Youth-Led Prevention Landscape Analysis Survey
To better understand Ohio’s prevention programming for youth, Kent State University’s Center for Public Policy and Health, in collaboration with CompDrug/Youth to Youth and OhioMHAS, is conducting a statewide landscape analysis of services.
Please consider supporting this statewide effort by completing the 10-minute survey below by June 20. Your participation in this survey is voluntary, but very important. The information you provide will help us develop a comprehensive "picture" of Ohio’s youth prevention programming, allowing us to better understand available resources and needs.
If you have questions about this survey or its legitimacy, call Dr. Deric Kenne at Kent State University 330.672.7105 or email dkenne@kent.edu.
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Ohio School Safety Center Celebrates 10 Years of Safer Ohio School Tip Line at Annual Summit
The Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Safer Ohio School Tip Line (1.844.723.3764) at the annual Ohio School Safety Summit in Columbus.
The tip line was created in 2015 as a joint effort between the Ohio departments of Public Safety and Education and Workforce. Management of the tip line transferred to the OSSC in 2019. The tip line is a free safety resource available to schools across the state to allow and encourage students, parents, teachers, and community members to share information with school officials and law enforcement. Today, nearly 95% of Ohio’s school districts are registered to use the tip line.
Over the past 10 years, the tip line’s usage has increased, receiving hundreds of tips each month from school communities. In 2023, OSSC began staffing the tip line with crisis response professionals and expanded tip line services to include a webform, smartphone application, and multiple language offerings. In 2024, the OSSC saw the impact of those enhancements when the tip line received 1,368 tips, a much higher number than years past.
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 Class for a Cause
Capital University Students Create 988 Toolkit for Colleges and Universities
It’s not every day that college students can help save lives by just doing their coursework, but for a group of Capital University students, that’s just what they did this past semester.
The students are part of the immersion marketing program at the university, which allows them the opportunity to partner with Fahlgren Mortine, one of Ohio’s largest integrated marketing communications firms, to research, plan, implement, and elevate a real-life client project.
Fahlgren Mortine is the agency that has worked with OhioMHAS to create the statewide awareness campaign for Ohio’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This year, Fahlgren Mortine tasked the students with creating a toolkit that colleges and universities can use to promote 988 to their students.
For 12 weeks, the students met twice a week to work on the project, each separated into a different group: copywriting, videography, or social media. They were guided by representatives from Fahlgren Mortine and received feedback from OhioMHAS’ 988 and Communications and Marketing teams.
Together, the class created fact sheets, stickers, posters, a wristband, and numerous social media graphics and videos, complete with a calendar of preferred dates and times to share the content.
Then, in late April, they presented their final product to OhioMHAS. 988 Administrator Doug Jackson commented to the group that it was fun “to watch the students go from a high-level understanding that 988 exists … to putting passion into it and realizing good can come from it.”
Many of the students themselves said they didn’t know about 988 before the project, but learning about it and the mission behind it made them feel like they were making a difference.
One student reflected on her experience seeing an advertisement for 988 while attending a Cincinnati Reds game. “I was like, 'Oh my gosh, that’s me,'” the student laughed. She said she looked at her mom and said, “I didn’t do that, but I basically did.”
The goal of the class may have been to develop materials to help other colleges educate students about 988, but it did so much more. It sparked awareness, ignited passion, and empowered young people to become messengers of hope. Their work could do more than inform: it could motivate someone to reach out, and maybe even save a life.
Pictured: Jennifer Jarrell, Deputy Director of the OhioMHAS Office of Communications and Marketing; Doug Jackson, 988 Administrator; and Abbey Wollschleger, 988 Quality Assurance Manager, pose with Capital University students who worked on creating a 988 toolkit for colleges and universities.
New SAMHSA Resources
 Healthy Families: How to Navigate Addiction Treatment — June 18
BrightView Health is hosting a free Healthy Families: How to Navigate Addiction Treatment webinar on June 18 from noon-1:00 p.m. This session will discuss: how the family dynamic is impacted by addiction; how to use their presence to foster positive treatment outcomes; the difference between enabling and loving a family member with a SUD; how family members should communicate with their loved ones during a relapse; and how to help family members implement self-care and compassion. Questions? Email info@brightviewhealth.com.
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Motivational Interviewing with Resistant Clients — June 18
The Ohio Community Corrections Association will host a Zoom-based Motivational Interviewing with Resistant Clients: Overcoming Barriers and Working Together training on June 18 from 9:00 a.m.-noon. This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of the use of motivational interviewing (MI) specifically with resistant or uncooperative clients. Cost is $99. Questions? Email office@occaonline.org.
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Sustaining Impact: Best Practices for Budgeting — June 20
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.
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Upcoming Training Opportunities for Peer Supporters
On the Front Lines Community Alliance (OTFLCA) has announced several upcoming training opportunities for Ohio's peer support workforce. Click the links below for more information and to register. Questions? Email hannah@frontlinescommunity.com or call 513.999.3866.
June 26 | Professionalizing Peer Support Workshop (Hamilton County) July 24 | Enhancing Your Administrative Skills (Hamilton County) Sept. 12 | Community Catalyst Conference (Covington, KY)
Carve Your Own Path Open House — June 26
Carve Your Own Path, Inc., is hosting an open house on June 26 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at its offices located at 840 Rothrock Road in Copley. The public is invited to visit the facility to learn about its holistic wellness service offerings, network, enjoy refreshments, and create their own "calm kits." The event is free, however, attendees must RSVP using the button below. Questions? Call 330.426.7885 ext. 2 or email Amanda@cyopinc.org.
