Summit County's Take Me Home program expands to help more people

The program now includes individuals with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, schizophrenia, depression and addiction.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Summit County prosecutor's and sheriff's offices have expanded the Take Me Home program, which aims to assist people with autism, Alzheimer's disease, and other disorders who have become lost or disoriented. The program now includes individuals with conditions such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, schizophrenia, depression, and addiction.

Why it matters

The Take Me Home program provides critical information about individuals in crisis to law enforcement, allowing for more beneficial, comfortable, and safe interactions. It also gives family members and caregivers greater peace of mind.

The details

The Take Me Home program was brought to Summit County in 2007 after an autistic child went missing and was unable to communicate his name or address to law enforcement. The program created a database accessible only to law enforcement that contains information submitted by parents and caretakers of people with communication difficulties. Today, there are more than 2,000 people registered in the program, including around 250 seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia. The program is now being expanded beyond those with cognitive disabilities and communications difficulties to also include individuals with such conditions as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, schizophrenia, depression, and addiction.

  • The Take Me Home program was brought to Summit County in 2007.
  • As of February 2026, there are more than 2,000 people registered in the program.

The players

Elliot Kolkovich

Summit County Prosecutor.

Kandy Fatheree

Summit County Sheriff.

Leslie Knoblauch

Take Me Home program administrator.

Autism Society of Ohio

A community partner in promoting the Take Me Home program.

Greater East Ohio chapter of the Alzheimer's Association

A community partner in promoting the Take Me Home program.

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What they’re saying

“For those of us in law enforcement, having this critical information about an individual who's in crisis or who may have gotten lost or disoriented can make a huge difference. It allows for a more beneficial, comfortable, and safe interaction for both the officers and the individual they're assisting, and it gives family members and caretakers greater peace of mind.”

— Kandy Fatheree, Summit County Sheriff (Media release)

“At first it was mostly children, but now we have people of all ages, including around 250 seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia.”

— Leslie Knoblauch, Take Me Home program administrator (Media release)

What’s next

The Akron chapter of the Autism Society of Ohio and the Greater East Ohio chapter of the Alzheimer's Association will continue to promote the expanded Take Me Home program in the community.

The takeaway

The Take Me Home program's expansion to include individuals with a wider range of conditions demonstrates Summit County's commitment to providing critical support and resources to vulnerable members of the community, ensuring their safety and well-being.