The History of MR/DD

The State of Ohio created county boards of mental retardation in 1967 with the passage of Ohio Amended Senate Bill 169. The county boards became known as “169 Boards.” When the first Board was installed in 1967, it continued to contract with the Hamilton County Welfare Department (HCWD) to provide the same services the department had provided for several years. In 1971, however, the Board began initiating and administering its own programs.

In 1980 the scope of county boards was broadened through passage of Amended Substitute Senate Bill 160, which updated and clarified the duties and responsibilities of the county boards, and added developmental disabilities to the Board’s title. The growth of programs, both in size and numbers, has been phenomenal.

Last Updated: 11/3/2009 4:18:37 PM