The facility, which hadn’t been updated since the 1990s, provides a magnitude of improved space and safety features that include updated medical spaces, classrooms, and family engagement rooms; increased safety features in bedrooms, classrooms, and corridor spaces; and employee break spaces and renovated administrative space. The Center will help SVFS continue to deliver quality care to children and families who rely on therapy, education, and case management. OhioMHAS contributed $750,000 in capital funds toward the renovation project.

Since its inception in 1875, St. Vincent Family Services (SVFS) has been committed to supporting the well-being, safety, and social-emotional health needs of children through a comprehensive, full-service range of behavioral health programs.

PICTURED (top, l-r): Elon Simms, Chief of Staff for Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther; Arthur Wills, Assistant Chief, OhioMHAS Bureau of Capital Planning and Management; Susan Lewis Kaylor, SVFS President & CEO; Tia Marcel Moretti, OhioMHAS Chief Advisor; and Curtis Smith, Chief, OhioMHAS Bureau of Capital Planning and Management. (Inset): OhioMHAS Chief Advisor Tia Marcel Moretti shares brief remarks.  

The 7,900-square-foot facility is located in Dennison and provides housing for up to 16 men. The program will be operated by OhioGuidestone. Stillwater Crossing will offer a variety of services, including medications, group and individual therapy, case management, and peer support services. The focus will include supporting the transition from addiction to sobriety and sustaining recovery long term upon discharge.

The $2.7 million building was funded through a $1 million grant of American Rescue Plan Act funds from the Tuscarawas County commissioners, $1 million from the ADAMHS Board, and $750,000 in capital funding from OhioMHAS. OhioMHAS Chief of Staff John Annarino (pictured inset) provided brief remarks.

The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring (OSAM) Network this week announced the release of its January 2024 Drug Trend Report, Surveillance of Drug Use Trends in the State of Ohio: July – December 2023.  

The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) on Thursday released a public safety bulletin alerting Ohioans to an increasing number of illicit drug samples found to contain mixtures of powerful drugs that can cause overdoses and/or skin wounds.

ONIC reported that drug testing labs across Ohio recorded an eight-fold increase in drug samples containing mixtures of “tranq-dope” (opioids and sedatives) and more than double the number of samples containing mixtures of “benzo-dope” (opioids and benzodiazepines) between 2021 and 2023 as compared to the three years prior. These drug mixtures have been identified in several forms, including counterfeit pills, powder, and rocks.

Sedatives and benzodiazepines are depressants that produce sedation and muscle relaxation while also lowering heart rate and blood pressure. Opioids such as fentanyl cause significant respiratory depression, which often is the primary cause of death in opioid-related drug poisoning cases.

Common drugs often mixed with tranq-dope or benzo-dope in Ohio include:
•  Opioids such as fentanyl/fentanyl analogues, heroin, nitazenes, and oxycodone.
•  Sedatives such as xylazine, medetomidine, ketamine, and detomidine.
•  Benzodiazepines such as bromazolam, alprazolam, clonazepam, and flualprazolam.

This past weekend, patients and staff moved from Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare to the new Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare building. All patients have been moved to the new facility and most staff are also moved in. The move is expected to be fully completed by the end of the day on Tuesday. 

COBH CEO Frank Beel said that the move has been well-received by patients, with some sharing positive feedback. Patients have said they like how spacious and beautiful the new hospital is, and they also enjoy the new features, such as the state-of-the-art kitchen.  

PICTURED: As staff move into the new hospital, they received "moving supply kits" to help with the transition.

Join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) this September for National Suicide Prevention Month – a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families and communities that have been impacted by suicide. It’s also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope. SAMHSA's 2024 Suicide Prevention Month Toolkit offers various assets, such as social media posts and shareable graphics, that will help raise awareness about the information and resources SAMHSA offers about suicide prevention. 

Thrive Peer Recovery Services and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) have announced a new partnership through ODVN's Health Access Project. This collaboration will pilot Thrive's innovative "Survive to Thrive" program model, which aims to embed a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter (PRS) in survivor programs across the state.

The first integration of this program will take place at the Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program (SAOP) in Nelsonville. This initiative will provide comprehensive support to  survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking, offering them the assistance they need to rebuild their lives.

Launched in 2023, "Survive to Thrive" is an innovative pilot program developed for adults overcoming human trafficking, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault. The initiative embodies a holistic support framework designed to guide survivors toward wellness, resilience, and recovery through a wrap-around approach, offering personalized care that meets their specific needs. Central to this model are Adult Peer Supporters (APS), individuals aged 18-65, who have personally navigated trauma and are trained to provide empathetic, informed support to fellow survivors, leveraging their own experiences to foster understanding and healing.

Adena Health will host the 4th Annual Appalachia Ohio Suicide Prevention Conference on Sept. 11 from 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Adena PACCAR Center in Chillicothe. Formerly known as the Southeast Ohio Suicide Prevention Conference, this event has been embraced by the Appalachian Ohio Suicide Prevention Alliance, reflecting a collaborative effort across all Ohio Appalachian Counties. This year's theme is "Understanding and Thriving in Appalachia."

The conference aims to explore suicide prevention within the cultural context of Appalachia Ohio, focusing on special groups such as gun owners, agricultural workers, and local suicide prevention coalitions that are actively combating suicide within their communities. Cost is $30.

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) will host the inaugural Ohio Health Policy Summit on Oct. 3 at The Ohio State University Fawcett Center in Columbus. The Summit provides an opportunity to learn about data-driven policy solutions to address Ohio’s greatest health challenges and support the development of new evidence through innovation. The theme is "Partnering to improve health, well-being and economic vitality." Questions? Email Alana Clark-Kirk at aclarkkirk@healthpolicyohio.org.  

LOSS Community Services will host the 13th Annual National LOSS Team Conference on Oct. 14-16 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Learn about the Active Postvention Model, the only program that meets suicide loss survivors where they are by sending trained LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivor) Teams that include people who have been impacted by a suicide loss to provide immediate support, resources, and to be an instillation of hope. This conference answers your questions about best practices for supporting the suicide loss survivors throughout their grief journey.