New opportunities, more challenges for Help Me Grow

The positive news this week that the state of Ohio has approved the Highland/Clinton Help Me Grow initiative also brought less-favorable news that the need for these services continues to increase.

Help Me Grow program director Heather Gibson told the Highland County Board of Commissioners Wednesday, Oct. 3 that the Ohio Department of Health has signed off on the cooperative effort for home visits and services for expectant mothers, newborns, infants and toddlers in the two counties.

Help Me Grow provides free assistance to enrolled infants and young children from birth to age 3.

Families seeking assistance may call Pat Moore at (937) 840-0100, (888) 734-7235 or (937) 382-5899.

Gibson also introduced Martina Coy-Stout, R.N., BSN, to commissioners. Coy-Stout will be moving into a full-time position with the program.

"We're looking at a full caseload in Clinton County," Gibson said. "We have 16 families on a waiting list."

"Does that mean we have to look for another person?" Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer asked.

"I would like to move Martina to full-time from part-time," Gibson said. "I had already budgeted for Martina to go full-time. We had carryover funds for this."

* * *

A grim, 'red blob' reality

In addition to the approval of the Highland/Clinton program, Gibson also updated commissioners on the grim reality of the rise in drug-addicted newborns in Highland County.

Gibson said a recent study presented by Sanford Starr, of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services painted a rather depressing picture for the area.

"One of the blaring things for me was this map of Ohio and the amount of illegal drug activity," Gibson said.

"There was this red blob in Cuyahoga County (indicating high drug activity), another red blob in Franklin County and another red blob in Hamilton County.

"Right in the middle – in southern Ohio – was a red blob in Highland County.

"The amount of illegal drug activity in Highland County was very high," Gibson said. "The problem is much bigger than we know. It's going to take a community effort to combat this. … We see so many drug-addicted babies. First, it was mostly meth, then heroin. Now, it's 'cocktail drugs.' It affects the whole county."

"Cocktail drugs" are often defined as a dangerous mixture of prescription medicines or over-the-counter drugs.

Shaffer said a representative from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office will be in Highland County in April to discuss the drug problems.

"We need to get a coalition together," Shaffer said. "(Paint Valley) ADAMH (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board) would be the right agency to take the lead on this."

"ADAMH has a grant writer on staff," Gibson said.

"That makes a big difference," Commission President Shane Wilkin said.

Shaffer then shared a correspondence he had on Oct. 2 with Penny Dehner of the Paint Valley ADAMH.

In a letter to Dehner, Shaffer suggested the establishment of a Highland County Drug-Free Coalition.

"This is an important issue that has to be addressed with a community-wide initiative," Shaffer said. "It is a major problem that affects many aspects of our community, from education and public safety to economic development. I believe a role of ADAMH should be to assist with these concerns and attempt to spearhead a community coalition."

Shaffer said he has "buy in" from local pharmacists and law enforcement to help stop the abuse of prescription drugs.

Commissioners agreed that the problem was widespread and would take a coordinated effort to correct.