Medina commissioners proclaim Overdose Awareness Day, hear warnings about funding shortfalls for recovery services

The Board of County Commissioners of Medina County on Aug. 12 unanimously approved a proclamation designating Aug. 31, 2025, as Overdose Awareness Day and received updates from recovery providers about local behavioral-health services and housing programs.

Why it matters: Commissioners and local providers said the county’s prevention, treatment and recovery work relies on a mix of local revenue and state funding that may change under a new state formula and could force choices about service levels if local property-tax revenue declines.

The proclamation read at the meeting noted that "in 2024, Medina County recorded more than 240 drug-related emergency room visits resulting in 19 deaths," and called for reducing stigma and supporting people in recovery. The board approved the proclamation by roll call vote: Commissioner Sweatick — yes; Commissioner Hambley — yes; Commissioner Harrison — yes.

Stephanie Robinson, founding executive director of Hope Recovery Community, thanked the commissioners and the Mental Health and Recovery Board for financial support and said funding matters as much as words. "Beyond this pretty piece of paper, you are putting dollars behind these words," Robinson said, adding that Medina is "a place that no longer fears addiction, but embraces recovery." She noted ongoing local reductions in overdose deaths and named local people in recovery and those lost to overdose.

Metro Housing and the Mental Health and Recovery Board delivered program updates. Skip Cypos of Metro Housing said the county’s Next Step Up emergency shelter — opened Feb. 28 using donated property and local support — has 27 beds and two cribs and provides 24/7 access with comprehensive case management. Cypos reported that since opening 101 people (and five dogs and one cat) have entered the shelter, 12 children have been guests, 14 households have exited to leases, 18 households self-resolved by reconnecting with family/friends, three veteran households obtained VASH vouchers, and 19 guests secured meaningful employment. "It's a place to land and a place to launch," Cypos said. He also said occupancy averages 26.2 of 27 beds on any given night and that the average length of stay is about 32.57 days.

Philip Titterington of the Mental Health and Recovery Board and Associate Director Tiffany Shelton reviewed board-supported services and flagged an urgent budget risk: the state’s new funding formula and potential changes to local property-tax levies. "When they mapped it all out and what that formula looks like, there are winners and there are non winners. We're gonna be a non winner," Titterington said, urging planning for the budgetary impact if local levy revenue changes.

Titterington and Shelton outlined local program activity. Among items reported for the April–June reporting period: three agencies (Alternative Paths, OhioGuidestone and Catholic Charities) served 6,648 clients (about 90% adults, 10% youth); 1,962 adults (33%) and 211 youth (33%) required more intensive psychiatric services; 296 youth (46%) were diagnosed with a serious emotional disturbance. The board funds crisis and recovery supports: a local crisis line handled 970 crisis engagements (92 callers verbalized suicidal thoughts and 98 calls resulted in referrals to police) during that period; a loss team made eight outreach contacts to survivors after a suicide; Hope Recovery Community’s 24/7 Hope Link peer line received 313 calls; and Hope Recovery linked 139 people to detox, residential or recovery housing during the reporting window. The board also supports certified peer recovery specialists who do in-jail and community work.

Discussion and next steps: Commissioners did not take any binding budget action at the meeting. Titterington said the board will continue discussions about the property tax and the state funding formula and the commissioners and board will need to consider how those changes would affect programs and services. Commissioners also acknowledged the need to inform voters about levy renewals and the services they fund.

Background: The proclamation was presented to representatives from the Mental Health and Recovery Board and Hope Recovery Community who attended the meeting. Officials repeatedly emphasized that local programs depend on a mix of county, state and private funding and that changes to property-tax revenue or state allocations could reduce available services.

Ending: Commissioners approved the proclamation and asked staff and local partners to continue monitoring funding developments and to brief the public and the board as options are evaluated.