PRESS RELEASE

Date: June 22, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Adam Jones, Community Relations Coordinator (513) 806-3941 cell

Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities

414 S. East Street, Lebanon, OH 45036

adam.jones@warrencountydd.org Board of disabilities

WCBDD welcomes Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Director, Kim Hauck

(Lebanon, OH) – On Friday, June 10, 2022, the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities (WCBDD) was privileged to receive a visit from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) Director, Kim Hauck. Held in the Warren C. Young Center auditorium, Director Hauck was warmly welcomed by the WCBDD leadership team, board members, advocacy group, and Superintendent, Megan Manuel.

Each division provided a presentation discussing work highlights, as well as ways in which creativity and innovation were used to maintain and improve services and supports for enrolled individuals during the pandemic. Such highlights included: continued community involvement by the self-advocacy group; ongoing employment supports to individuals served; a shift to virtual programming in Early Intervention; consistent weekly check-ins by SSA staff with individuals served; an on-site vaccine clinic, in cooperation with the Warren County Health District; COVID-Response Tablet Program; and increased provider support, which included free trainings, background checks and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as reimbursements for “unusual and/or extraordinary costs.”

“It was wonderful to have Director Hauck meet with our administrative team, board members, and self-advocates, said Superintendent, Megan Manuel. “We were happy to get the chance to talk with her, and we were proud to share with her some of our recent accomplishments, Manuel added. “Since she lives in Warren County, we wanted to make sure she knew about all the great things happening in her home county!”

In addition to agency highlights, the members of the roundtable discussed the new Ohio ISP and current challenges of our system and individuals served, including the on-going staffing crisis and transportation. The group also discussed the importance of technology, and how it can work to support people with disabilities.

The Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services and support to more than 2,000 individuals with disabilities and their families, through Early Intervention, Community Resources, Employment Services, Social, Recreational, Residential, Service Coordination, and other programs.