On Monday, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) held a recognition event to honor extraordinary nurses and Therapeutic Program Workers (TPWs) from each of Ohio's six regional psychiatric hospitals. The April 2024 DAISY and ROSE Awards ceremony honored 12 direct patient care professionals — six nurses and the inaugural group of six TPWs. 

OhioMHAS has been honoring nurses with the DAISY award since 2022 and expanded the recognition ceremony in January 2024 to also honor TPWs with the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award. Nominations for the awards were submitted from families, patients, and peers touched by the work of these extraordinary staff members. 

PICTURED:
Front row, left to right: Leona Shaffer (Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare, ROSE), Ashley Bailey (Heartland Behavioral Healthcare, DAISY), Megan Moreton (Summit Behavioral Healthcare, DAISY), Tanna Ditch (Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital, DAISY), Ndabezinhle Ndlovu (Summit Behavioral Healthcare, ROSE), Idowu Ogunseyin (Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare, DAISY).

Back row, left to right: Danita Drake-Chapton (Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare, ROSE), Shyandrea Grimes (Heartland Behavioral Healthcare, ROSE), Florence Page (Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare, ROSE), OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn, Lucas Howard (Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital, ROSE), Venus Helmick (Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare, DAISY). (Not pictured: Kent Harding [Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare, DAISY]).

The Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion has released a new Healthy Family Environments Social Media Toolkit. The toolkit includes resources designed for professionals and organizations to share helpful tips with parents in their networks throughout the month of April during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The toolkit includes English and Spanish language versions of informational illustrations, customizable captions, and alt text for each. Questions? Email PreventionCOE@ohio.edu.

OhioMHAS is proud to join with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to observe April as Alcohol Awareness Month. The annual awareness month acknowledge the adverse effects excessive alcohol use can have on health and wellness. It is also an opportunity to share strategies and resources available for addressing issues surrounding alcohol use.

According to data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among the 137.4 million respondents aged 12 and older self-reporting current use of alcohol, 44.5 percent reported binge drinking, with the most prevalent age category being 18-25 years old (29.5 percent). Among people 12-20 years old, 15.1 percent used alcohol in the past month. Estimates of binge alcohol use and heavy alcohol use in the past month among underage people were 8.2 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate about 178,000 people die from excessive alcohol use in the U.S. each year.

To help raise awareness and educate the public, SAMHSA has created a social media toolkit with sample messages, graphics, and more. Click the button below to access the Alcohol Awareness Month toolkit resources.  

April is the Month of the Military Child (MOMC). There are more than 1.6 million military children who face many challenges and unique experiences as a result of their parents' service. While military members serve around the world, we often forget the challenges faced by their children. Military families move, on average, every two to three years, impacting military children through changing schools and support networks.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Defense joins national, state, and local government; schools; military-serving organizations; companies; and private citizens in celebrating military children and the sacrifices they make. Click HERE to download a resource toolkit from the Military Child Education Coalition. Click HERE to learn more about how the State of Ohio supports military service members, veterans, and their families. Join the conversation on social media all month long at: #PurpleUpOhio and #PurpleStarSchools @MOTMC. 

Effective April 1, all CDCA Preliminary applications must include a 1 CEU certificate of completion for "OCDP CDCA Ethics Course" hosted on eBased Academy.

The course is offered at no charge. The CEU will count for 1 of the 6 credit hours required for the CDCA Preliminary application. CDCA Preliminary applications already submitted to the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board will not require completion of this course. We recommend those who do not complete the course for the CDCA Preliminary application do so for the CDCA Renewable application as part of the ethics content area requirement. The course is also meets continuing education renewal requirements for the CDCA.

Click HERE to download a guide to accessing the training on eBasedAcademy. Click HERE to view the updated CDCA Preliminary Education Grid. Questions? Email info@ocdp.ohio.gov. 

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is committed to supporting research on basic neuroscience, genetics, and basic behavioral science. These are foundational pillars in the quest to decode the human mind and unravel the complexities of mental illnesses.

To learn about some of NIMH's greatest achievements conducting genomics research, read the latest message from NIMH Director Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Gordon discusses how NIMH's Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science ongoing research connecting genes to cells to circuits to behavior has led to a wealth of discoveries and knowledge that can improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses.

RecoveryOhio, in partnership with OhioMHAS and the Addiction Policy Forum, will host an enCompass Training on April 23 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County, 2012 W. 25th St., 6th Floor, Cleveland.

enCompass is a comprehensive training designed to increase knowledge about addiction and develop skills and strategies to help all participants. Like CPR, the training program is designed to build the skills to support and respond to someone who needs help. The training will also help participants navigate the resources available in their own community.

Participants will learn about the science of addiction, signs and symptoms of addiction, evidence-based treatment options, medications to treat addiction, and engagement strategies. The training is free. All participants will receive a certificate upon completion. 

NAMI Ohio will host its 2024 Statewide Conference on May 3-4 at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center. The conference will bring together individuals, families, professionals, and advocates from across the state who are interested in improving the lives of individuals and families impacted by mental illness. The conference will feature keynote speakers, workshops, exhibitors, and networking opportunities focused on raising awareness, providing education, and expanding support. Click HERE to preview the conference agenda. Click HERE to apply for a scholarship and HERE to register.

Pre-Conference Event | Ohio Resiliency Ring — May 2
Join members of YouthMOVE Ohio at the Ohio Statehouse on Thursday, May 2, for the Ohio Resiliency Ring from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The event will feature keynote remarks from Ohio's Second Lady Tina Husted. Click HERE for more information and to register for the Resiliency Ring. 

The Southwest Ohio Trauma-Informed Care Collaborative will present Embodying Hope: Everyday Resilience to Transition Your Nervous System on May 6 from 9:00 a.m.-noon at the Butler County Educational Service Center in Hamilton. In this retreat-style workshop, participants will learn about neuroeducation and experiential learning to map daily personal energy and apply real-time skills to support to feel physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically, and spiritually resilient throughout the day. The session will be led by Jen Schneeman of Real Human Performance. CEUs will be provided. Click the link above for more information.

The County of Summit ADM Board will host its 2024 Recovery Challenge 5K and 1 Mile Family Fun Walk on June 8 at the IBH Addiction Recovery Center Main Campus in Akron. This 5K challenge offers fun competition for athletes of all ages and abilities. The course challenges (winding through trees, stepping through tires, hills, and more) represent the challenges of those in recovery. Everyone receives a medal. Early registrants also receive a custom 5K race shirt.

The Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention has released a recording of its March 28 Prevention Exchange: Sharing Success, Shaping Solutions virtual forum on Supporting Military Families. The presentation explored resources available for military-connected families ahead of celebrating April as Month of the Military Child.

The next Prevention Exchange Forum will take place on April 25 at 1:00 p.m. with A Trauma-Informed Approach for Ohio. The forum will explore the impact of trauma, the unique needs of those who have experienced trauma, and how systems across Ohio can provide support. Click HERE for more information and to register.