The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) Office of Community and Family Resiliency is partnering with the Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board to host the next Hope in Ohio: Community Conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Adena PACCAR Medical Education Center in Chillicothe.

Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to mental health support. This free Community Conversation event is designed to create space for personal stories, expert insights, and practical resources to help break down barriers and foster a culture of openness, support, and resilience. Residents of Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike, and Ross counties are invited to join state and local behavioral health care leaders for a discussion on reducing stigma, raising awareness, sharing resources, and gathering feedback to guide local mental health priorities.

State and local officials gathered in Warren County last week to celebrate the opening of Transitional Living of Southwest Ohio (TLSO), a new crisis stabilization center serving a multi-county region. The $5.6 million facility, which will be operated by Talbert House, is located at 995 Kingsview Drive in Lebanon.

The 10,842-square-foot facility will primarily provide transitional residential care with supportive behavioral health services and community linkage for persons with severe and persistent mental illness or a dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance use who reside in one of the following counties: Brown, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Greene, Madison, Preble, and Warren. It features 16 single bedrooms, a food prep area, and a common area that will be used for art/music therapy and other types of programming.

The facility will be available for persons being discharged or “stepping down” from the community into needed respite stabilization care to possibly avoid hospitalization or individuals who need to “step up” to crisis stabilization when hospitalization is not indicated. The length of stay will vary based on individual need but will typically be no longer than 90 days.

The project is a collaboration among five mental health and recovery boards, including the Brown County Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board, the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Clark, Greene, and Madison Counties, the Mental Health Recovery Board Serving Warren and Clinton Counties, and the Preble County Mental Health and Recovery Board.   

“This facility reflects our shared commitment to ensuring people in crisis receive immediate, compassionate care close to home,” said Amy Fornshell, Executive Director for the Mental Health Recovery Board Serving Warren and Clinton Counties. “By working together, we are building stronger communities and improving access to lifesaving services.”

DBH contributed nearly $5 million toward the project in American Rescue Plan Act and community capital funding. Remaining funds were provided through cash matches from the regional boards involved. 

“Today is a day to celebrate,” said DBH Chief of Staff John Annarino (pictured above), who spoke at the ribbon cutting celebration. “Together, we are creating the system where all Ohioans can access the services and supports they need to be well, get well, and stay well.”

This week, in lieu of its traditional Fall Conference, the Ohio Children's Alliance (OCA) hosted its 2025 Symposium. The event brought together decision-makers, system advocates, and professionals committed to improving outcomes for Ohio's children and families. The theme was "Enhancing Our System of Care: Addressing Key Issues in Children's Services."

Tom Woll, Founder of the Strategic Change Initiative, provided the opening keynote presentation titled "The Power of Three: Building Enduring Partnerships with Clients, Funders, and Staff." Lisette Burton, Chief Policy and Practice Advisor at the Association of Children's Residential and Community Services, provided the closing keynote presentation, "Navigating Federal Policy Crossroads: Opportunities and Threats for Child and Family Service Providers."

The day also featured four engaging breakout sessions, including two featuring DBH staff members. MRSS Statewide Program Administrator Tia Cokes and Family Peer Navigator Bryania Banner joined colleagues from Coleman Health Services and Ravenwood Health to lead a session titled "Crisis Services in Motion: Aligning MRSS with Foster Care and Community Mental Health." The session highlighted how Ohio's statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program is reshaping how crisis care is delivered to youth and families. Nisaa Robinson, Systems Manager of Prevention and Child/Youth Services from the DBH Office of Community and Family Resiliency also attended the session. Meanwhile, Melissa Bacon, Deputy Director of the DBH Office of Behavioral Health Policy, joined colleagues from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and Trumbull County Children Services to lead a session titled, "Out-of-Home Placement in Crisis: Systemic Gaps, Regulatory Pressures, and Emerging Solutions." Participants engaged in a candid dialogue about capacity, licensing, and the future of congregate and family-based care.

Pictured (l-r): Karen Hill, OCA Chief Operating and Financial Officer; Sarah LaTourette, OCA Chief Advocacy Officer; Melissa Bacon, Deputy Director of the DBH Office of Behavioral Health Policy; Bryania Banner, DBH Family Peer Navigator; Tia Cokes, MRSS Statewide Program Administrator; and Mark Mecum, OCA Chief Executive Officer. 

Ohio's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline statewide awareness campaign was recently recognized as a Platinum Winner in the 2025 MarCom Awards, which is a prestigious competition honoring excellence in the marketing and communications industry. The MarCom Awards are administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals and receive thousands of entries from across the world each year. 

