To families and individuals with disabilities living in Delaware County:

I am writing to you, seeking volunteers to help with our upcoming levy campaign. As a concerned parent and member of the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DCBDD), I know how difficult it is to organize, inform the public and pass a levy. Without volunteers serving on, and running a levy campaign committee, the county board would not be able to successfully pass a levy.

Currently individuals with developmental disabilities receive services through DCBDD and other agencies that afford them the opportunity to live, work and play within the community, rather than residing in a segregated, institutional setting. The DCBDD service delivery model allows the individual/family to assume responsibility of developing and directing the individual’s support plan and budget based on need and available resources.

The combination of local tax dollars and Medicaid Waiver funding has resulted in an overall reduction in the average cost to serve the individual. In short, DCBDD is serving more people, empowering the individual to direct his or her own care, and doing it in a more cost-effective manner.

The county board has requested and received authorization to place a levy renewal on the ballot in March 2016. A levy campaign committee has been formed. We are looking for volunteers to serve on the committee and ensure individuals with disabilities receive services that help them be successful in their local communities, through education, community employment, community social interaction, health and safety and, most important, to help individuals achieve connectivity to the community through self-determination.

We need volunteers (families) to write letters of support on social media and spread the word on the need for volunteers. We need locations for levy sign pick-up and individuals to pass out levy materials in their neighborhood. We are also in need of locations for kick-off rallies and individuals or contacts for speaking engagements.

It takes an overarching network of support to pass a levy and continue to serve families and individuals with disabilities. Volunteers are absolutely critical for our success. We need your help!

If you are interested in serving on the committee and helping to make this a successful campaign, please contact Shawn Dunaway at 614-477-6700 as soon as possible and let him know how you would like to volunteer to help.

Stephen E. Finney

Westerville

President

Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities