The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Nikki Reiss, J.D., as Deputy Director of Innovation, a new executive leadership position within the agency.

Governor DeWine has prioritized a move toward innovation and research that will help Ohio get to the root causes of mental illness and addiction with a focus on the most pressing challenges in behavioral health today…better outcomes for Ohioans.  As Deputy Director for Innovation, Reiss – who started her new role this week – will run point on this work for the department.  

Reiss most recently served as a Senior Strategist for Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLP, where she utilized her extensive knowledge and experience in advocacy and government relations to help local and national health, education, human service, and workforce development clients understand political context and opportunities for meaningful change, and build connections with likeminded individuals and organizations. She previously served as Policy Director for the Cordray/Sutton gubernatorial campaign, as a Public Policy Counsel with Carpenter Lipps & Leland, LLP, and held various associate and clerk positions with other legal firms. She also served as Deputy Desk Officer for the Ohio Voter Protection Group and as a Fellow with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. She is a past Board member for Dress for Success-Columbus, Alvis House, and Komen Columbus Young Professionals, and served as a past Coach of the Lehman Catholic High School Mock Trial Team.

Reiss earned her Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a Management Concentration from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Ohio Recovery Housing this week released Ohio Recovery Housing Resident Outcomes Report: May—December 2022, a new report analyzing outcomes data for recovery housing programs that provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of recovery housing in Ohio. The report summarizes data from thousands of Ohioans with diverse backgrounds from various regions in Ohio, presenting a comprehensive evaluation of the outcomes achieved through recovery housing programs.

Key highlights from the study include:
• Decreased use of alcohol and illicit substances — 97% of respondents who stayed in recovery housing for at least six months reported no alcohol use in the past 30 days. 98% of respondents who stayed in recovery housing for at least six months reported no illicit drug use in the past 30 days.
• Increased employability — 17% of respondents who stayed in recovery housing for at least six months achieved their high school diploma or equivalent and 5% achieved technical or vocational certification.
• Increased economic wellbeing — Over half (57%) of respondents had no income when they moved into recovery housing. By move-out that percentage has dropped to 22%.
• Improved family relationships — slightly more than half (55%) of respondents identified as parents. Of those, only a small percentage had their children in the custody of child welfare (7.5%). This percentage decreased to 4.1% at move-out. Over 80% of all parents reported that they improved their relationships with their children during their stay in recovery housing.
• Increased engagement in peer/recovery supports — Engagement in certified peer support services increased from 53% of respondents at move-in to nearly three-quarters (74%) for respondents who have lived in recovery housing for at least six months.

Men were significantly more vulnerable than women to overdose deaths involving opioid and stimulant drugs in 2020-2021, according to a new study analyzing death records data from across the U.S. The study found that men had a 2–3 times greater rate of overdose mortality from opioids (like fentanyl and heroin) and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine and cocaine). While it has been known that men use drugs at higher rates than women, the researchers found that this alone does not explain the gap in overdose deaths, noting that biological, behavioral, and social factors likely combined to increase the mortality risk for men. The study, published in Neuropsychopharmacology, was led by investigators at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health

New research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health sheds light on how negative early life experiences may impact how we act in response to rewards, which is often disrupted in people with mental illnesses. A team of researchers from the University of California-Irvine identified a new connection between the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens in the brains of mice that is sensitive to early life adversity and affects how mice respond to rewards. Targeting this important connection may help researchers develop new ways to prevent and treat stress-related mental disorders.

PreventionFIRST! is hosting a free Latino Youth Summit on June 17 from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the House of Joy Christian, 3220 Central Parkway in Cincinnati. Middle school students, high school students, and parents/caregivers are all encouraged to attend. Workshop topics include: maintaining good mental health, building positive parent/child communication skills, bridging acculturation issues, and social media awareness. Sessions will be presented in both English and Spanish. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Amanda Conn Starner at aconnstarner@preventionfirst.org. 

The Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence is hosting a 90-minute First Responder Wellness Technical Assistance Session on June 22 at 10:30 a.m. This session will highlight the work of law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS agencies and county-led initiatives and programs across Ohio to support first responder wellness. Additionally, OhioMHAS and the Ohio Office of First Responder Wellness will provide overviews of their services and upcoming initiatives. For more information, please email Emily Ribnik at eribnik@neomed.edu. 

The Ohio Children's Alliance is hosting a Triple P Workshop: Implementing a Collaborative Approach to Parenting on June 30 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Cost is $19 for OCA members and $29 for general admission. Click HERE for more information and to register.

The Alliance also announced its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workshop Series, which will take place over two days in July. The series kicks off July 11 with a Foundational DEI Training (2 CEUs) and continues on July 14 with How Do We Support Marginalized Communities in Ohio? (1.5 CEUs) Cost to Alliance members is $98 and $118 for general admission. Click HERE for more information and to register. 

The Alliance also announced the dates for its Fall Conference — Oct. 17-18. OCA is currently accepting workshop proposals through July 10.

The Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Network has announced a series of upcoming trainings focused on leadership, engagement and advocacy in prevention. Click the links below for more information and to register.

June 22 | How COVID Changed Alcohol Policy
June 29 | Demystifying Alcohol Policy Strategies: Planning and Implementation 
July 11, 18, 25, Aug. 1 | Change Leader Academy for Prevention Professionals
Aug. 24 | Effective Group Facilitation Skills for Prevention Professionals
Aug. 29 | Engaging Youth in Substance Misuse Prevention Programs
Sept. 20 | The Importance of Advocacy for Prevention