On Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and the Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board partnered to host Hope in Ohio: Community Conversation on Mental Health and Stigma at the Adena PACCAR Medical Education Center in Chillicothe. The event brought together approximately 75 attendees, including local providers, community members, educators, and youth-led organizations from Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike, and Ross Counties. 

The evening featured opening remarks from DBH Interim Director Tia Marcel Moretti (pictured, inset), a lived experience conversation with Dr. John Gabis of Adena Health and Jessica Baldwin of NAMI Southern Ohio, and a state of the region panel moderated by Melanie Swisher, Executive Director of the Paint Valley ADAMH Board. Panelists included The Hon. Mary E. King (Fayette County Court of Common Pleas, Probate and Juvenile Division), Deputy Dave Weber (Ross County Sheriff's Office), and Tonya Sturgill (Chair, Paint Valley ADAMH Board; Director/Chief, Highland County Probation Department). The program concluded with a youth-led stigma reduction presentation highlighting the leadership of young people across the region and reinforcing the importance of collective community action to reduce stigma and strengthen mental wellness across southern Ohio.

Participants from the Paint Valley region are invited to complete the Hope in Ohio Community Assessment, which will help identify local strengths, needs, and priorities for ongoing prevention efforts in the area. Community members can complete the brief online survey at: https://forms.office.com/g/xPHDRTJ30t.

On Monday, the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation hosted a Substance Use Disorder and Caregiver Resilience Conference at The Steam Plant in Dayton. The free event, which was was supported by Opioid Settlement grant funds awarded to Montgomery County, brought together caregivers and community partners to deepen their knowledge of substance use disorders and mental health conditions, while exploring strategies for resilience and sustainable self-care. Featured topics included combatting the addiction crisis in the Dayton region, caring for pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders, and strengthening caregiver resilience.

DBH Interim Director Tia Marcel Moretti (pictured) highlighted the DeWine Administration's longstanding commitment to serving Ohio families and building resilience for the future in a session titled, "Hope in Ohio." She highlighted DBH strategic priorities, including the recent statewide expansion of Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), commitment to building a comprehensive community system of care, and grant funding to expand treatment and support services for pregnant women and mothers of young children living with substance use disorders. 

“These units will connect individuals in high-need areas with medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder,” said DBH Interim Director Tia Marcel Moretti. “Data show when people are facing instability in their lives, they’re far more likely to seek help when treatment is brought to them rather than having to travel to a brick-and-mortar provider. By expanding access in this way, our goal is to improve treatment retention and prevent opioid-related overdoses.”

Ohio joins 17 other states currently operating MMUs. The units will be staffed by a medical provider, a registered nurse, a program director, as well as a driver and security officer. Medication, including methadone and buprenorphine, can be dispensed directly from the units. All units must comply with U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations and be licensed as MMUs in accordance with state and federal law.

DBH awarded a $1.7 million federal State Opioid and Stimulant Response grant to the Paint Valley ADAMH Board to contract with a provider to operate the units.

Click HERE to read the full media release.

Every year the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) shares their Gift Responsibly campaign to raise awareness about the risks of youth gambling. This year, NCPG also added the Too Young to Bet Campaign to expand the reach of this important message to an even wider audience. To participate in the campaign and access shareable content, register at: NCPGambling.org/pa-resources/access-grc-toolkit/.

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) has released a one-page resource titled Lethal Means Safety: A Suicide Prevention Strategy. This practical guide outlines simple but effective steps to reduce access to lethal means, such as firearms or medications, during times of mental health crisis. Research shows putting time and space between a person in crisis and a potentially deadly method can make all the difference.

Download the “Lethal Means Safety” resource and explore additional suicide prevention materials at ohiospf.org/resources.

Reminder! The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The event, organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), provides a safe, anonymous way to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications. To find a collection site near you, visit the DEA's website at DEATakeBack.com or use the agency's year-round drug disposal locator tool. 

This week, the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS)  announced more than $2 million in funding to help victim service agencies meet the needs of human trafficking survivors. Thirty-three nonprofit organizations in 16 counties will receive funding as part of the Direct Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Grant Program. Additionally, several nonprofits will address the needs of human trafficking survivors on a statewide basis. Launched by Governor Mike DeWine in 2023, the grant program aims to help serve the growing number of sex and labor trafficking victims in Ohio. Click HERE to see a list of recipients. 

