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Lake ADAMHS Hosts NE Ohio Launch of Innovative New Network of Care Initiative

March 21, 2007
Ohio Department of Mental Health

Willoughby, Ohio — Lake County ADAMHS (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services) Board hosted the northeast Ohio regional launch of a breakthrough internet-based mental health and recovery resource on Wednesday, March 21 at Lakeland Community College.

Network of Care is an innovative, comprehensive, easy-to-use Web site designed to be an especially important resource for people with mental illnesses, as well as their care givers and service providers, according to Lake County ADAMHS Executive Director Elaine P. Waytes. “We think this represents a key new element in our system, and we’re excited about what it offers to the folks we serve,” she said.

During the launch event, held at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, approximately 100 attendees heard a demonstration and training presentation facilitated by site developers Trilogy Integrated Resources, LLC. Trilogy has worked in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Mental Health to create customized, market-specific Network of Care Web sites for mental health boards across the state. The northeast Ohio launch event included representatives from mental health boards in Lake, Ashtabula, Trumbull, Geauga and Summit counties.

In the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, Network of Care is spotlighted as a tool that can help consumers be more proactive and effective in managing their own care. The Lake County Network of Care Web site provides information about and links to all service providers in the Lake County ADAMHS Board network, access to a massive library of articles and data on mental illnesses and related topics, updates on pending legislation that may impact mental health services consumers, even insurance information. “One of the most innovative components of the site is called ‘My Folder’,” Waytes says. “It’s a secure, private area where a consumer can keep important information about his or her individual care — medications, doctors, articles about a specific illness, and community support services, for example. The consumer can choose to allow access to their folder to a trusted support person, physician, or caregiver. We believe this will help many in our system start to become better armed to play a more assertive role in their own treatment and recovery.”

Established by Ohio statute, the ADAMHS (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services) Board is responsible for planning, funding, and evaluating Lake County’s mental health and recovery services. Board members — eighteen Lake County residents who serve without compensation — include medical professionals, mental health and recovery experts, consumers (people who need and use services), relatives of consumers, community leaders and business professionals. The resulting blend of expertise and perspectives makes the ADAMHS Board uniquely qualified to handle these important issues effectively and efficiently.