The Cuyahoga County Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee met on January 18th, 2023 to consider seven different contracts to begin the new legislative term. The contracts involved numerous issues of importance to health and human services in Cuyahoga County. Child and Family Services David Merriman, Director of the Cuyahoga County Department of Health and...
Author: William Tarter, Jr. (William Tarter, Jr.)
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Council On Older Persons maintains advocacy for older adults in 2022 and into 2023
As the calendar has turned to 2023 and the policy focus shifts to state and county budgets, it is important to reflect on what was a very busy 2022 for The Council On Older Persons (COOP). COOP is the last remaining advisory group from the predecessors to The Center for Community Solutions, the Welfare Federation...
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Cuyahoga County Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee Address Multiple Contracts
The Cuyahoga County Health, Human Services, and Aging committee reconvened on September 21, 2022 after a lengthy recess. Because of the break, the county had to hear and consider several contracts, some of which required lengthy presentations and review. The following is a summary of those presentations. Additionally, several of the funding proposals would be...
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The State of Our Institutions: Why We Must Keep Talking About Racism
“Why does everything have to be about race?” “I’m tired of talking about race.” “I don’t see color.” “You’re playing the race card.” Have you heard these phrases? Perhaps you have said these phrases. Such sentiments, however, are not new. James Baldwin’s interview with Paul Weiss from 1967 describes institutional outcomes Acclaimed civil rights...
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Human Services Advocacy Network explores current state of the Cuyahoga County Diversion Center
On June 28, 2022, the Center for Community Solutions hosted a virtual conversation for the Human Services Advocacy Network (HSAN) titled “The State of the Diversion Center: Past, Present, and Future.” The panel consisted of Megan Testa, M.D., University Hospitals, Brandy Carney, Director of Public Safety and Justice, Cuyahoga County, Mike Randle, Executive Vice President...
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HHSA Committee extends homeless service contract with LMM
The Cuyahoga County Council Health, Human Services, and Aging committee met on April 20 and on May 4. Between the two meetings, the committee only had one contract on the agenda. The contract with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, would be extended to September 30, 2022 to operate the 365-bed Men’s Emergency Shelter at 2100 Lakeside Avenue,...
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Understanding the Cuyahoga County levy calendar
As the county wrestles with the human toll and economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, county voters have consistently been supportive of county levies that fund community services, including health and human services. There are a number of levies currently in place in Cuyahoga County that impact the community; analysis of more than a...
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Cuyahoga County Council HHSA Committee Approves Salvation Army Contract
The Cuyahoga County Health, Human Service, and Aging committee met on March 16 to hear one contract. The contract extension will run until September 30, 2022, for the Salvation Army Pick Up, Assessment Sheltering Service (PASS) Program. The PASS program provides basic temporary housing and rapid rehousing and recovery for up to 75 homeless men...
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HHSA Considers Homelessness Services and Child Support
The Cuyahoga County Health, Human Service and Aging (HHSA) committee considered two very important subjects during their most recent meetings. The first meeting, held February 16, discussed the issue of homelessness, where the committee considered two contracts that would seek to enhance the delivery of homeless services. The other meeting was held on March 2,...
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Black Grief During the Pandemic and the Importance of Healing
When I think about the COVID-19 pandemic, I recognize the great deal of hurt and pain of people not just in the United States, but around the world. The pandemic has impacted families, friends, and colleagues from all walks of life. As of the release of this article, over 935,000 Americans have lost their lives...