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James W. Steele, MSW who became Executive Director of OVRS in January 2013, has devoted all of his professional life and much of his personal life to helping people with developmental disabilities. All of his jobs have involved serving people with developmental disabilities, including many years as a DSP. Steele, who also is known as ā€œJamie,ā€ previously worked as Executive Director of Halom House Inc. for 20 years, which is similar to OVRS because it too provides residential services to people with developmental disabilities in Hamilton County.

Steele received his undergraduate degree from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1998 and his masters from the University of Cincinnati in 1992. He has completed a two year post-graduate certification in Family Systems Therapy and has provided counseling to countless families over the years. As a brother and uncle of persons with disabilities, he has a unique understanding of the challenges, expectations and frustrations that families have when seeking and receiving services in our developmental disability system.

Jamie is currently the Vice-Chair of OPRA, an Ohio trade association for IDD providers and one of the founders and coordinators of the new Gold Standard Provider Group of Hamilton County.