The Problem
Ohio ranks 29th nationally in mental health access — meaning more than half the country does better at getting residents the care they need. In Franklin County, crisis calls have surged by more than 40 percent, straining first responders who are often the only mental health resource available at 2 a.m. in a residential neighborhood.
The opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across District 3. Too many families have lost someone. Too many people who want help cannot find an available treatment bed or a therapist who accepts Medicaid. The result is untreated illness, overcrowded ERs, and a cycle of crisis that costs communities far more than prevention and treatment ever would.
Stacie's Commitment
- Dedicated to adequate funding for health and social services — the current state budget increase is insufficient and Stacie will fight to change that
- Ensure all Ohioans can access mental health support when they need it, regardless of income or zip code
- Fight for proper funding so that no Ohioan is turned away from treatment due to lack of available beds, providers, or Medicaid acceptance
- Support first responder mental health programs — the FOP endorsed Stacie because he stands with the people on the front lines of every community crisis
- Ensure crisis intervention services, including mobile mental health teams, reach every neighborhood — urban, suburban, and rural
- Invest in early intervention and community-based care to reduce the long-term cost of untreated illness on families, employers, and public safety systems
A Community Issue, Not a Political One
Stacie Baker has spent 15 years serving Franklin County and 9 years on Reynoldsburg City Council. He has seen firsthand how untreated mental illness and addiction ripple through families and neighborhoods — affecting schools, small businesses, and public safety. The current state budget increase for mental health and social services sounds good on paper. It is not enough.
In the Ohio Senate, Stacie will fight for funding that actually matches the scale of the need — not the minimum that allows politicians to check a box and move on.