DBH has partnered with communications firm Fahlgren Mortine on the awareness campaign since 2023. The campaign was instrumental in growing statewide awareness of 988 from 36% to 53%, according to a recent survey.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched nationally and in Ohio on July 16, 2022. Since then, Ohio’s call centers have responded to nearly 670,000 contacts through September 2025. So far this year, Ohio’s 988 specialists have responded to an average of nearly 24,000 calls, texts, and chats each month. 

To learn more about Ohio’s suicide prevention efforts and to access free resources, visit 988.ohio.gov. The site features the 988 Ohio Toolkit — updated regularly with downloadable fact sheets, posters, logos, and social media graphics — as well as the OHIO988 Materials Generator, a customizable tool for creating localized 988 outreach materials.

The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring (OSAM) Network has released its January 2025 Drug Trend Report: Surveillance of Drug Use Trends in the State of Ohio: July – December 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.

Questions? Contact OSAM Principal Investigator R. Thomas Sherba, Ph.D., MPH, LPCC at RSherba@dbh.ohio.gov or call 614.466.9020.

Mental Health America of Ohio (MHAOhio) is inviting DBH-licensed agencies to participate in its free Occumetrics workplace health assessment. Since its pilot assessment in 2016, MHAOhio has completed 154 assessments with 84 organizations, helping leadership teams identify what is driving turnover and what staff need most to feel more satisfied at work. The process includes high-impact statistical analysis of survey data and carefully facilitated focus groups, resulting in a detailed report with tailored recommendations for a psychologically healthy, successful work environment. Follow-up reassessments are offered every two years.

In 2026, an updated Occumetrics survey will be implemented to better measure the well-being and needs of the current BH workforce. To request one of the limited assessment slots or learn more, please fill out this brief interest form. 

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) has released a new fact sheet on incorporating suicide prevention where people live, work, and play. Designed for state and territorial suicide prevention professionals and community and organizational leaders, Incorporating Suicide Prevention Where We Live, Work, and Play offers information and considerations to address essential needs that can impact suicide risk.

Carve Your Own Path, Inc., has released a new, on-demand training Surviving the Blow Ups: Supporting Children (and Ourselves) Through Dysregulation. This workshop, a collaboration with Molly Feigal Parenting Support, delves into the neurobiology of dysregulation and the essential practice of co-regulation. Participants will learn trauma-informed, evidence-based Positive Behavioral Interventions to de-escalate challenging moments, master your own reactions, and foster secure, resilient relationships.

DBH, with support from Northeast Ohio Medical University, will host the 2025 Ohio Forensic Mental Health Conference on Nov. 7 at The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center (formerly the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center) in Lewis Center. Under the theme "Forging New Paths," this year’s conference will feature expert-led sessions, real-world case studies, and cross-discipline discussions focused on reimagining how forensic mental health services are delivered. Attendees will explore new approaches to diversion, treatment, crisis response, community reintegration, and system-level collaboration. Whether you're a clinician, administrator, law enforcement officer, legal professional, policymaker, or advocate, this event offers valuable insights and practical strategies that can be applied across settings. Click HERE to view the agenda. 

Summa Health System, in partnership with the County of Summit ADM Board, Northeast Ohio Medical University, and the Ohio Osteopathic Foundation, will host the 12th Annual Current Concepts in Integrated Health Care medical conference on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Fairlawn. Virtual attendance is also available. There is no cost to attend. Click HERE to view the full agenda. Questions? Email DougSmith@admboard.org.

The National Association of Social Workers, (NASW) Ohio Chapter will host its 2025 Ohio Social Work Conference on Nov. 13-14 at the Quest Conference Center in Columbus. The conference will bring together more than 400 social workers and related behavioral health professionals and more than 60 sponsoring organizations from across Ohio. Attendees can access more than 30 CEUs through a combination of in-person and virtual content, with a wide variety of workshop options to choose from, ranging from clinical to macro practice. The conference also has exhibit and sponsorship opportunities for organizations looking to promote their services or highlight the benefits of joining their team. Questions? Email Hannah Ware at HWare.naswoh@socialworkers.org. 

Registration is now open for the 2026 Ohio Problem Gambling Conference, which will be held Feb. 11-12 at The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center in Lewis Center. The conference unites national experts, state leaders, and local innovators in problem gambling prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, research, administration, and safer-play. Presentations are designed for professionals who work in problem gambling prevention and treatment, as well as health care providers interested in how behaviors like gambling, substance use, and mental health issues are interconnected. Full conference registration is $200. Recovery scholarships are available. Learn more. Interested in presenting? The planning committee is currently accepting workshop proposals until Oct. 28.
Questions? Email Events@PGNOhio.org.