Keeping Ashland Healthy - Episode 47 – MHRB of Ashland County Spotlight – Tom Gaus

Dr. Ashley and The Boss get valuable insights from long-time resident and educator, Tom Gaus. Tom talks about the areas he feels is making the most community impact and what the community needs to know about the work of the board.

(Record Date: January 8, 2024)

Episode Transcript

(00:04):
Welcome. You're listening to the KeepingAshland Healthy Podcast, a podcast production of
the Mental Health and Recovery Board ofAshland County, Ohio. Thanks for joining
us, and thank you for joiningus for another episode of Doctor Ashley and
the Boss. And as you know, we have been going through a series
of getting to know the board membershere in Ashland County and with us in

(00:26):
studio that's the Mental Health and RecoveryBoard Studios. On ten ninety five is
mister Tom Goss. Welcome to thestudio. Mister Tom Goss, thank you,
and Doctor Ashley. I've been lookingforward to this one because Tom I
didn't get give him any time limitso we could be here for an hour.
But mister Goss is one of ourlongest serving board members and I think

(00:49):
as we go through our questions,I think our audience will be fascinating with
his answers because Tom has been avaluable and longtime member of the Mental Health
and Recovery Board and I'm just sopleased that he joined us in studio today.
So, Tom, these questions,there are similar questions that we've asked
the other board members that have gonebefore you. We like to start off

(01:10):
with just asking since residency Ashton Countyresidency is a requirement to be on the
board, we asked folks how longthey've been living in Ashland County. Well,
we moved to Cheryl and I movedto Ashland County in nineteen seventy two
when I was hired by Mapleton asthe head basketball coach and assistant principal and
teacher. Wow, in nineteen seventytwo. So this Ashley, I think

(01:33):
this was before you were born.Yes, yes, okay, okay,
all right, that's awesome. Yeah, so up in the Mapleton district and
you've been here ever since, sothat is going on. You know,
I'm doing the mathma my head.That's like fifty some years, fifty one
fifty two here in Ashland. Yeah, yeah, wow, that's great.
Right. So I raise attention tothat because I think you can tell listeners,

(01:59):
mister been in this community for along time, so he knows a
lot about some of the needs andthe trends that have occurred over those years.
And you probably have seen a fewchanges in your time here in the
county, let alone serving on theboard. Which is kind of my second
question, how long have you beeninvolved with this board? Well, I
would say. There was a galthat came to me. She was moving

(02:21):
to Florida and she came to meand she said, would you like to
be on the Mental Health and RecoveryBoard? And I said, I don't
even know what that board does?What does it do? And so she
told me about it and then introducedme to the then director, Janet Lavis,
and I was really kind of fascinatedwith the idea, and so I

(02:44):
was able to join the board atthat time, right, and we were
trying to do some math, butwe think it's fair to say you've probably
been on the board or with theboard for twenty five years plus. Probably
probably, Yeah, I mean thatwas a quarter of a century. Yeah.
See how couch she is. That'swhy she's the doctor. I don't
know why you guys keep bringing upyears and years and age and years all

(03:04):
the time. We're just lucky tohave you here. That's wrong. That's
a good recovery after Ashley. So, given Tom that there are so many
other things you can do with yourtime, tell us a little bit about
your motivation. You started to touchon it. What was your motivation to
serve and not only to start,but to continue to serve for so long.
Can you tell us a little bitabout that? Sure, well,

(03:27):
I was. I also taught psychologyat the high school level, and so
I was interested in mental health tobegin with. And it took me probably
five years to learn the system,to learn the acronyms and the synonyms and
all of all of that nonsense thatyou have to learn. But but it
just it was just a need thatthe county needed and not a lot of

(03:53):
people know that, and so andthen just the idea of rubbing shoulders with
other good people that were on theboard. Sure. Yeah. And one
of my favorite things is when Tomgoes out to Mental Health and Recovery Board
events or trainings that we have,or even with some of our newer board
members, how many folks come upto them and you know, Tom was

(04:14):
their principal or their teacher. Youknow, that's one of the advantages when
you stick in accounting for a longperiod of time, as you have,
like you said, fifty some yearsliving here, you get to know.
Again, national's not that big,so you get to know a lot of
folks, and everybody knows Tom.Yeah, that's so cool. I wonder
to you like your connection to theeducation system and mental health system. Now,

(04:35):
like I think that probably has beenan interesting combination. Well, I
think I was on the board whenwe decided to do the liaison program,
which has just been awesome. Andbecause I can remember, I can remember
saying it a board meaning that ifthe board doesn't pay for it fully,

(04:58):
then I'm not for it, becauseI knew at that time the schools could
not possibly pay for the services.And I think at this point in time,
I think we still do pay fora good majority of the liaisons.
But working in the schools, theliaisons have been they just save kids,
like they do things that teachers andprincipals and guidance counselors cannot possibly do.

