 Governor DeWine Signs Bill Requiring Ohio Schools to Create Cell Phone Policies
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250 today at Karrer Middle School in Dublin. The new law will require every school district in Ohio to establish an official policy governing cell phone usage during school hours and aims to minimize student use of cell phones in K-12 schools.
“Our school children currently face countless distractions every day from the devices in their pockets,” said Governor DeWine. “By limiting these distractions, we will reestablish the opportunity for students across Ohio to immerse themselves in their classwork, learn from their teachers, and create lifelong memories with their closest friends.”
Sponsored by former Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville), and with the cell phone provision championed by Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware), HB 250 requires that all districts place an emphasis on limiting cell phone use and reducing cell phone-related distractions in classrooms. It also includes exceptions for students who require a cell phone to monitor a health concern or for student learning as determined by school officials.
As a result of the new law, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will soon publish a model policy regarding cell phones that schools across the state can utilize as they create their cell phone policies.
Schools will be required to adopt their cell phone policies no later than July 2025, ahead of the 2025-2026 school year.
 OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn Participates in Columbus Metropolitan Club's "Thriving Minds: Solving Ohio's Mental Health Crisis" Forum
Amid a backdrop of May as Mental as Mental Health Awareness Month, the Columbus Metropolitan Club hosted a Thriving Minds: Solving Ohio's Mental Health Crisis forum today. Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director LeeAnne Cornyn participated in a panel discussion with the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County CEO Erika Clark Jones, and Healing Without Limits Counseling and Consulting Founder and CEO Andriel Ugbomeh. PrimaryOne Health CEO Charleta Tavares moderated the discussion. The forum was sponsored by Nationwide Children's, OhioHealth, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Cardinal Health. Click HERE to watch a recording on CMC's YouTube channel.
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ODM Authorizing $10 Million to Help At-Risk Youth in Ohio
Grants will help create and expand mental health service in 59 Ohio counties
The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM), in partnership with the State of Ohio’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence at Case Western Reserve University, (COE), is helping to launch and expand access to a critical mental health service in 59 counties, which results in 76 out of the 88 counties in Ohio having access to Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT). ODM announced Tuesday that it authorized $10 million to support this service.
IHBT is an intensive, time-limited mental health service for youth with serious emotional disabilities and their families, provided in the home, school, and community where the youth live, with the goal of safely maintaining the youth in the least restrictive, most normative environment. IHBT involves an individual clinician or team of providers delivering a comprehensive set of clinical and rehabilitative services that are designed to intensively treat the young person’s mental health conditions that significantly impair their functioning – often kids who need IHBT face significant challenges in multiple areas of their lives, including school, home, and the community. Some young people who need IHBT are involved with or at risk of being involved with the juvenile justice and child protection systems.
Access to IHBT services is one element of a comprehensive and robust system of care, and is also one of the core services included in OhioRISE, the state’s transformative program aimed at helping children and youth with the most complex behavioral health challenges.
Each of the IHBT providers receiving grant funds have either already received IHBT certification or will work toward obtaining their IHBT certification through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. A full list of awardees is available on the Center of Excellence’s website. The COE will provide training, technical assistance, consultation, program implementation support, fidelity monitoring, and evaluating the new services.
 Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio Conference
The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) held its annual Housing Ohio conference last week. OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn (pictured above) participated in a State Agency Directors panel discussion, along with Ohio Housing Finance Agency Executive Director Shawn Smith, Ohio Department of Development Community Services Chief Patrick Smith, and Ohio Department of Medicaid Deputy Director of Long-Term Services and Support Jesse Wyatt.
During the panel, Director Cornyn emphasized the importance of housing for individuals in recovery. “We know housing is both an essential recovery support and a social determinant of health, she said. "Individuals grappling with mental illness and substance use disorders face stigma and additional challenges securing and keeping housing, with those involved in the criminal justice system facing even more barriers."
Director Cornyn also discussed the various investments OhioMHAS has made in housing support programs. These include landlord incentive programs, the PATH Program, and Rural Outreach Programs, which aim to increase available housing for those with mental health and substance use disorders and connect homeless individuals with housing.