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Third Annual Suicide Prevention in the Black Community Summit — June 27
The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation will host the Third Annual Suicide Prevention in the Black Community Summit on June 27 at the Quest Conference Center in Columbus. This full-day event is designed to equip youth and young adults, parents and caregivers, faith and community leaders, educators, advocates, and mental health professionals with practical tools and strategies to prevent suicide and promote well-being in Black communities. The summit will feature dynamic speakers, interactive discussions, hands-on workshops, and training on the Ohio Strategic Prevention Framework — a proven, data-informed approach to building lasting suicide prevention efforts.
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911/988 Interoperability: Early Lessons and Ohio’s Approach — June 30
Clear Pathways is hosting the second of a three-part lunch and learn series exploring findings from its Crisis Response Pilot for 911 public safety answering points and 988 call centers on June 30 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Scaling 911/988 Interoperability: Early Lessons and Ohio's Approach will highlight early recommendations for expanding 911/988 interoperability beyond pilot efforts, and it will feature a conversation with Ohio’s State 988 Administrator. Participants will hear how the 988 office is planning for the future and supporting interoperability efforts across Ohio.
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Behavioral Health Disaster Planning and Response for Ohio's Afghan Community — July 1
OhioMHAS, in partnership with Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS) and Immigrants Integration Station, is hosting a free webinar addressing emergency response, disaster preparedness, and culturally tailored behavioral health response services for the Afghan community in Ohio on July 1 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. This webinar will enhance the state’s readiness to serve the Afghan community, ensuring that behavioral health emergency response efforts are inclusive, effective, and culturally sensitive.
Hear directly from members of Ohio’s Afghan community in this culturally centered training. This webinar is for county ADAMHS boards, behavioral health providers, county EMAs, first responders, volunteer disaster response organizations, local and county health departments, and organizations serving these underserved and historically excluded communities. Stay tuned to NewsNow in the coming weeks for trainings focusing on the Bhutanese, Somali, Ethiopian and Eritrean, and Congolese communities, respectively.
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Upcoming CAMS Trainings
OSPF has announced a pair of upcoming Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) training opportunities. Click the links below for more information and to register. Cost is $40. Questions? Email austin.lucas@ohiospf.org.
July 18 | Findlay | More Info Aug. 1 | Cincinnati | More Info
Call for Proposals: 2025 Ohio Health Policy Summit — Oct. 9
The Health Policy Institute of Ohio will host the second annual statewide Health Policy Summit on Oct. 9 in Columbus. The theme this year is “Prioritizing what works: A focus on policies with the greatest return on investment.” HPIO invites submissions for presentation-style breakout sessions, which will focus on evidence-based strategies that improve health and well-being for children, working-age adults and older adults and offer a return on investment. HPIO also welcomes submissions for interactive skill-building workshops on data for advocacy, messaging and communication, community-driven solutions to advance equity, or other opportunities that build policy skills. Proposals must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on June 30. Questions? Email aclarkkirk@hpio.net.
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2025 Annual Forensic Conference — Nov. 7
Save the Date! OhioMHAS will host the 2025 Annual Forensic Conference on Nov. 7 at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center. This year's theme is "Forging New Paths: Advancing Forensic Mental Health Services through Innovation and System Collaboration." More details will be available in the coming months. Watch NewsNow for updates!
Howard Sokolov Award Nominations Sought OhioMHAS is currently seeking nominations for the Howard H. Sokolov Forensic Mental Health Leadership Award, which will be presented at the conference. Named in memory of Dr. Howard Sokolov, a renowned forensic psychiatrist and commissioner of the former Department of Mental Health, the award honors an individual or program involved in a direct practice, program, policy-making and/or planning role who influences forensic mental health services by consistently reflecting a commitment to excellence, recognition of dignity and worth of the individuals served, the security and safety of the community, and dedication to providing quality forensic mental health services. The deadline to submit a nomination is July 31.
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 Dayton Children's canine co-pilots help kids cope with emotional distress Dayton Daily News, June 12, 2025
Healing House opens in Middleton, offering hope for recovery amid rising overdoses Hamilton Journal-News, June 12, 2025
Officials addressing youth suicides with community roundtables WTOV-TV, June 11, 2025
Making mental health services more available to adolescents — are we making progress? JAMA, June 11, 2025
Recovery Reframed uses portraits to challenge stigma around addiction WOUB, June 11, 2025
CDC finds more mental health complaints among white collar workers than skilled trades The Washington Times, June 11, 2025
Drug deaths plummet among young Americans as fentanyl carnage eases Ideastream, June 10, 2025
Dayton Children's new $108M youth mental health center to open this summer WYSO 91.3, June 10, 2025
Summit County Jail taps $3M state grant for better addiction, mental health support Ideastream, June 10, 2025
Mercy Health community health nurses mark mental health milestone MercyHealth, June 10, 2025
Dayton Children's finishes building $110M facility as youth mental health crisis grows Dayton Daily News, June 9, 2025
As cannabis users age, health risks appear to grow KFF Health News, June 9, 2025
Belmont County Partners in Prevention coalition focuses on men's mental health Martins Ferry Times-Leader, June 7, 2025
Butler County recovery house seeks to reduce rise in overdose deaths WCPO-TV, June 6, 2025
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