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 Friday, March 14, 2025

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Delivers
2025 State of the State Address

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine delivered his 2025 State of the State address Wednesday afternoon during a joint session of the Ohio General Assembly. Speaking before a crowd of legislators and members of the public, Governor DeWine pledged to continue making Ohio the best place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.

"Since taking office, my administration has worked each day to help ensure that every Ohioan has the tools to live up to their full potential and the opportunity to live their version of the American dream," said Governor DeWine. "For the truth is, we cannot achieve our full potential as a state unless each Ohioan first achieves theirs." 

During the address, Governor DeWine highlighted progress made in a number of areas, including workforce, education, childcare, children’s healthcare, higher education, and behavioral health. In addition to highlighting Ohio’s success in reducing opioid overdose deaths, Governor DeWine also noted efforts to expand access to treatment for both youth and adults, noting the recent opening of Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare and state support for the expansion of pediatric behavioral health facilities. He also touted the success of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, expansion of mobile crisis services, and efforts to strengthen Ohio’s wellness workforce through the Great Minds initiative. Governor DeWine highlighted the important role peer supporters play in helping Ohioans find a pathway to recovery and wellness, taking a moment to recognize Laurel Ridenour a Certified Peer Supporter with the Hope Recovery Community (pictured below with Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel, Second Lady Ellen Tressel, and OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn). Ridenour works with families enrolled in the Ohio START program through Medina County Job and Family Services.

“Laurel knows what it’s like for parents struggling with substance use disorder, because she used to be one,” said Governor DeWine. “After time in prison and a winding road to recovery, she is now employed as a Peer Supporter and works to engage families in treatment, so they can reunify with their children.”

The Governor concluded his speech with an uplifting and hopeful note, remarking, “Working together over these last six years, we have had a lot of incredible wins for Ohio, and we have every reason to be optimistic.”

Click HERE to read the full media release from the Governor's Office. 

OhioMHAS Staff, Community Partners Promote
Mental Health Resources Amid Avian Influenza  

This week, the OhioMHAS Office of Community and Family Resiliency partnered with The Ohio State University (OSU) Extension Offices in Darke and Mercer Counties and local behavioral health stakeholders to reach out to the communities impacted by the avian influenza. Resource tables were set up at two Tractor Supply Co. locations so shoppers could learn more about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Farm Stress Training, and how to engage with local mental health providers. The Department extends its thanks to OSU Extension, the staff of the county mental health and recovery services boards covering Darke and Mercer Counties, and Foundations Behavioral Health Services for working alongside OhioMHAS to improve mental health in these communities.

SansWrite Rollout for Residential Class 1, 2 and 3 Providers — April 2025 Training Dates

Residential Class 2 and 3 Provider Training Information — April 23 

RECOVERY FEATURE

Tyler's Redemption Place: Akron Couple Turns Loss into Labor of Love to Help Families Struggling with Addiction 

When you walk into Tyler’s Redemption Place in Akron, you get the feeling of a retreat. Cozy couches and warm lighting inside the log cabin harken a spa or sanctuary, and there is even a sauna and salt cave. It’s all by design, explained co-founder Shelly Bornstein. “People walk in here and you see them kind of perk up, like ‘Really? This is for me?’” Bornstein said it doesn’t look like the dank, sterile facilities her son, Tyler, would walk into looking for help to battle his addiction to heroin.   Bornstein and her husband, Travis, wanted to build a space that felt welcoming, like family. “When you come in a place and you feel instantly accepted, supported, and loved, it changes everything,” she said.  Everything changed for the Bornsteins when Tyler, 23, died in 2014 from an opioid overdose. Like many people, Borstein said Tyler’s path to addiction began after he was prescribed prescription painkillers. “We didn’t understand addiction as a disease,” Bornstein said. After Tyler’s death, the couple leaned on their faith to guide them. Two years later, they founded Hope United to bring awareness and support to families struggling with addiction. In 2023, they opened the doors of Tyler’s Redemption Place, a Recovery Community Organization (RCO) named in honor of their late son. They wanted it to be a safe place for people in between treatment and long-term recovery.   Not long after Tyler’s Redemption Place opened, Pat Hill started showing up. The Army veteran struggled in his transition to civilian life. “My dream was to make my life out of the military," Hill said. "When you lose that, you lose your purpose and support. I tried to replace it with bars and the people who hung out in bars, and it just wasn't the same.”  At first, Hill was hitting the gym at Tyler’s Place regularly, working out with Travis Bornstein. The two forged a relationship that would help change the trajectory of Hill’s life. He got more involved when Travis asked him to help start a men’s group, and he now attends weekly veterans’ recovery meetings. After some encouragement from others, Hill signed up for a virtual reality therapy program.  “I saw other dudes doing it and they’re like, ‘this is kind of awesome.’”