St. Joseph Recovery Center (SJRC), a leading substance use disorder and behavioral health provider in West Virginia, is bringing its comprehensive treatment services to Ohio residents through a new office location in Cambridge and mobile clinics serving nine counties across southeast Ohio.

The Cambridge office (located at 2146 Southgate Parkway), opened in February and provides outpatient and intensive outpatient services for both adolescents and adults. In June, SJRC launched mobile clinic operations to extend care directly into communities across the region. These mobile units are now providing substance use disorder treatment, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and behavioral health care in the following locations:

• Belpre and Marietta (Washington County)
• Middleport (Meigs County)
• Gallipolis (Gallia County)
• Zanesville (Muskingum County)
• Newark (Licking County)
• Coshocton (Coshocton County)
• Dover (Tuscarawas County)
• Bellaire (Belmont County)

For more information about SJRC's Cambridge office or mobile clinic services, contact Jordan Granus at jordan.granus@stjosephwv.com or 304.254.6757.

Join Relink.org on Oct. 28 at 2:00 p.m. for an inside look at reentry efforts in Ohio prisons and hear directly from reentry coordinators with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) as they share powerful insights into their work behind prison walls. Representatives from both northern and southern Ohio regions will be present. Questions? Email info@relink.org.

Participants will:

• Discover the range of programs and certifications available to incarcerated individuals.
• Hear real success stories and learn how these initiatives are reducing recidivism.
• Explore data on how frequently Relink.org is accessed via prison tablets — and what that means for your organization’s reach and impact.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness and The Steve Fund are partnering to host It Takes a Village: Supportive Communities for Young Adults, a virtual town hall on Nov. 5 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Participants will explore practical, culturally attuned tools and strategies to better respond to the mental health needs of youth. Central to this work is honoring and amplifying the real-life experiences of young people and their families as drivers of meaningful change in mental health care and advocacy. 

Prevention Action Alliance, in partnership with DBH, will host part two of the Ohio Prevention Conference Virtual Pre-Conference  on Nov. 6 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. This free special event will feature a dynamic set of pre-conference sessions designed to equip prevention professionals, coalition leaders, and community stakeholders with the tools and insights needed to build, strengthen, and sustain impactful partnerships. Fostering Strategic Connections and Partnerships will explore the Partnership Continuum — from coordination and cooperation to deeper collaboration and strategic alignment — and provide practical strategies to help participants identify shared goals, leverage complementary resources, and create sustainable systems of support. Click HERE to learn more and register.

In recognition of November as National Family Caregivers Month, please join Courage to Caregivers for their 6th Annual Caring for the Caregivers Virtual Summit - Preventing Caregiver Burnout: Illuminating HOPE in Uncertain Times on Nov. 6 from 10:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m. The Zoom-based Summit will feature presentations focused on advocacy, ethics, and common humanity for professional and unpaid family caregivers. Four free CEUs will be offered for social workers, counselors, and peer supporters. Questions? Email kristi@couragetocaregivers.org.

Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence, (MACC) Inc. has announced two, free virtual trainings in November. Click the links below for more information and to register. Click HERE for additional training opportunities. Questions? Email Jon Moorehead II at JMoorehead@maccinc.net. 

Nov. 12 | Voices of Veterans: What Providers Need to Hear
Nov. 18 | Trauma Responsive Care — Impacts and Supports for Immigrants and New American Citizens

The Ohio Children of Incarcerated Parents Initiative, with support from DBH, is currently offering an opportunity for community organizations and individuals to become certified in the evidence-based curriculum, Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC). This five-day, in-person facilitator certification training will be held on Nov. 17-21 at the Dublin Integrated Education Center. 

The Ohio Children's Alliance (OCA) will host its 2026 Spring Conference on April 21-22 at the Hilton Columbus – Polaris Hotel. Themed "Connecting for Impact," the conference will provide an opportunity to influence the conversation on mental health, child welfare, wellness, nonprofit management and leadership, and strategies for change management. Featured topics will include: strategic planning, leadership, and collaboration; advancing equity and workforce well-being; technology, data, and digital trust; advocacy, systems change, and innovative funding; and measuring impact and continuous improvement. OCA is currently accepting presentation proposals. The deadline to submit a proposal is Wednesday, Nov. 12.