More than 700 incarcerated women gathered on ORW's large parade ground to hear powerful and moving stories of sobriety and recovery. Speakers included Warden Erin Maldonado, OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn (pictured above), OACBHA CEO Liz Henrich, and Celebrate Recovery Ambassador Cheri Walter. Those gathered also heard from Melissa Stacy and Dr. Patrice Palmer — both of whom had been formerly incarcerated. They openly shared about their past struggles with addiction and incarceration, and how their journeys of treatment and recovery allowed them to both to give back back to others in the community. Meanwhile, currently incarcerated women Erica R. and Megan A. shared their stories of climbing out of addiction, escaping human trafficking, and living a life of sobriety, even while incarcerated. Both women currently serve as peer supporters at ORW.

The event also featured musical entertainment from the Tapestry Women's Therapeutic Community Choir (pictured above displaying signs showing how long they've been in recovery) and the displaying of a "Our Recovery Journey" quilt (pictured below), which represents the strength, hope, and personal journeys of women in recovery, woven together to tell a powerful story of healing and growth. ORW staff, volunteers, and administrators were invited to contribute to a new quilt titled, "The Amazingness of Support in Recovery" by writing words of hope, encouragement, and belief in the residents' recovery journeys using fabric markers. 

OhioMHAS Bureau of Correctional Recovery Services Chief John Sexten described the inaugural event as overflowing with hope, noting it was both motivating and inspirational. "It was awe-inspiring to see more than 700 women, and over 200 staff and volunteers come together to celebrate and to encourage one another in this journey of freedom," he said.

The Ohio SPF Rx initiative is accepting applications from eligible organizations to receive a free medication disposal drop box — plus funding to cover all disposal costs through September 2026. These secure drop boxes, purchased through the American Rx Group, support safe and responsible medication disposal. Organizations eligible to apply are those that can legally host a medication disposal drop box in their facility. Submit your application by 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 18.

Questions? Please email Sarah Sawmiller at ssawmiller@prevention-first.org or call 513.751.8000, ext. 17.

OhioMHAS Chief Advisor and Assistant Director Tia Marcel Moretti (pictured above) joined representatives from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Kids Mental Health Foundation, and Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Inc. in the discussion. She highlighted the importance of protective factors such as social connections and safe environments and urged viewers to be present for youth, even when they don’t have to be, as research shows that one meaningful relationship with a healthy adult is among the strongest predictors of resilience.

The program airs on WSYX-TV on  Friday, Aug. 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 16 at 5:00 p.m.

Governor DeWine launched OhioRISE in July 2022 to address long-standing gaps in care for Ohio’s young people with the most complex needs. OhioRISE brings together state agencies and community support to create a statewide network of care management entities to help Ohio families manage and coordinate the care their child needs.

“OhioRISE is giving hope to children and families who have faced enormous challenges," said Governor DeWine. “This program is another example of our commitment to ensure all children have the resources they need to reach their full potential. Today we celebrate the progress OhioRISE has made in three years, and we look forward to even more growth in the years ahead.”

OhioRISE has changed the way tens of thousands of Ohio children, youth, and families are navigating complex behavioral health challenges. When OhioRISE launched, 5,500 youth were receiving behavioral health services through Medicaid, like home-based intensive care. In the first three years, OhioRISE has expanded its reach to provide services for nearly 50,000 youth.

Ohio Recovery Housing (ORH) is seeking passionate and committed individuals to join its Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will play a vital role in advancing ORH’s mission by:

• Providing feedback on ORH-developed tools, training, and resources
• Assisting with planning events, like the ORH conference
• Offering non-binding advice and insight to the ORH Board of Directors
• Supporting fundraising efforts by connecting ORH with donors and sponsors
• Acting as ambassadors for recovery housing in communities across the state
• Volunteering their time and expertise to operators and partners

Members will serve a one-year term (renewable) and are expected to participate in quarterly meetings, with at least two offered in person with hybrid options. Applications will be accepted online through Aug. 15. Once members are identified, ORH will schedule the first meeting at a time that works for most committee members.

Questions? Email Danielle@ohiorecoveryhousing.org.

The Fall 2025 National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) Agility Grant applications are now open. This opportunity is open to any 501(c)(3) non-profit looking to integrate and expand problem gambling prevention services in their organization. Awards range from $20,000-$40,000. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Aug. 20. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new Taking Care: Promoting Well-being for Recovery and Behavioral Health Care Providers fact sheet that offers tips and resources for better health and well-being among the behavioral health workforce. The fact sheet elevates the importance of organizational support for effective self-care practices for individuals and teams to support the more than half of behavioral health care providers reporting they have experienced symptoms of burnout.

The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO) has announced several upcoming training opportunities, including its Fall Gambling Disorder Stages Training Series. Click the links below for more information and to register. Questions? Email info@pgnohio.org.

Aug. 13 | Clinical Conversations: Sports Betting and Online Gambling
Sept. 17-19 | Stage I: Gambling, Problem Gambling, and Ohio's Service System
Oct. 22-24 | Stage II: Applications and Approaches in Treating Gambling Disorder
Nov. 13-14 | Stage III: The Roles of Family and Finances in Treating Gambling Disorder 

Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC) has announced a schedule of upcoming training opportunities for behavioral health professionals. Click the links below for more information and to register.

