, custodial services, documentation shredding, and the prime product services of hand woven baskets, filled gift baskets, furniture refinishing, chair caning, and a variety of customized chair mats. Provides specialized therapies and service coordination for up to 80 adults (currently serving 75 adults.)

Service and Support Administration
Currently serves 259 adults and children, with a total of 298 individuals eligible to receive services. Works with individuals to determine eligibility for various programs. Assists in the selection, coordination and monitoring of providers of services. Assists with planning of comprehensive services and paperwork that is required to receive those services.

Other Services:

Nursing Services - Health checks, vision and hearing screenings for adults and children.

Adaptive Physical Education - services for children with delays in motor development, physical education class for Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center and Mt. Gilead New Avenues preschool classes, Special Olympics, and recreational opportunities for adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

Collaborative Agencies in the Whetstone River Family & Children's Center

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC)

Preschool and therapy services to children with special needs, also serving typically developing peers (Serves all four local school districts.

Provides educational and therapy services to children with significant medical or behavioral learning challenges for school-age children.

Mt. Gilead New Avenues  

Provides intensive behavioral intervention for children with autism, serving children from districts served by MOESC (all day program).

Morrow County Child Care Center (operated by the Galion YMCA)

Provides child care to children 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, and provides child care to school aged children before and after school. 

Ohio Heartland C.A.C. Head Start

Provides preschool services for children who qualify based on income or disability.

The Children's Connection (formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters)

Matches volunteers with the right Little Brother or Little Sister and help ensure that the relationship will be safe and rewarding for everyone involved.

Help Me Grow Community Collaborative

A group of agency and family members who meet monthly to ensure the needs are met of individuals from Birth to third birthday, providing family support and socialization.

Administration

Superintendent
Jerome C. Manuel

Director of Finance, Facilities & Transportation
Nancy Foglesong

Director of Adult Services
Vacant

Director of Service and Support Administration
Ann Artrip

Coordinator of Health Services
Jennifer Simpson, R.N.

Executive Secretary/Secretary to the Board
Deb Levering

Board Members

Garnet Cover, Vice-President
Joel Seckel, Secretary

Phil Ohler
Tonya Plough
Connie Pryor

Barb Troyer

Mr. John May served as President of the MCBMRDD up until his death on December 1, 2007.  John will be greatly missed by everyone. 

The Morrow County Board of MR/DD employs 39 full or part-time employees.

Fast Facts

• On average, 75 adults receive on-site services, and a total of 298 individuals are eligible and may receive other services

• Approximately 255 children are currently served weekly by the agencies in the Whetstone River Family & Children's Center 

• 90% of the cost to build the Whetstone River Family & Children's Center was awarded through state funding. This facility provides a warm, safe environment conducive for Morrow County families to receive therapy, nursing, educational and other services. (no swimming pool exists)

• Six agencies collaboratively provide services in the Whetstone River Family & Children's Center

• From 1992 until 2000, local property owners provided taxes based on 7 mills. Only 1.5 mills remain for local funding.

Comparing taxes paid in the year 2000 to the proposed 1.31 mill levy request for 2007 (that also includes the current 1.5 mill in effect)

The above table demonstrates that the proposed levy will generate a lower effective tax that will be paid by Morrow county residents than what was collected in 2000.

Local funds are needed as matching funds to receive state and federal funding.

Services offered

• Early Intervention (temporarily suspended due to lack of funds)

• Adult Sheltered Workshop

• Adult Habilitation

• Whetstone Weavers

• Furniture Factory

• Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapies

• Behavior Support

• Nursing

• Transportation

• Service Coordination

• Residential Services

• Supported Living Services

• Family Support Services