Clermont Community Service Center
When the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 authorized funding of citizen efforts to multiply services for the poor, the Clermont Community Action Committee was slow to organize under a
Republican Commission.
Ralph Houser nd the Health and Welfare Council supported the use of the County Home as a Service Center in 1965. Built in the 1860's it had sheltered the sick and destitute homeless for nearly a hundred years. Mr. Houser continues to serve on the Welfare Advisory Board and Human Services Board. Clermont funds came through the Cincinnati Area CAC and the first Executive was Jack Blumenthal. Subsequent directors were Jack Richmond and John Kelly.
The Clermont Committee projected The Salvation Army Counseling Service, Headstart and the medical and dental clinics. Dr. Martin Saidleman was the moving spirit and first Director of the medical clinic. Dr. Edward Hake directed the dental clinic.
CAC gave impetus to the establishment of the Clermont Metropolitan Housing Authority. Lloyed Llewellyn worked tirelessly as Housing Committee chairman and became Director of the Ohio Board of Housing. A five member Board of the Authority representing only Felicity, Bethel and New Richmond was organized March 11, 1968 under William Habig, chairman.
Mental Health Board/Counseling Center
In 1967 Ohio Senate Bill 648 mandated a county board of mental health and mental retardation, to plan and set priorities for mental health and substance abuse, to fund public and private agencies to deliver services, and to monitor services delivered.
Recognizing skills of Lois Brown Dale* developed through years of effective volunteering, the County Commission hired her to assist in board selection in this first local mental health effort. Yvonne Neville of Grailville gathered mental health statistics for a one year grant from the Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
William Walton, retired Chest and Council executive, worked half time to develop the State Plan for Clermont which justified funding for the County. A nine member Board was formed in October 1968 under the chairmanship of Dr. Martin Saidlemen. Stephana Tilkalsky was hired as Director. Steve Katkin came on as psychologist in a Counselng Center on the third floor of the Service Center.
It was direct service of the 648 Board until June 5, 1973 when the Mental Health Center was Incorporated as a not-for-profit agency with Sandy Slemmer as chairman of the Board. The primary emphasis in the Center was adaptive counseling, particularly with after-care patients from Longview State Hospital. On the Mt. Moriah Church property a therapeutic nursery and a day activities program were started. In 1979 counseling service was extended to Milford and an outpost in New Richmond. A rape crises program was funded in 1980.
Since 1979 the Mental Health Center has operated a day treatment program to teach living and social skills to Clermont residents returning from the State hospitals. The Center anticipates funding of a group home in Amelia where patients can move into the community. Operations will be moved into the new social service complex in 1982.
The 648 Board, trustee of all public mental health funds, has been located in the Service Center. After Ms. Tilkalsky's resignation it has been staffed by Dr. Steve Katkin, Kim Castle, Davie Gerwie and Dr. James Wasserman. Critical to the future of services was the passage of a county operating levy on November 1981 to run for ten years.
Longview Hospital was built in 1860 as a Hamilton County facility. In 1926 the State made it available to six south-western counties. Millcreek, for the care of children, was separated from Longview in 1978. Rollman Hospital provides acute care. Clermont has representation on the advisory boards of three State hospitals.
*Note: Lois Brown Dale - more info. can be found at: http://loisbrowndale.blogspot.com
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