Preventing Substance Misuse in Pregnant Teens (Two-Part Series)
Part 1 — Aug. 21 or Aug. 28 | 1:00-3:00 p.m. | View Flyer | Register
Part 2 — Sept. 16 or Sept. 30 | 10:00 a.m.-Noon | View Flyer | Register

Culturally Competent Care for the Latinx Community
Sept. 4 | 1:00-3:00 p.m. (Virtual) | View Flyer | Register

Practice in Action: Supporting Trauma-Exposed Youth
Sept. 10 | 1:00-4:00 p.m. | View Flyer | Register

Supervising Self-Management in Behavioral Health
Sept. 18 | 10:00 a.m.-Noon | View Flyer | Register

The Right Dose! Senior Overdose Prevention Summit (Cleveland)
Sept. 23 | 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. | View Flyer | Register

OneEighty will host its 15th Anniversary Break the Cycle of Addiction event on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 6:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Wayne County Fairgrounds/Holmes County Trail. This event is not a race. It is centered around the mission to reduce the stigma surrounding the issues of substance use disorder and addiction and to support the treatment/prevention services offered at OneEighty. Break the Cycle honors individuals on their recovery journey and pays tribute to lives lost to addiction. An individual can choose between three bike routes, the Holmes County Trail bike ride or walk, and a 5K walk in downtown Wooster. The bike ride consists of either a 24-, 50-, or 72-mile ride through the scenic countryside of Wayne and Holmes counties. Each route varies in elevation and level of fitness. Pre-registration is $40 and closes Aug. 22. Day of registration is $50. 

Clear Pathways will host the final webinar of a three-part lunch-and-learn series exploring findings from its Crisis Response Pilot for 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and 988 call centers on Aug. 28 from noon-1:00 p.m. The session will focus on evaluating 911-988 interoperability and using metrics to support continuous quality improvement among the partners. Participants will hear key findings from Mathematica’s evaluation of the pilot, including common data reporting challenges and recommendations to strengthen future evaluation and implementation efforts.

Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR) will host the 2025 Recovering People's Convention on Sept. 9 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center. This free convention offers a space for Ohio's recovery community to gather and set the agenda for recovery-oriented policy in the state. The day will be filled with interactive policy and advocacy discussions. All recovery advocates are welcome — you do not need any prior advocacy experience to attend. Questions? Email Advocate@oca-ohio.org.

PreventionFIRST! will host the 2025 Coalition Academy from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the Hilton Midtown – Cincinnati. This year's theme is "Staying Anchored in Prevention." The Academy provides learning opportunities for prevention professionals, public health and treatment professionals, mental health providers, coalition members and community leaders, youth-serving organizations, school personnel, and parents and caregivers, among others. Workshops will focus on a variety of topics, including advocacy, artificial intelligence (AI), mental health and well-being, school-based mental health, sustainable prevention tactics, and more. Cost is $50 for PreventionFIRST! member coalitions, and $75 for general registration. CEUs have been applied for. Questions? call 513.751.8000, ext. 14 or email jlee@prevention-first.org.

SMART Recovery will host a free, virtual SMART Recovery Facilitator Training on Sept. 17-18 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. SMART Recovery is a science-based, secular support model that helps people overcome substance use and other harmful behaviors using practical tools rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and motivational psychology. The model centers on self-empowerment, resilience, and inclusive peer support. Sessions will be presented in English (Sept. 17-18) and Spanish (Sept. 13-14, 20-21). 13 CEUs are available. Click the links for more information. Questions? Email jhilbert@smartrecovery.org.

Governor DeWine's RecoveryOhio initiative is partnering with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to host a Walk Into Wellness from 10:00 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Findley State Park in Wellington. The event promotes connection and self-care by encouraging participants to complete a variety of activities, including a guided nature hike, a visit to the Nature Center, disc golf demonstration, Storybook Trail, and mental health resource fair. Participants can also paint a "kindness rock" and visit with a therapy dog. Participants who note activities completed on the event postcard and mail by Oct. 4 will receive a certificate signed by Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel. 

Star Behavioral Health Providers will host a Tier I: Introduction to Military Culture and the Military-Connected Experience training on Sept. 24 from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at The Talbert House Training Center in Cincinnati. This free training helps providers build cultural competence with the military population and develop skills for helping military-connected individuals.

1in5 will host its 2025 Warrior Run: The Race for Life on Oct. 4 at the Mariemont Concourse in Cincinnati. This family-friendly event seeks to raise awareness about mental health and will feature a 5K run, one-mile walk, and kid's fun run. Early-bird registration ends Sept. 6. Questions? Email info@1in5.org or call 513.814.3007. 

Save the date! The Ohio Program for Campus Safety and Mental Health (OPCSMH) will host its 3rd Annual Suicide Prevention Symposium on Oct. 9 at the University of Mount Union in Alliance. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Beyond the Game: Teaming up for Suicide Prevention,” and will focus on supporting the mental health and well-being of college athletes and e-athletes throughout Ohio. This event will feature content experts and resources dedicated to helping collegiate athletes build resilience, improve well-being, and prevent suicide.