With grant money from OhioMHAS, Tyler’s Redemption Place now offers a veteran-specific therapy similar to a video game. Participants commit to 17 sessions designed to transform negative thoughts and behaviors. “There are interactive videos where you're in a canoe and going down this lake and like they’re talking about breathing, meditation, and stuff," he said. "It's kind of cool.” Much like a mother bragging humbly about a child, Shelly Bornstein said Hill’s transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed. “He’s really working on himself and growing in so many different ways,” she said. As for her own late son, Bornstein believes Tyler is smiling down on them: “I think he'd be very proud. I think he'd love everything we're doing.”

June 2024 OSAM Drug Trend Report Available

The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring (OSAM) Network has released its June 2024 Drug Trend Report: Surveillance of Drug Use Trends in the State of Ohio: January–June 2024. Click the button below to view/download a PDF. Click HERE to access an archive of past trend reports and HERE to subscribe to future OSAM announcements.   

SPRC Announces Best Practices Registry (BPR) Intensive Technical Assistance Program (I-TAP)

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) has announced the launch of the Best Practices Registry Intensive Technical Assistance Program (BPR I-TAP). This new program is designed to help programs and interventions build their capacity for data evaluation, so they are better positioned to apply to the Best Practices Registry. The Registry is a resource library of programs and interventions that apply suicide prevention frameworks for specific populations and uses.

To participate in the technical assistance program, applicants must have data on three implementation cycles, as well as a program website. This free opportunity is only available for a short time to a limited number of participants. For guidance on applying to the BPR or the BPR I-TAP, sign up for SPRC's office hours, which take place twice a month through May. Questions? Email sprcbpr@ou.edu.

Advanced Prevention Practice ECHO, Fostering Growth: Cultivating Collegial Support and Connections — March 21

The Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion invites Ohio's experienced behavioral health prevention professionals to join its upcoming Advanced Prevention Practice ECHO session, Fostering Growth: Cultivating Collegial Support and Connections, on March 21. This session focuses on the value of collegial support in the field of behavioral health prevention. Participants will explore how prevention colleagues can champion one another to enhance professional growth, improve practice, and build a supportive network. The session will highlight strategies for creating effective relationships, fostering collaboration, and leveraging colleagues to strengthen prevention efforts. Sessions are interactive and are a great place to share your successes or “workshop” your ideas with subject matter experts and colleagues. CEs for Prevention, Social Work, Health Education, and Nursing will be available.

The Power of Reentry Coalitions — March 25

Relink.org will present Transforming Lives Together: The Power of Reentry Coalitions on March 25 at 2:00 p.m. Presenters Joe Tucker and Lola Simmons will discuss how reentry coalitions are groups of leaders, legal representatives, and persons with lived-experience who gather together to support county-wide reentry efforts. Questions? Email info@relink.org.

Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) Certified Facilitator Training — March 25-26

St. Mary Development Corporation, UMADAOP of Dayton, and Montgomery County ADAMHS Board are partnering to host a free Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) Certified Facilitator training on March 25-26 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Burkhardt Library in Dayton. The WISE Program is a wellness and prevention program targeting older adults, which is designed to help them celebrate healthy aging, make healthy lifestyle choices, and avoid substance abuse. It provides valuable educational services to older adults on topics including medication misuse and management, stress management, depression, and substance misuse. To register, email Terry Vandeberg at tvandeberg@smdcd.org.

Adult Low-Risk Drinking ECHO, Building Bridges: Engaging Community Partners for Low-Risk Drinking Initiatives — March 26

The Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion invites those working in adult low-risk drinking to join its upcoming ECHO session, Building Bridges: Engaging Community Partners for Low-Risk Drinking Initiatives on March 26. This session will explore the critical role of community partnerships in promoting low-risk alcohol consumption. Participants will learn about effective strategies to build relationships and gain support for creating environments that promote adult low-risk drinking. Sessions are interactive and are a great place to share your successes or “workshop” your ideas with subject matter experts and colleagues. CEs for Prevention, Social Work, Health Education, and Nursing will be available.

