MANSFIELD — Sherry Branham-Fonner said she has seen progress in her first nine months as the executive director of the Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board.
Branham-Fonner, who received a proclamation Tuesday from the Richland County Board of Commissioners marking September as Recovery Month, said a reorganization effort implemented earlier this year has had a positive impact.
Branham-Fonner was promoted from her long-time role as the associate director by the local mental health board in November after the termination of long-time director Joe Trolian.
(Below is a PDF showing the local events planned during “Recovery Month” in Richland County.)
She said the retirement of one board employee allowed her the opportunity to make changes in current job descriptions and also create new ones.
Scott Basilone, who had 36 years of previous experience at Richland County Children Services and the Richland County Juvenile Court, was hired as the agency’s manager of clinical programs and services in April.
“The intent of that position was to do a more in-depth overview and monitoring of the funds and services the board is responsible for,” Branham-Fonner said. “Mr. Basilone has really jumped in (and done well).
“He has done a lot of research. He has met with all the providers to gather data that we really didn’t have (before). It is our intent to ensure funds are accounted for in relationship to what they are committed to in terms of service in the community,” she said.
Carey Vogt, who had the been the agency’s finance manager, was promoted to associate director/chief financial officer.
“Carey has really spent this year digging deep into our finances and doing a very thorough review of what we have going on at the mental health board,” Branham-Fonner said. “There are a lot of reports that go to the state in relationship to the money they provide us.”
Branham-Fonner also provided statistics from fiscal year 2024:
- 133 Opiate Response Team runs
- 266 Homeless Response Team runs
- 1,053 behavioral urgent care visits
- 301 individuals treated at New Beginning Withdrawal Management
- 165 continued or entered into extended SUD Residential Treatment and more than 636 individuals received various SUD treatment services
- More than 1,900 people started or continued their road to recovery
She praised the agencies that provide services though the mental health board.
“I always want to acknowledge their work and what they do and what they bring in terms of getting the word out about recovery,” Branham-Fonner said.
She said she believed there had been an “uptick” in calls for mental health services lately.
“It’s a really tough time and there have been some really difficult situations that people have been dealing with. And the lethality of drugs is worse than it’s ever been,” Branham-Fonner said.
“So we appreciate our partner agencies and the services they deliver.”
(Below is a PDF with a list of agencies that partner with RCMHB to provide services locally.)
Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved a request from Richland County Building Director Stephen Risser to contract, as needed, for building plan review services with Geoffrey Eaton.
Risser said the contract, which will pay at the rate of $120 per hour, will provide backup to himself and others in the office, as well as other outside contractors.
Risser said he has not had to use outside plans review contractors since he returned to run the department in January.
“It may be a case where we would send smaller review work to them when we get behind or maybe we want a second opinion on something. Every now and then, it’s nice to have a second set of eyes,” Risser said.
