Leah Mills-Chapman

Healthcare As a Clinical Social Worker/Mental Health Professional, I am deeply concerned about the mental health crisis plaguing Washtenaw County, and most specifically the east side - Ypsilanti Township. It is widely known that many individuals that suffer from a mental health crisis, often times, are unaware that they need treatment or refuse treatment despite their awareness. This reality of untreated mental illness may lead to homelessness, self-harm behaviors, suicide, or harm to others, among other things that render citizens at risk to not so favorable outcomes in their lives. This identified health crisis is not a topic that is foreign to our current, elected county officials, as seen by the passing of the current Mental Health and Public Safety Millage, approximately 5 years ago. So the need to enhance mental health services seemed as though it was a priority to the elected officials within Washtenaw County, at the start of the millage. But fast forwarding 5 years, the tax paying citizens and employees of Washtenaw County are feeling deceived. This is problematic and troubling for me. Citizens of this county deserve to have robust, quality mental health care, which also includes supporting our citizens that have a co-occurring disorder and are challenged with the use of substances. It is my belief that more funding should be allocated to early intervention and prevention, as well as, outpatient mental health services and my personal commitment to the people of this county is to continue fight for these mental health outcomes. Economy It is because of these stark realities of difference in Washtenaw County that I desire to become your County Commissioner. The County Administration is informing us that there is a major financial disparity and yet poverty remains very prevalent in District 5. And the decision making clearly continues to turn a blind eye to the financial strains of the citizens on this side of the county and it is not acceptable, nor does it demonstrate a desire to include all people into a space where they can earn a living wage and eventually obtain wealth. This travesty begins with the lack of acknowledgement of all people, as well as, the prevalent biases held against marginalized persons that suffer from minimal to no income. Our side of the county needs to be included in opportunities that are grounded in the ability to earn competitive and comparable wage, so that they can live. Wages / Job Benefits WCCMH is in a retention crisis because of money! Staff are leaving in droves and it is a struggle to higher people to work for WCCMH. No amount of incentivizing people is seeming to work. This should not be when we are taking in approximately 20,000,000 annually. So the reality of attrition and high turnover of employees and thus retention of staff is adversely affecting service delivery to clients. FAIR WAGES MATTER in good service provision to the citizens of this county and I will work diligently to aide in the proper shaping of how the millage dollars should be spent, not excluding workers.