Ohio Children's Alliance Annual Spring Conference — March 31-April 1

The Ohio Children's Alliance is hosting its 2025 Spring Conference on March 31-April 1 at the Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark. This year's theme is "Reboot and Rebound: Finding Joy in Your Work." The Alliance’s inspiring Annual Spring Conference gathers professionals from across Ohio to exchange innovative ideas, build lasting connections, and explore forward-thinking solutions. This year's conference will feature renowned authors Dan Heath and Kevin Carroll as keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, high-level presentations, and discussions on innovative topics. Participants will explore the latest advancements and strategies to support and inspire the workforce and improve outcomes for youth and families across Ohio. Registration closes today (March 14).

2025 Ohio CIT Conference — April 9

The Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence (CJCCOE), in partnership with OhioMHAS, NAMIOhio, and the Montgomery County ADAMHS Board, will host the 2025 Ohio Crisis Intervention Team Conference on April 9 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Quest Conference Center in Columbus. In addition to the Ohio CIT Awards ceremony, the agenda features two keynote speakers, and a range of breakout sessions tailored for CIT coordinators, law enforcement, corrections, and public safety telecommunicators. Cost is $40. The deadline to register is March 26. Questions? Email Emily Ribik at eribnik@neomed.edu.

NASPA Certified Peer Educator Training for Ohio Campuses — April 17

Ohio campuses are invited to participate in the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Certified Peer Educator (CPE) Training on April 17 at the Nationwide Conference Center in Columbus. This free training equips faculty and staff to train students in the CPE program, providing them with leadership and peer education skills. The training includes eight modules covering topics such as behavior change, communication, intervention techniques, and more. Class size is limited to 18. For more information and to register, email Julie Cameron at julie@prevention-first.org.

Registration Open: 2025 Addiction Studies Institute — June 25-27

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center will host the 2025 Addiction Studies Institute on June 25-27 at The Fawcett Center in Columbus. The Addiction Studies Institute conference convenes leading experts from across the country to provide attendees with the tools and knowledge needed to serve those struggling with addiction. Click HERE to view the agenda and HERE for speaker information. Questions? Email Tamara Buhrts at Tamara.Buhrts@osumc.edu.

National Council on Problem Gambling Annual Conference — July 16-18 

Save the Date! The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) will host its annual conference in Columbus on July 16-18. The conference brings together world-class presenters to deliver powerful and insightful messages about problem gambling and responsible gambling. Conference registration opens April 9.  Scholarships Available: Deadline to Apply is March 31 The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio, with support from Ohio for Responsible Gambling, is providing up to 50 scholarships for behavioral health professionals to attend the 2025 conference. Click the button below for more information and to apply.

In the News...

Public invited to Toledo event discussing youth mental health crisis
WTVG-TV, March 13, 2025

Efforts to open psychiatric hospital in Toledo underway
WTVG-TV, March 13, 2025

One-of-a-kind housing program offers hope and safety to survivors of sexual violence 
The Ohio Newsroom, March 13, 2025

UC to join bipolar research network
Spectrum News 1, March 13, 2025

Pickaway Addiction Action Coalition joins forces with national underage drinking campaign
The Scioto Post, March 13, 2025

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says 'state of our state is strong' in annual address
Columbus Dispatch, March 12, 2025

Don't underestimate the risk of benzodiazepines
The New York Times, March 12, 2025

33 Forever champions suicide prevention at Ohio Statehouse meetings
Mansfield News-Journal, March 11, 2025

Treatment center reaching out to problem gamblers at Columbus casino
WCMH-TV, March 11, 2025

Seneca County working to improve mental health services for inmates
WTOL-TV, March 11, 2025

Deadliest phase of fentanyl crisis eases, as all states see recovery
NPR, March 10, 2025

Brook Park City Council backs free suicide prevention training for community
Cleveland.com, March 10, 2025

What mental health parity means for your insurance coverage
WHIO-TV, March 10, 2025

Got News?

If you would like to submit a news item or training for consideration for publication in OhioMHAS NewsNow, please email content to Eric.Wandersleben@mha.ohio.gov. 

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Mike DeWine, Governor | LeeAnne Cornyn, Director