(05:23):
They don't have the time, nordo they have the resources. And I've
just seen episode after episode of kidsbeing helped by the liaison program. No,
And I'm glad you raised that,doctor Ashley, because Tom having that
expertise in education and experience when theboard was considering the school community liaison program,

(05:45):
I think your voice was really andyour perspective was really valuable because that
program was crafted from the very beginningso wisely. It really took off and
it's just sustained itself over twenty someyears. That program alone continued to be
impactful in our I think our educationalprofessionals. I mean, it's one of

(06:05):
the reasons our levees tend to pass. Folks know that program. They've been
helped by it so many families andyoung people. It's why I think folks
responsible positive with our levy requests,and we appreciate Tom being there at the
ground floor. Before there was aliaison program. It took folks with that
perspective to kind of craft it andshape it so that it would be successful,

(06:28):
which it has been. Yeah,that's amazing. I've worked all over
the state and I've never seen aprogram like that before. It's really unique
and special. I think one morequestion for you here. Can you tell
us more about your specific role onthe board and maybe what that looks like.
Tom. Well, I'm just aregular old board member at this point
in time, and board members referto me. Do you remember, you

(06:50):
know? And David's always bringing upTom. I'm keeping this short and there's
only one page because when I cameon the board it was laborious at times
listening to director's reports for forty fiveminutes when we could have got it done
in twenty minutes. And so David'sbeen very good about getting that done.

(07:15):
But I served as president a fewyears and vice president was on the executive
consul. But it's time for youngpeople to take over that role. And
so I'm just kind of a boardmember that I can bring up archives from
time to time. I love that. That's so important. It is it
is. It's nice to have folksthat have been with us for so long

(07:36):
because Tom really can't act and hasacted as a menor I think in inspirations
with some of our younger members whoagain, remember what you said very at
the very on side of the program. You said, when somebody first approached
you, he said, what isthat board? Didn't even know it exists.
So there still are a lot ofpeople in an accounting that don't know.
And even though they they're willing toserve, they still need a whole

(07:57):
lot of education at the beginning.It helps to have somebody like you,
Tom, that's been here and it'swilling to give back. That's great.
So kind of a fun question foryou, Tom, it's a little change
up here. Could you tell usabout the best gift that you've ever received,
and maybe why it was the best. That is such a hard question
because I've been so blessed just beingin Nashland County doing the things that I

(08:22):
was able to do, being onthe boards, being on the ACTA board
in a long time, even beingon the YMC Board of Trustees. And
so I think the biggest gift isprobably just being here in Ashland County.
It's a great place to raise kids. It's a great place, and Matt

(08:43):
Miller obviously is doing a great jobdoing all the things he's doing. So
you know, if you want amaterial gift, I don't have one.
It's just more of a of amoral gift that I've been given over the
years. Absolutely, that's a greatYep, didn't have to be material at
all. That's great. And onemore fun one before David takes back over

(09:05):
here. If money were no objectand you could go back in time and
do anything you wanted with your life, what would that be? I would,
you know, I don't want togo back too far, but I
think I would make sure that theGED program is funded in Nashland County to

(09:28):
the fullest. And by that Imean several years ago we had the GED
program in Ashland. It was runthrough the Career Center in the state,
and their infinite wisdom decided to doaway with it in Nashland County and separated
to Mansfield City Schools, which hasbeen a disaster. And so I don't

(09:50):
know how many kids are it's notmany, but we were averaging twenty two
to twenty eight kids a year goingthrough the GED program getting their ge D
and then going on and doing greatthings in life. And I don't think
they're even close to doing that nowwith Mansfield City Schools being in charge.
So if I had, if Ihad a lot of money, I would

(10:11):
I would fund that program to thetop. Yep. I remember when Tom
was involved with that, how howpassionate he still is about that program.
And again it goes back to youryour education roots. I think Tom,
at some level, I don't knowwhen it was, if you were a
young person, but at some pointin your life, the idea of education

