Greetings!
We hope everyone is doing well!
Softball Skills athletes Hunter Bailey and Jon Floyd competed at the State Softball Tournament in Columbus, and both earned gold medals in their division. Congratulations to Hunter and Jon!
Nick Novak retired effective 9‑30‑26 after nearly 12 years with Portage DD. We will miss him and wish him all the best in his next journey.
Family Fun Day will be held on October 8th from 4–6 p.m. at the Happy Day Services building. This event is open to all families with children ages 0–3 who live in Portage County.
Parent Council is hosting their Fall Festival on October 17th from 1–4 p.m. at the Happy Day Services building.
On October 29th, we will hold our annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) luncheon at Parkside to honor individuals with developmental disabilities who are employed, as well as the employers who support them.
We will again host Trunk or Treat at the Happy Day Services building on October 30th from 5–7 p.m. Save the date! No registration is required. Interested in hosting a trunk? Let us know!
The Ohio Association of County Boards (OACB) and the Superintendent Association of County Boards have been in discussions with the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) regarding challenges counties are facing in meeting the increased waiver match costs. County boards currently pay about 36% of the total waiver costs, which for Portage County is approximately 12 million dollars per year. DODD is also working with the Ohio Department of Medicaid due to these rising costs. Early discussions include exploring DODD taking over the waiver match and working with legislators and the governor to find a long‑term, sustainable solution. Provider organizations and The Arc of Ohio are now involved in these conversations to help present a united path forward.
We will continue working together to identify ways to preserve essential services. We deeply appreciate the trust and support our community has shown to Portage DD. We remain committed to being responsible stewards of the levy funds entrusted to us by the residents of Portage County. Thank you for your continued support.
Believe in People!
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
Sincerely,
John Vennetti, Portage DD Superintendent