Gayle Channing Tenenbaum
Legislative Director

Public Children Services Association of Ohio
510 E. Mound Street
Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43215

Ohio

Gayle Channing Tenenbaum, Legislative Director for the Public Children's Services Association of Ohio, has dedicated her life to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, public policy and services to strengthen and empower families to safely and lovingly raise their own children, and effective strategies to support the healthy development of children who have been abused or neglected. Recently, Ms. Tenenbaum's leadership contributed to a significant and phenomenal effort in Ohio, the Access to Better Care (ABC) Initiative.

The ABC Initiative focuses on improving the accessibility, coordination, and effectiveness of mental health and substance abuse services for children, youth, and their families. To achieve Access to Better Care, Ms. Tenenbaum convened all State-level cabinet directors charged with serving children and families to unite them in a common vision to address the issue of behavioral health services. Further, she engaged hundreds of child and family serving professionals across the State, demanding as well the presence of “real” family members at each table. Ultimately, a collaborative set of recommendations evolved, addressing the need for improved behavioral health services, evidence-based and promising practices, and shared funding strategies. To embrace the ABC recommendations, Ms. Tenenbaum organized an intense public awareness effort, as well as professionals and advocates to work collaboratively.

The results are impressive. Access to Better Care brought together professionals, policymakers and families; public and private entities; child welfare, mental health, substance abuse, juvenile justice, health, and education communities. In 2005, a time of flat State funding, $12 million new State dollars were allocated in the State's biennial budget, and many more State and Federal funds were “reorganized.”

Gayle Channing Tenenbaum brings to mind the words of Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world ...” Ms. Tenenbaum grabbed hold of a goal to improve the behavioral health prevention and intervention services for Ohio's children and their families, changing the world for families across the State with her innovative, tenacious, and skillful leadership.