TREATMENT AGENCY RALLIES OVER CLOSING

Angry employees of a local drug and alcohol treatment agency picketed in
downtown Toledo yesterday to protest the loss of their state certification,
a move that has shut down the organization.

"I think this is a terrible, terrible infraction, and our clients are
suffering," said LaMarr Norwood, chief executive officer of Fresh Attitude,
which employs 33 people.

His agency provides shelter, treatment, and counseling for the homeless,
veterans, and those just released from prison or jail. Before the
organization's certification was suspended June 1, it had about 150 clients.

The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services inspected Fresh
Attitude's offices at 525 Hamilton St. and halfway-house locations at 3211
Mayo St. and 3212 Chase St. in May as part of a routine inspection required
for recertification. Inspectors found 123 deficiencies and decided not to
renew the certification, according to Stacey Frohnapfel, department
spokeswoman. The deficiencies dealt primarily with procedural and policy
infractions.

Mr. Norwood has requested a hearing to appeal the department's decision,
and one will be held sometime after July 1, Ms. Frohnapfel said, although
Fresh Attitude's certification will not be renewed before then. She said
the agency has corrected most of the deficiencies, but because so many were
found initially, the department didn't renew certification.

Mr. Norwood contends the department didn't follow its own rules in not
giving Fresh Attitude time to correct the problems.

The certification lack means the agency can't receive funding from the
local Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services board. ADAS awarded $57,021
directly to Fresh Attitude this year. But counting other funds the agency
has normally qualified for, it stood to collect about $200,000, Jay
Salvage, executive director for ADAS, said.

Mr. Salvage said ADAS has helped move some of Fresh Attitude's clients to
other programs, and will assist the remaining clients move.