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.

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.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the release of four new publications. Click the links below to view/download.

Advisory: Expanding Access to Methadone Treatment in Hospital Settings: This Advisory provides comprehensive information for hospitals and associated healthcare facilities about best practices and recommendations for implementing and expanding treatment of opioid use disorder with methadone in these settings.

Guidelines for Implementing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in State Prisons: The Guidelines address the implementation of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in state prisons and practical information about medications, service delivery models, regulatory requirements, staff training, and cultural issues that may affect the uptake and integration of MOUD.

Naloxone Saturation Policy Academy Retrospective Report: This Report summarizes the materials from the Naloxone Saturation Policy Academy's (NSPA) three cohorts of 26 states, DC, and Puerto Rico into a single summary report that can be shared with state and other leaders. It includes six state spotlights highlighting work done since the policy academy.

Advisory: Clinical Considerations for Methadone Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Correctional Facilities: This Advisory highlights the importance of methadone as a tool for treating incarcerated people with opioid use disorder (OUD). The Advisory describes different institutional arrangements for providing methadone in correctional settings.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.