On Wednesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine convened a new working group to address the increasing number of criminal justice-involved (forensic) patients being treated at Ohio’s six regional psychiatric hospitals.

Ohio’s six state-run regional psychiatric hospitals exist as a safety net for Ohioans experiencing serious mental illness and provide comprehensive inpatient care and treatment to more than 1,000 patients daily. These specialized facilities provide services for civil patients, as well as those referred by criminal courts. Over time, the forensic population has steadily increased, squeezing out access and capacity of civil beds in the state hospitals. Forensic patients – which include jail transfers, restoration to competency, and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity patients – currently account for about 93 percent of the available beds (1,085).

“Nine out of 10 beds at our state psychiatric hospitals are occupied by forensic patients, which challenges our ability to keep pace with court referrals for forensic admissions,” said Governor DeWine. “This limits our state psychiatric hospitals’ ability to serve citizens with serious mental illness who are not criminal justice-involved. My hope is that through this working group we will reach a consensus around recommendations that alleviate the strain on our hospitals and ensure that Ohioans living with serious mental illness get access to the care they need to get well, be well, and stay well.”

The Governor’s Work Group on Competency Restoration and Diversion will be chaired by Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director LeeAnne Cornyn. Membership is comprised of representatives from Ohio’s criminal court and penal systems; the Governor’s Office; the Ohio Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Rehabilitation and Correction, Medicaid, and Public Safety; RecoveryOhio; behavioral health provider agencies; advocacy groups; local stakeholders; and Ohioans with lived experience. The group will hold bi-weekly meetings over the next three months with a goal of issuing a final report and recommendations by this summer.

The work group’s goals include:

• Ensuring adequate access to state psychiatric hospital beds for those experiencing a crisis who are not criminal justice-involved.
• Developing recommendations to enhance Ohio’s outpatient competency restoration program.
• Developing best practices and strategies for expanding jail diversion programs for those with mental health and substance use disorders.
• Developing strategies to expand access to jail-based competency restoration and treatment.

Click HERE to read the Governor's media release, which includes a membership roster, and HERE to view more photos from the kickoff meeting. 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will deliver his 2024 State of the State Address to a Joint Session of the Ohio General Assembly on Wednesday, April 10 at noon in the traditional location of the House of Representatives Chamber of the Ohio Statehouse. The 2024 State of the State Address will be streamed live on the Ohio Channel. 

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year, the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF) and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth are highlighting the significant work that is happening throughout the state to keep families strong and to prevent child abuse and neglect. 

To help build awareness of child abuse and neglect prevention, OCTF has launched the “Ensure They Shine” campaign. Click HERE to access a toolkit with campaign graphics and more. OCTF will also be supporting Prevent Child Abuse America’s (PCAA) Wear Blue Day on April 5 and the Public Children Services Association of Ohio’s Wear Blue Day on April 10. Be sure to tag OCTF in all your social media posts and use hashtags, #WearBlueDay2024 and #OhioWearsBlue2024.

OCTF is also hosting four prevention-focused webinars during April. Each webinar will offer insight into child abuse prevention work happening across the state and the impact these programs are having on families. Learn more and register HERE.

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization that helps distribute Ohio’s opioid settlement funds to advance substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts, on Tuesday opened its first-ever grant application opportunity.

As part of its core mission, the foundation will allocate as much as $51 million in 2024, in coordination with its regional council partners. Funds can be used by organizations serving Ohioans – including non-profits, for-profits, and government entities – who are on the frontlines of Ohio’s opioid battle. The Foundation is seeking applicants supporting and engaged in evidence-based, forward-looking strategies for prevention, treatment, and recovery support efforts. Projects funded through the 2024 Regional Grant Cycle may span 12, 24, or 36 months.

Applicants may access the OneOhio Grant Portal, as well as other information, on the foundation’s grant headquarters webpage: OneOhioFoundation.com/Grants. All applications must be submitted into the OneOhio Grant Portal by 11:59 p.m. on May 3.

There's still time to register for the 2nd Annual Ohio Children of Incarcerated Parents Summit, which will be held on April 16-17 at the Embassy Suites Columbus – Dublin. The Summit is designed for community members, prevention and treatment professionals, restored/justice-involved citizens, adult family members, faith and ministry leaders, and service providers. This year's theme is, "Cultivating Strong Family and Community Connections: Sowing Seeds to Harvest Hope."

BrightView Health will present a Harm Reduction 101: Myths, Truths, & Impact virtual forum on April 24 from noon-1:00 p.m. Join Melissa Sahlin, MSW, LISW-S, LCSW, BrightView’s Vice President of Behavioral Health Affairs, and Dr. Harithsa Asuri, MD, MPH, BrightView's Senior Medical Director, as they look at harm reduction from a clinical and medical perspective.

Participants will:

• Learn about common myths and stigma around harm reduction;
• Get a deeper understanding of harm-reduction principles;
• Identify a continuum of behaviors – from severe use to total abstinence; and
• See the positive impact harm reduction can have on communities.

Questions? Email info@brightviewhealth.com. 

The Ohio Prevention Professionals Association (OPPA) will host its 2024 Conference on May 2 at The Fawcett Center in Columbus. This year's theme is, "Navigating Change: How Prevention Stays Adaptable." The conference will feature plenary sessions and workshops focused on some of today and tomorrow's most relevant prevention subject matter, and is built around education, dialogue, and networking with Ohio's prevention community. At the conference luncheon, OPPA will present the 2024 OPPA Prevention Awards, honoring prevention excellence in Ohio. Cost is $120 for OPPA members and $220 for non-members. 

The 2024 Ohio African American Behavioral Health Conference will take place July 25-26 at the Fawcett Center on the campus of The Ohio State University. Co-sponsored by the OhioMHAS, the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, and the OSU Office of Outreach and Engagement, the conference will engage scholars and practitioners in conversation regarding the latest research and clinical practices to support the African American community in Ohio.

Conference planners are currently seeking presentations on innovative and novel approaches to support professional development of behavioral health practices in the following areas: upstream considerations, broad behavioral health phenomena, and needs of specific populations. Speakers will present in breakout sessions lasting one hour. This time includes welcomes, Q&A, or surveys. The audience is comprised of educators, counselors, and practitioners from the behavioral health, physical health, non-profit, corporate, legal, community, and faith sectors. Questions? Email Heidi Burke at burke.1029@osu.edu.