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 Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Governor DeWine Announces $90M Investment to Strengthen Local Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services

On Monday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the award of $90 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds aimed at strengthening mental health and addiction crisis services statewide. A total of 37 regional projects will receive funding through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS).

“Across Ohio, people of all ages and their families are seeking care in record numbers for substance use and mental health concerns,” said Governor DeWine. “I am proud of the work we are doing in Ohio to make services more visible, accessible, and effective for all Ohioans faced with mental health and substance use crises. By expanding access to a full array of crisis services, more Ohioans of all ages will receive the care they need in their local community so that they can recover and reach their full potential.”

OhioMHAS will oversee coordination of the grants in collaboration with county Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Boards. As a part of the planning process, Boards were required to work with community partners (service providers, law enforcement, hospitals) to identify local needs and gaps in their regional crisis systems and to develop collaborative projects to add capacity statewide. The resulting awards will fund a mix of capital improvement projects (26 projects, $74.5M) and infrastructure projects (11 projects, $15.5M), closing locally identified gaps in care such as short-term residential beds, behavioral health urgent care, mobile crisis response teams, and facility/IT improvements.

Strengthening crisis services at the community level is an ongoing priority for OhioMHAS. Learn more about OhioMHAS’ crisis work HERE.

NASADAD Executive Director Rob Morrison Joins OhioMHAS Leadership for Visit with Licking-Knox Board, Providers

Last week, OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss and Assistant Director of Community Planning and Collaboration Jamie Carmichael joined National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) Executive Director Rob Morrison for a visit to the Mental Health and Recovery Board for Licking and Knox Counties. During the visit, the trio met with leadership from the Board and community provider network to discuss State Opioid and Stimulant Response (SOS 3.0, formerly SOR) programming efforts and other local issues. After a robust conversation at the Board offices, the group finished the afternoon with a visit to a recovery home operated by Whole Living Recovery, which operates multiple recovery houses for men and women with the goal of providing safe, community-based housing during the early stages of recovery.

Pictured above (l-r): Licking County Alcoholism Prevention Program (LAPP) Executive Director John Jordan, Whole Living Recovery Administrator and Case Manager Stephanie Vanbibber, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) Executive Director Rob Morrison, Mental Health America of Licking County Executive Director Colleen Hendon, OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss, Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties Executive Director Kay Spergel, Whole Living Recovery Founder and Executive Director Kerry Shea Penland, The Main Place Executive Director Cary Loughman, OhioMHAS Assistant Director of Community Planning and Collaboration Jamie Carmichael, and The Main Place Co-Peer Support Director Alexa Wente.

NAMI of Logan and Champaign Counties Hosts Annual Luau

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Logan and Champaign Counties joined with Recovery Zone to host its Annual Luau for awareness and advocacy on Aug. 26 at Lions Park in West Liberty. NAMI provides a variety of educational and support groups for families throughout Logan and Champaign counties. Recovery Zone provides one-on-one peer recovery support, programming, and activities to increase the understanding of mental health challenges and substance use disorders and provide education about healthy strategies for the management of recovery.

Updated RFI: Peer Support Services Recovery Events 

OhioMHAS is seeking Requests For Information (RFI) to provide an opportunity for non-profit peer support organizations and providers to host a recovery-focused event with activities in observance of September as Recovery Month. Organizations may apply for up to $20,000 to host an event with activities focused on reducing overdose deaths, increasing access to addiction treatment, preventing youth alcohol and drug use, increasing recovery supports, and providing educational opportunities and training on promoting harm reduction practices. Please submit emails of interest by 3:00 p.m. on Sept. 8 to Peerservices@mha.ohio.gov. Responses to frequently asked questions will be posted on the OhioMHAS Funding Opportunities webpage.

Save the Date: Accreditation Webinar Planned for Oct. 12

Save the date! The OhioMHAS Licensure & Certification team will host a webinar featuring representatives from The Joint Commission, The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and the Council on Accreditation (COA) on Oct. 12 from 10:00 a.m.-noon. Each accrediting body will provide an overview of their accreditation process and other key information for community behavioral health services providers who must obtain national accreditation on or after Oct. 1, 2025. OhioMHAS encourages providers to begin the national accreditation process early to ensure they remain in regulatory compliance. Watch NewsNow for registration information. 

Suicide Prevention Month Resources

In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Month (#SPM23) and Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 10-16), the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) — the nation’s public-private partnership working to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention — has made several #BeThere resources and tools available to plan for and participate in this important national conversation. Suicide Prevention Month/Week Events Sept. 5 | Action Alliance #BeThere Twitter Chat 1:00 p.m. ET  Sept. 10 | National American Indian and Alaska Native Hope for Life Day Sept. 10 | World Suicide Prevention Day Sept. 13 | AFSP Special "Ask Dr. Jill" Episode at 3:00 p.m. ET Sept. 17 | National Physician Suicide Awareness Day Sept. 19 | National Institute of Mental Health Facebook Live at 2:00 p.m. ET Other Resources: SAMHSA's 988 Suicide Prevention Month Social Media Shareables CDC's Suicide Prevention Month Partner Toolkit American Hospital Association Suicide Prevention Resources National Alliance on Mental Illness Suicide Prevention Month Resources American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Suicide Prevention Week Resources Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation Black Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Vigils