Click HERE to see more photos and to view session handouts and presentations.
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Survey Feedback Requested: Ohio Addressing Mental Health Resources for Farmers
According to a 2022 survey of Ohio farmers, 1 in 10 are at risk of depression. In 2021, 61% of farmers and farm workers reported facing increased mental health challenges compared to the previous year. As of 2023, the suicide rate within the farming community is 3.5 times higher than the general population
With these facts in mind, OhioMHAS in partnership with other state departments, non-profits, and agricultural industry organizations, has formed the Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance (OAMHA). The group's first objective is to gather feedback through an anonymous survey targeting rural communities and farmers concerning stress and mental health. As the survey period nears its end, OAMHA is eager to receive as many responses as possible, especially given the onset of the busiest and most stressful months for farmers.
Please consider distributing the survey link within your communities, particularly those in rural counties with a significant agricultural presence. The insights gleaned will be invaluable in guiding Ohio to develop additional resources and enhance mental health services tailored toward the farming community.
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RFI: Ohio’s Gambling Telehealth Network
OhioMHAS, in partnership with the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO), is seeking requests for information (RFI) from behavioral health providers to help inform Ohio’s approach for providing clinical services for individuals with Gambling Disorder through the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network.
The information collected through this RFI will be used by OhioMHAS and PGNO to better inform the current landscape of certified behavioral health care services as they relate to problem gambling in Ohio. By providing the requested information, service providers will indicate future interest in working with the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network. Responding to this RFI does not guarantee participation in the OGTN at this time. Please respond to this RFI Survey by 5:00 p.m. on June 7.
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Appalachian Ohio Child and Family Health Dashboard
The Appalachian Children Coalition (ACC) has released a new Appalachian Ohio Child and Family Dashboard. Developed with funding from OhioMHAS and in partnership with Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, this one-stop data source consists of over 200 community indicators on health and well-being across Appalachian Ohio. Health care practitioners, health departments, ADAMH boards, school districts, social service agencies, policymakers, local leaders, researchers, and community members can utilize these tools and data to better understand root causes of inequities and improve outcomes for our children and families.
The Dashboard includes data for the entire 32-county Appalachian Ohio region, as well as separate data summaries for each of those 32 counties. In the coming weeks, ACC will continue to add indicators to this list, as those data are made available to us. We will also be regularly updating the Dashboard so you will know you are accessing the most current data available.
Informational Webinar
For those who may be interested in learning more about the Dashboard, the Coalition will be holding a webinar on June 6 from noon-1:00 p.m. to provide guidance on how to use it and to highlight its features. Click HERE to register for the webinar.
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NIDA Study: More Than 115 Million Pills Containing
Illicit Fentanyl Seized by Law Enforcement in 2023
Law enforcement seizures of illicit fentanyl increased dramatically in number and size between 2017-2023 in the U.S., especially in pill form, according to a new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The number of individual pills containing fentanyl seized by law enforcement was 2,300 times greater in 2023 compared to 2017, with 115,562,603 pills seized in 2023 vs. 49,657 in 2017. The proportion of fentanyl pill seizures to the total number of fentanyl seizures more than quadrupled, with pills representing 49 percent of illicit fentanyl seizures in 2023 compared to 10 percent in 2017. The study also found a significant increase in the number and weight of fentanyl-containing powder seizures during this time.
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SAMHSA’s Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis: Costs and Financing Strategies Report and Webinar Discuss Outcomes, Costs, Funding, and Innovative Strategies Used by States
Mental health promotion and early intervention programs and services for individuals at risk for or living with mental health conditions is an important focus for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the nation. To provide these necessary services, decisions are required for not only the type of care that is needed but also how to pay for them.
SAMHSA published a report and hosted a webinar on Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis: Costs and Financing Strategies available on SAMHSA’s Center for Financing Reform & Innovation (CFRI) web page.
Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) is a multi-component, evidence-based, early intervention service for individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis (FEP) that can improve the quality of life and social and clinical outcomes. CSC is an effective team-based approach to providing services, but figuring out how to fund the services can be challenging. The report and webinar discuss the positive outcomes of providing CSC services, as well as the costs, funding sources, and innovative funding strategies currently being used in five states. The report also discusses approaches being taken to improve funding for these services.