(10:33):
must have must have dawned on you. This is critical and you want as
many people as possible to get thehighest of the best quality education they can
get. That just seems like that'sbeen a thread throughout your life and your
career regardless of what you're doing.You know, you understand the value of
education. Well, I wanted tobe a doctor first. Yeah, and

(10:54):
one semesterized taken embryology, genetics,and organic chemistry and I could not keep
but with the smart kids, yeah, terrible. So I decided to be
a teacher. Now, well,if you can't do teach, just what
I've been told, right, right, that's what they say. Well,
no, those are good responsibility.Yeah. Ever since I've known you,

(11:15):
education is and you've always been passionateand you just it opens up doors.
And some of the young people inthe GED program I recall, you know
sometimes they were the first ones inthere, same thing with ACA, right,
sometimes the first one in their familyto graduate and to go on.
And you know, you can changethe whole arc of the individual and a
family, you know, when whenthe education is there. So yeah,

(11:37):
for me, I'm the first personto go to college in my family,
and I think you can see howhard that can be with not having family
members who have gone through the process. To do that on your own is
very hard, and so I thinkit's important that work. And this one
might be challenging. My next questionbecause you've been with the board for so
long, but you've seen a lotof different types of work that the Board

(11:58):
has done over the years. Butwhat work of the board do you think
most positively impacts Ashland County. Ithink I know your answer, but you
might surprise me. So what work, a program or a service at the
board is involved? What do youthink most positively impacts the county? Well,
I think the liaison program is numberone because it affects so many kids.
And I mean I can tell youstory after story of kids being helped

(12:20):
by liaisons, both at Hillsdale whenI was a principal there and both at
Mapleton when I was a principal there. So, without a doubt, the
Ladson program is number one. Idon't even know if I have a number
two other than I would wish thatwe could do more with the equine program.

(12:45):
And this is kind of a joke, but I always I always asked
David, when can we buy sixmore horses our equine program. Though we
have tried to grow that, it'sone of those things where not everybody benefits
from traditional go into an office,sit down and do talk therapy. So
whether it's young people and we've starteda branch out even with our veterans,

(13:07):
first responders, other adults who gettingout there with the horses in a different
environment, in a different way.That's what they need and that's what makes
the difference. They might do someof those other things as well, But
that eque has been positive, andI wish we had the money to buy
him with another stable full of horses. I mean, but I don't know

(13:28):
if that's coming. Who's that Wehave to ask Patty if it's in the
budget, right, that's our financeperson, right, Tom, you know
we're getting towards you end again,we're speaking with Tom Goss, who's a
long term member of the Mental HealthRecovery Board. He said he's just a
board member. He served in allthe different officer positions over the years,
but right now he is quote unquotejust a board member. But what do

(13:48):
you what do you want our listenerto know as we end up here?
Just any any thoughts about what you'dlike the listeners to know about the work
of the board. Well, theBoard has come a long ways over the
years, especially with the website,the Internet, and I don't think there's
any reason why somebody out there can'tget on our website, learn about it,

(14:11):
realize all of the opportunities that maybe available to them. I just
think with communications being so open nowthat and it doesn't seem to be it
doesn't seem to be something in theterms of, you know, well,

(14:33):
I don't want anybody to know aboutwhat's going on in my stigma, the
stigma type. And I think Ithink we're getting over the stigma. I
hope we are. And I just, you know, I just think that,
uh, there's a ton of availableprograms that the Mental Health Recovery Board
are offering the people of Ashland County. I agree, and just please Doctor

(14:56):
Ashley before we sign off anything elsefor the program today. Yeah, I
just want to thank Tom for joiningus. It's been really great and learning
about all the work that you've donehas been awesome. So thank you so
much. Thank you, Tom,Thank you. And there you have another
episode of Keeping Ashland Healthy with DoctorAshley and the Boss. Were listening to

(15:18):
another episode of the Keeping Ashland Healthypodcast. The podcast is a production of
the Mental Health and Recovery Board ofAshland County, Ohio. You can reach
the Board by calling four one ninetwo eight one three one, three nine.
Please remember that the Board funds alocal twenty four to seven crisis line
through Applese Community Mental Health Center.It can be reached by calling four one
nine two eight nine sixty one oneone. That's four one nine two eight

(15:43):
nine sixty one one one. Untilnext time, Please join us in keeping Ashland healthy