This November, Ohio voters will elect a new governor, who will take office facing a long list of competing priorities. To make sure Cuyahoga County’s needs are part of that conversation, the Cuyahoga Human Services Chamber organized Dear Governor, an open letter campaign highlighting the challenges our residents and organizations face.
PEP is proud to have taken part, co-authoring a letter on behavioral health with The Centers and Thrive for Change.
In its announcement of the campaign, the Chamber noted:
“Taken as a whole, these letters, addressed to whoever is Ohio’s next governor, signal that impact in one area is not isolated … The collection highlights both the diversity of work taking place across our field and the shared commitment of nonprofit organizations to advancing practical, collaborative solutions.”
The behavioral health letter was written by PEP CEO Eric Gordon, The Centers President and CEO Eric L. Morse, and Thrive for Change Executive Director Bethany Roebuck. It begins by describing how each agency has responded to rising need in Cuyahoga County. All three are serving more people than ever, and the authors emphasize that every one of those numbers represents a person who found hope and healing.
The letter asks the next governor to:
- Protect funding that works, sustaining programs with proven results for children, families, and adults.
- Support the behavioral health workforce, the professionals who make care possible.
- Reduce administrative burdens, so more time and resources go to the people being served.
For PEP, these priorities directly shape our ability to support young people to overcome and thrive. We’re grateful to our partners at The Centers and Thrive for Change for joining us in this call.