OCAAR Overdose Awareness Day Meditation — Aug. 31

Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR) will host a statewide meditation in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 at 6:15 pm. This meditation will be lead by OCAAR board member Tom Gregoire. Click HERE to join the Facebook Live event at the 6:15 p.m. designated start time. Additional Overdose Awareness Day Resources: Governor Mike DeWine's Proclamation Other Awareness Day Events by County Ohio Overdose Awareness Day Toolkit

Suicide and The Black Church — Sept. 15

As a part of Black Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 10-17), Male Behavioral Health will host Suicide & The Black Church on Sept. 15 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Join Bishops, Pastors and Saints from across the country for this important conversation about Suicide and the Black Church. Presenters will talk about how suicide and mental health is preached and taught in the Black Church and discuss how church leaders and saints can deal with sin, suffering, and the consequences of faith. Questions? Please email info@mbhinc.com.

2023 Ohio Prevention Conference — Nov. 16

OhioMHAS and The Ohio State University College of Social Work are partnering to host the 2023 Ohio Prevention Conference (OPC) on Nov. 16 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris. The goal of the OPC is to provide opportunities for prevention practitioners to increase their knowledge of cutting-edge prevention science, deepen competency in the selection and implementation of evidence-based practices, and facilitate increased sharing and networking of prevention efforts across the state founded in cultural competency and equity. This year’s conference will focus on the Social Determinants of Health. Continuing Education (CE) credit hours will be available for social workers, counselors, prevention professionals and treatment providers; CE contact hours will be available for CHES® and/or MCHES®. Cost is $50.

Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success Announces September Regional Meeting Schedule

The Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success (OMHNSS) is comprised of six regional networks of people who share a common interest and come together to learn from one another, exchange knowledge, and collaborate. The Regional Network Leads provide a platform for you to engage in ongoing discussions, share experiences, and develop a collective understanding of student wellness and mental health supports. Members of the network often have different disciplines but are united by their passion. The Regional Networks foster a sense of community, encourage learning through interaction, and enable the growth of expertise within the regional group. The Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success is supported by a team of experts from the School-Based Center of Excellence at Miami University. Questions? Please email OMHNSS Director Kathleen Oberlin at oberlink2@gmail.com.  Northeast Region | Sept. 26 - 9:00-10:00 a.m. | Register  Northwest Region | Sept. 25 - 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Register West Region | Sept. 12 - 8:00-9:00 a.m. | Register Central Region | Sept. 27 - 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Register Southwest Region | Sept. 19 - 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Register Southeast Region | Sept. 28 - 10:00-11:00 a.m. | Register

In the News...

ADAMHS Board, MetroHealth, and St. Vincent Charity partner to open BH crisis center
MetroHealth, August 29, 2023

Mental health and recovery board receives funding
Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune, August 29, 2023

ADAMH Board receives $7.96M for residents facing mental health, substance use crisis
Pike County News Watchman, August 29, 2023

MHARS Board of Lorain County receives $4.5M to strengthen outreach
Lorain Morning Journal, August 29, 2023

CRC and mental health board receive $6.6M for youth behavioral health crisis services
BG Independent, August 29, 2023

Kent State receives $400K for Mahoning Valley students
WFMJ-TV, August 28, 2023

Mental Health and Recovery Services Board receives grant funding
WHIZ-TV, August 28, 2023

ADAMH partners with Ohio State University to prevent overdose deaths
OSU Wexner Medical Center, August 28, 2023

Drug Overdose Awareness Day organized
Marysville Journal-Tribune, August 28, 2023

Meet Your Neighbor: Legends Recovery Center helps more than 300 clients in first year
Fremont News-Messenger, August 28, 2023

Judge's vision, community collaboration offer hope and recovery
Wilmington News-Journal, August 28, 2023

Mental Health and Recovery for Licking Knox Receives $3M to Strengthen Crisis Services
Mount Vernon Grapevine, August 28, 2023

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Path Behavioral Healthcare
WHIZ-TV, August 28, 2023

Opinion: Embracing 'care response' in Cuyahoga County to transform crisis intervention
Cleveland.com, August 27, 2023

A decade of Recovery with FOA rally in Downtown Dayton
WKEF-TV, August 27, 2023

Overdose awareness events coming to Kent-Ravenna this week
Record-Courier, August 27, 2023

Guest column: Recovery — A very beautiful and possible thing
Steubenville Herald-Star, August 26, 2023

Cincinnati Children's cuts ribbon on new mental health facility
WCPO-TV, August 25, 2023

Trends and disparities in fireams deaths among children
American Academy of Pediatrics, August 21, 2023

Got News?

If you would like to submit a news item or training for consideration for publication in OhioMHAS NewsNow, please email content to Eric.Wandersleben@mha.ohio.gov. 

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Mike DeWine, Governor | Lori Criss, Director