News Release

For more information, contact Sally Meckling, smeckling@ocsea.org, 614-865-2602 or 614-404-3881 (cell).

RIO GRANDE – Over one-hundred community members, including employees from the Gallipolis Developmental Center as well as parents whose children reside there, attended a public forum today at Rio Grande University to discuss the results of a study on the future role of the center. County commissioners, legislators and probate judges were also present.

GDC and the nine remaining centers for the mentally retarded were the subjects of a study by Incident Management Systems and commissioned by the Department of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities.

It was thought the study would suggest additional closures, but no specific recom-mendations or facilities are named. In fact, according to the union that represents the centers’ employees, the study concentrates primarily on redefining and expanding the role of the Developmental Centers in the future, a position the union supports.

“The report recommends the Developmental Centers serve as Regional Resource Centers that deliver services to individuals living in the community who are either being underserved or who need specialized services not currently available,” said Monty Blanton, President of the MH/MR/OVH Assembly for the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, and a GDC employee. “Given the large waiting list for services, that’s a role we believe GDC and the other centers could provide.”

Indeed, the report appears to support the union’s position. According to the study: “Across the State, stakeholders seem to agree that developmental centers offer great opportunities to support special populations and function as community/regional resources. Based on site visits and interviews conducted at each facility it is agreed that the centers can meet these expectations.”

“The study also validates the quality of staff at the centers and indicates that there is a need for the centers in the system,” said Blanton.

However, many fear the study will still open the door to additional closings. In the last year, two facilities were shuttered: the Springview Developmental Center in Springfield and just last week, Apple Creek Developmental Center.

“More than enough damage has been done to parents, their loved ones and employees,” said Blanton. “My hope is the study offers an opportunity for the Dept. of MR/DD to rethink the direction they’ve been going in.”

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For more information: Sally Meckling, 614-865-2602 or 614-404-3881.