“School-based health clinics have been proven to positively impact not only students’ health, but also their academic performance,” said Governor DeWine, who, in his most recent State of the State address, urged school districts across the state to add more school-based health clinics in their communities. “The new Health Center at Springfield High will help ensure students are physically, mentally, and emotionally at their best so they can thrive in the classroom and reach their full potential.”

Springfield City School District was awarded $1 million in capital funding from OhioMHAS to help complete the project – which included transforming several former classrooms into clinic space. The Health Center will be operated by Rocking Horse Community Health Center – an established and trusted health care provider with 25 years of service in Clark County.

The $3 million, 5,000-square-foot facility features four exam rooms to provide primary care, vaccinations, health screenings, as well as three additional rooms for individual and group mental health counseling. There are also plans to add vision and dental services in the future. Each student in the district’s 17 buildings – from preschool through grade 12 – will have access to the clinic with parental consent. Students will be able to schedule appointments with health care professionals or walk-in if they are feeling unwell.

Click HERE to read the full media release. 

The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD-COE) at Case Western Reserve University has released the second installment of its new Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders series. The latest QuickNote is titled “What’s Happened with Alcohol Use Disorder.” 

Clinical QuickNotes provide brief overviews of various clinically relevant topics and are designed for busy clinicians to review in just a few minutes. The QuickNotes complement other virtual and live trainings and learning communities offered by the SUD-COE. 

The SUD-COE was created in 2023 to train the workforce to confront the substance use crisis. Funding is through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and was directed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to OhioMHAS.  The contents of this QuickNote is the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of SAMHSA. All trainings and materials are offered free of charge.

Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCARR) is seeking applicants for the inaugural cohort of the Ohio Peer Leadership Institute. This Transformational Leadership training will include 20 certified peer recovery supporters from across Ohio.  

The Transformational Leadership Training, made possible through a grant from OhioMHAS, is a powerful cohort model; wherein, a select group of peer leaders participate as a group in five workshops and five individual coaching sessions. Each workshop supports the inner development of leaders, which creates a strong foundation for them to reshape systems with peers as a vital part of the workforce. The individual leadership coaching helps them set and achieve their individual leadership goals. 

Attending all five sessions will be a graduation requirement for your participation in the cohort. The five sessions will take place on: 

• Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 - 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in Columbus
• Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 - 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Zoom
• Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 - 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Zoom
• Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 - 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Zoom
• Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 - 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in Columbus

Hotel accommodations and travel stipends will be provided to those who are accepted. The deadline to apply is Aug. 25.

Questions? Email Michael King at michael@communitiesproject.org. 

NAMI Ohio has announced two upcoming Family Peer Support Training Specialist trainings. Click the links below for more information and to register. All classes are from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily. For more information, email Tameika Wright at tameika@namiohio.org or call 614.224.2700. 

Franklin County: Sept. 16-18 (in person) and Sept. 25-26 (virtual) | Register

Cuyahoga County: Oct. 7-9 (in person) and Oct. 16-17 (virtual) | Register

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) in collaboration with the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), and the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will conduct a webinar on infectious disease management in behavioral health on Sept. 19 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. 

The webinar will be led by Dr. Jonathan Mermin, Director, NCHHSTP, and CAPT Christopher Jones, Director, CSAP. Dr. Mermin and CAPT Jones will provide an overview of the syndemic of infectious disease and substance use, harm reduction approaches, interagency collaborative efforts, and strategies for leveraging available resources to prevent adverse health outcomes. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the presenters via a moderated question and answer segment at the conclusion of the presentation. The webinar is open to all, but registration is required.

The Ohio Coaching and Mentoring (OCAM) Network will host a Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training on Sept. 24-27. This training is designed to provide an understanding of the discipline of the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse as it relates to communities, providers, and volunteers. Participants will learn about the continuum of care, risk and protective factors, and the strategic prevention framework. Participants will also learn about different types of interventions, implementation, evaluation, and how to build capacity. Participation is limited to 25 attendees. Questions? Email info@ocamnetwork.org.

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) has announced that it will host a 5k Ruck for Veterans & First Responders on Saturday, Nov. 16, at Veterans Park in Delaware. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m., and the event runs from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Participants are encouraged to complete the route while carrying a ruck (backpack) or wearing a weighted vest, symbolizing the additional weight veterans and first responders carry while quietly navigating mental health struggles. Watch the OSPF website for more information in the near future.