The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured remarks from a number of community leaders and funding partners, including Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director LeeAnne Cornyn (pictured at right). "Under Governor DeWine’s leadership — and with the generous support of members of the Ohio General Assembly — we are working hard to strengthen our statewide crisis services system to make sure that anyone who experiences a mental health crisis has someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to go," said Director Cornyn. 

The event also included tours of the facility and an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the vital role the center will play in strengthening Franklin County’s continuum of crisis care.

"This center is a powerful example of what’s possible when community partners come together with a shared vision," said Erika Clark Jones, Franklin County ADAMH Board CEO. "Through collaboration, we are transforming the way crisis care is delivered, ensuring that every person in Franklin County has access to help, hope, and healing in their moments of greatest need."

The facility will open in a phased-in approach. The first phase will include the opening of two, 23-hour observation units, each with 20-person capacity that will offer short-term stabilization and intensive observation; and discharge pharmacy services, which will provide immediate, on-site access to prescribed medications for individuals receiving care. A third, 20-person observation unit will open as soon as demand warrants, which is when the units are regularly at or above 80% capacity.

In 2026, phase two will include the opening of the behavioral health urgent care, which will treat guests with lower acuity or less intense crises that can be voluntarily managed in a couple of hours; and the family resource center, a service that will support loved ones through education, resources, and communication.

In 2027, phase three will introduce the psychiatric inpatient unit. This unit will include 16 private rooms, four of which are ADA accessible, that will deliver structured, longer-term support for individuals requiring extended treatment and stabilization. The center will be operated by Recovery Innovations, a behavioral health care not-for-profit that has pioneered and operates 24/7 crisis emergency centers in 10 states across the U.S.

In partnership with Fahlgren Mortine, OhioMHAS was named a PRovoke Media SABRE Awards campaign finalist for its impactful work, Empowering Ohioans Facing Mental Health Crisis to Get Help Through Ohio's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The campaign continues to raise awareness and encourage help-seeking behavior by promoting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, providing critical support to individuals in crisis across Ohio. Since launching in July 2022, Ohio's 988 call center specialists have responded to nearly 538,000 contacts (calls, texts, and chats). 

Pictured (l-r): Lexi Harmon, Senior Account Supervisor, Fahlgren Mortine; Abbey Wollschleger, 988 Quality Assurance Manager; Amy Dawson, Executive Vice President, Fahlgren Mortine; and Pam Lowe, Account Director, Fahlgren Mortine.

The Healthy Meals for Healthy Minds Spring event was held on May 13 at Eastern Elementary School in Reedsville. The event, which was designed to nurture the health and wellness of families, offered fresh seasonal produce, wellness resources from community organizations, free health screenings, and family-friendly activities. The event was supported by a grant from OhioMHAS to the Appalachian Children's Foundation. More than 400 community members attended, and 190 meal boxes were delivered to families. 

Jim and Robin Burrow, parents of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, also attended and volunteered at the event. Mrs. Burrow serves on the planning committee with the Appalachian Children's Coalition.

Pictured: Gallia-Jackson-Meigs ADAMH Board Executive Director Robin Harris and OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn. 

Loneliness is now recognized as one of the greatest public health threats facing older adults. In response, Thrive Peer Recovery Services has announced the launch of Thrive Together, a first-of-its-kind program that directly targets social isolation and its devastating mental health effects. Funded through a $514,036 SOAR Innovation Grant from OhioMHAS, Thrive Together — officially named Golden Connections — is a peer-led, technology-powered program that offers a bold new model of behavioral health support for aging populations. The program blends evidence-based technology with compassionate human connection to address the loneliness crisis experienced by one in three older Ohioans. 

“We are witnessing a loneliness epidemic among older adults, driven by isolation, stigma, and lack of access to care,” said Brian Bailys, CEO of Thrive Peer Recovery Services. “Thrive Together ensures that no one has to navigate these challenges alone — support is just a call or click away.”

How Thrive Together Works:

• Human Connection Meets Innovation: Combines user-friendly digital tools with telephone-based support—accessible even for those with minimal tech experience.
• Lived Experience: Participants are matched with individuals trained as Certified Older Adult Peer Support Specialists who share lived experience in navigating life transitions and isolation.
• Real-Time, Personalized Support: Includes one-on-one sessions, wellness check-ins, and curated resources for social connection.
• Whole-Person Care: Addresses grief, loneliness, sadness, and social isolation in a holistic and stigma-free environment.

Thrive Together will first launch in select Ohio communities, with planned expansion through partnerships with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), community health providers, and state agencies.

The Governor's Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force has released its 2025 annual report. Over the past two years, the Task Force has made a significant impact on survivor care, including critical milestones accomplished in the areas of prevention, protection, and prosecution. This report details the intentional collaboration taking place to close the gaps in our response continuum, as the history of Ohio's anti-trafficking movement has made it clear: the key to success is collaboration across systems, disciplines, and communities.

Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC) Inc., has launched a statewide initiative to assess and strengthen behavioral health navigation services across Ohio. As part of this effort, MACC is leading a comprehensive needs assessment to better understand the roles, challenges, and training needs of navigators and related professionals. Your input will help inform the development of Ohio’s first standardized Behavioral Health Navigator curriculum and support broader system improvements.

Boards, providers, hospital workers, community health workers, peer supporters, case managers, navigators, and community/advocacy organizations are invited to complete a brief survey and share it with your networks. The survey will close May 19. 

An evening reception provided additional opportunities for networking and conversations. A short program featured Trish Wright, business owner and mom of two daughters, who shared her personal experience with postpartum mental health symptoms following the premature births of both of her babies. Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin), Rep. Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth), OhioMHAS Chief Medical Officer, Dr. John Kennedy (pictured at right), and Mental Health America of Ohio (MHAOhio) Executive Director Tonya Fulwider (pictured top), also spoke at the reception.

Advocacy Day plays a vital role in bringing attention to perinatal mental health, the most common, yet often overlooked complication during pregnancy and postpartum. With 75 percent of these conditions going untreated, Advocacy Day and other local and statewide efforts are essential in raising awareness, driving policy change, and ensuring that moms and birthing persons get the care and support they deserve.

The Ohio Prevention Professionals Association (OPPA) recognized five prevention professionals for their contributions to prevention on the local and/or state level. The 2025 OPPA Prevention Awards were presented at OPPA 's Annual Conference on May 1.

This year's honorees are:

Prevention Visionary Award | Cindy Clouner
Prevention Advocate Award | Zachary Thomas
Community Champion Award | Tonya Birney and Angela Patchen
Member of the Year Award | Jayla Lee

"Tonya, Cindy, Jayla, Angie, and Zach exemplify the excellence of our profession," stated OPPA President Holly Zweizig. "We are proud to honor them for their tremendous contributions to our communities and our field."

Pictured (l-r): Angela Patchen, Cindy Clouner, Jayla Lee, Zachary Thomas, and Tonya Birney.

OhioMHAS is partnering with Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS) to provide a Behavioral Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Training for Ohio's Resettled Communities on May 23 from 2:00-4:30 p.m. This training is intended for county ADAMHS boards, behavioral health providers, county emergency management agencies, first responders, volunteer disaster response organizations, local and county health departments, and other organizations serving vulnerable communities.

Black Women Cultivating Change will host a free Mental Health Awareness Month Community Celebration on Saturday, May 24 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. The event focuses on raising awareness for mental health issues and promoting self-care and well-being in the community. The celebration will feature interactive workshops, guest speakers, live music, and more.

The Knox Substance Abuse Action Team (KSAAT) will host the 2025 Communities Coming Together Conference on June 3-4 at Kenyon College. This learning opportunity is a compilation of the Focusing on Youth Issues (FYI) Conference and the Knox Addiction Conference. Click the link above for more details. Cost is $125. 

The P.E.E.R. Center has announced three upcoming online training opportunities for peer supporters. Click the links below for more information and to register. Questions? Email info@thepeercenter.org. 

June 4 | 9:00 a.m.-Noon | Workplace Bullying
July 9 | 9:00 a.m.-Noon | Emotional Intelligence
Aug. 13 | 9:00 a.m.-Noon | The Human Experience: Connection, Community, Compassion

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, Sustaining Impact: Best Practices for Budgeting, on June 20. This session provides resources and best practices on budgeting for health promotion and prevention programs, including strategies to optimize funding for maximum impact. Additionally, speakers will discuss current funding resources available for prevention programs, providing practical guidance to help you build and maintain a successful prevention budget. 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 Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention and Early Intervention, with support from OhioMHAS, will host the 2025 School SUCCESS Conference on June 23-25 at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center. This year's theme is "Bounce! Building Resiliency Through Prevention." Click HERE to view the agenda. 

The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Montgomery County will host the 2025 Cultivating Resilience Summit on June 25-26 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Sinclair Conference Center in Dayton. The Summit will utilize a variety of learning formats, including concurrent breakout sessions, panel sessions, and keynote addresses. Lunch and refreshments are included in the ticket price for both days. Scholarship opportunities are available. For more information see the scholarship application.

Early Bird registration is open for the 2025 National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling, slated for July 16-18 in Columbus. Hosted by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO) this annual event is the leading national forum for those working in prevention, treatment, recovery, research, and responsible gambling.

• Connect with experts in the field
• Learn from world-class speakers
• Build your network with professionals across the country

Early Bird pricing is available through May 21.

Black Women Cultivating Change will host the 3rd Annual Black Mental Health Summit on July 18 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. in West Chester. The Summit will feature a day of empowering discussions and workshops focused on Black mental health.

Recovery Resources will host its 2025 Run for Recovery on Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This year's race will honor Recovery Resources’ 70th-year platinum anniversary. Check-in begins at 7:00 a.m., with the 5K set to start at 8:30 a.m., and the 1-Mile Wellness Walk at 8:50 a.m. Registration fees include all-day admission to the zoo. Questions? Email advancement@recres.org.