Upcoming Ohio SUD-COE Trainings
The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD COE) at Case Western Reserve University has released a calendar of upcoming trainings for behavioral health professionals. Click HERE to view the schedule, review course descriptions, and to register.
Schizophrenia: Life, Stigma, and Nonfiction — May 23
Join the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Department of Psychiatry Coordinating Centers of Excellence and Peg’s Foundation for the 2024 Drs. Fred and Penny Frese Lecture as they welcome social media influencer @schizophrenicreads, book reviewer, and disability advocate Nathan Shuherk to present Schizophrenia: Life, Stigma, and Nonfiction on May 23 at 3:00 p.m. The free lecture will be held in-person and live-streamed via Zoom. Questions? Email bestcenter@neomed.edu or call 330.325.6698.
Virtual Campus Community Partnership Spotlight — May 24
The Ohio College Initiative and Rise and Thrive will host a Virtual Campus Community Partnership Spotlight on May 24 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. The presentation will showcase impactful campus-community collaborations. Explore projects from Bowling Green State University and Rhodes State College, focusing on:
- Project Identification and Focus
- Community and Cross-Partner Involvement
- Lessons Learned and Sustainability
This session is ideal for student services professionals and community providers. Discover innovative collaborations that enhance the collegiate journey.
Cognitive Impairment in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Neurologic Informed Care — June 6
The Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TBI TARC) is hosting a Cognitive Impairment in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Neurologic Informed Care webinar on June 6 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. In this webinar, John D. Corrigan, PhD, ABPP, Executive Director of the Ohio Brain Injury Program, will introduce the new ASAM expectations for the treatment of persons with cognitive impairment, including "Neurologic Informed Care” as described in the new criteria. Implications for the identification of people in treatment who have a history of brain injury, as well as the use of accommodations to make treatment more accessible, will be discussed. Questions? Email tbitarc@hsri.org.
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Addressing Stress, the Social Determinants of Health, and Resilience in Rural Communities — June 18
The Great Lakes Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center and the Ohio Youth Resilience Collaborative are partnering to host Addressing Stress, the Social Determinants of Health, and Resilience in Rural Communities on June 18 from 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. This presentation will focus on understanding the signs, symptoms, facts, and figures related to stress and physical/mental/chemical health issues among individuals living in rural communities. Participants will learn about risk and protective factors and prevention and intervention strategies to increase emotional health and well-being. being. Information about the social determinants of health and connection to others to address stress-related issues will be shared. Questions? Email Kelly Cabral at cabral.48@osu.edu.
Campus-Community Partnership Summit — July 29
The Ohio College Initiative and Rise and Thrive, in partnership with Prevention Action Alliance and OhioMHAS, will host the 2024 Campus-Community Partnership Summit, "Addressing Student Wellness Through Comprehensive Campus-Community Partnerships" on July 29 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at The Ohio State University Union – Cartoon Room. The free summit will highlight the benefits of building campus-community relationships, provide examples of successful campus-community partnership projects, and address potential student wellness impacts with the legalization of cannabis in Ohio.
Mind over Miles Run/Walk — Aug. 11
In the News...
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Construction crews face high suicide and overdose rates. Columbus groups fighting back.
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New gallery display addresses stigma at South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library
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Introducing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
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Nationwide Children's Hospital launches kids mental health foundation
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Accessible options for first steps of mental health recovery
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Editorial: Awareness and action needed on mental health
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News 5 honored by ADAMHS Board for coverage of mental health treatment
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Ohio's lifeline for mental health crisis support: 988
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A new report highlights the gaps in women veterans' mental health care
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Toledo police fentanyl seizures greatly rise this year
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Statistics show Richland County Drug Court is effective
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Numbers show suicides are on the rise in Ohio, local resources available
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Zepf Center program works to keep families together
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Positive Addiction brings life affirming message
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Local honorees recognized for mental health work
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Addressing the Stigma: Mental Health Awareness Month
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The Hope Squad helping to battle mental health through peer-to-peer mentorship
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