Prevention professionals from around Ohio gathered in downtown Columbus this week for the 2025 Ohio Prevention Conference, hosted by Prevention Action Alliance and sponsored by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). This year's theme was "Advancing Prevention Through Integrated Approaches."

DBH Deputy Director of the Office of Community and Family Resiliency, Jenifer Fraioli (pictured) delivered opening remarks to the crowd of about 400 prevention professionals. During her remarks, Fraioli highlighted outcomes from several pilot programs designed to tackle problem gambling, suicide, and relational health. 

More than 250 youth, representing 24 unique youth-led programs from 15 counties, attended the Ohio Youth-Led Collective Youth Leadership training held this past weekend at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky. Designed to strengthen leadership, collaboration, and advocacy skills, the event offered a dynamic blend of peer-led facilitation, skill-building workshops, and dedicated project development time. It also fostered statewide connection and equipped young leaders with practical tools to strengthen youth-led prevention efforts throughout Ohio.

Youth leaders from B.A.T.S., The Pawsitive Project, Youth to Youth (pictured above), and Marion-Crawford Prevention Programs (pictured below) played a central role by facilitating sessions on how to make presentations practical, receivable, interesting, memorable, and engaging. They also led a powerful discussion on the importance of advocating for youth-led initiatives at both the local and statewide levels, emphasizing the role young people play in shaping community change.

Participants engaged in a variety of workshops focused on public speaking, teamwork, data collection, wellness, program design, and effective storytelling. Structured networking opportunities allowed youth from different regions and programs to connect, share experiences, and build supportive peer relationships.

Each group also had dedicated time to begin developing their own project or initiative. The event concluded with an opportunity for teams to present their emerging plans on stage, showcasing their creativity, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.

In November, Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare (NBH) sponsored a food drive to spread generosity during the holiday season to those who need it most. During the last week of November, donations were dropped off to both Akron Canton Food Bank and the Emergency Assistance Center in Northfield. In total, NBH donated the equivalent of 483 meals.  

Additionally, on Nov. 26, the Mahoning County Community Support Network (CSN) Integrated Treatment Team came together to prepare and deliver 31 Thanksgiving meals to clients who would otherwise spend the holiday without a Thanksgiving meal. Each team member contributed a homemade dish, helping ensure every meal was complete, warm, and prepared with care. This annual act of service reflects the team’s commitment to client support, dignity, and community connection -- especially during the holiday season. 

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation has announced a new statewide grant opportunity making up to $45.7 million available to support prevention, treatment, and recovery. Organizations working to address substance use disorder are invited to prepare for the upcoming funding inquiry window, which opens on Wednesday, Jan. 14. This new round of grants builds on the success of Regional Grant Cycle 1, during which the Foundation awarded more than $45 million to more than 240 projects across Ohio.

The full Regional Grant Cycle 2 Request for Proposals is available on the OneOhio website at OneOhioFoundation.com/Grants. To support applicants throughout the grant process, the Foundation will host multiple webinars, including the first of two Grant Cycle 2 RFP Overview sessions on Dec. 16 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Click HERE to register. 

As the holiday season approaches, the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO) is encouraging community members to Gift Responsibly. Gift Responsibly is a national campaign designed to educate parents and caregivers about the risks of youth gambling and gambling-related gifts, while also promoting safer play for adults. Throughout December, PGNO will promote awareness about the risks of underage lottery use by collaborating with statewide partners, clinicians and prevention professionals, and community members through social media outreach. Follow PGNO's social media channels for more information: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram at @PGNOhio.

When families have the right tools, they can help keep their teens safe and supported, both online and offline. The Partnership to End Addiction has released several new resources that focus on cyberbullying and teen substance use. Click the links below for more information.

Video: A Parent's Guide to Cyberbullying
How Cyberbullying Affects Teens and Fuels Substance Use
Co-Occurring Disorders Resource Center
Positive Parenting for Teens: Practical Tips that Work
Family Conflict and Teen Substance Use: How to Help

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) has issued a new brief titled, Access to Mental Health Care for Ohio Children and Youth. This brief, which is the third in HPIO's Ohio Child Mental Health Project, focuses on access to mental health care services across levels of care.

As part of the release, HPIO is also releasing a community voice spotlight on parent and caregiver experiences with barriers to child and youth mental health care. 

Click HERE to download the full publication and HERE to view a two-page executive summary. 

DBH, in partnership with Amber Stiles-Bodnar Consulting, will host two EMDR Therapy and Consultation training sessions in 2026 for behavioral health clinicians. These experiential trainings will familiarize participants with a broad spectrum of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy applications sufficient for comfortable and efficient use with a wide range of patients and situations. The trainings consist of lectures, live and video demonstrations, and supervised practice. Sessions will be led by Amber Stiles-Bodnar, MSEd, LPCC-S, LCDC III — EMDRIA Approved Consultant, Therapist, and Trainer. Classes will be capped at 30 participants. Eligible participants must have a minimum of a master’s degree. Questions? Email Elizabeth.Poprocki@dbh.ohio.gov. 

Register online at amberstilesbodnarconsulting.com/trainings before Jan. 9, 2026. Include code "OhioDBH" at checkout. 

Athens County:
Part 1: Feb. 5-7, 2026
Part 2: May 14-16, 2026
View training flyer | Register

Knox County:
Part 1: Feb. 19-21
Part 2: May 28-30
View training flyer | Register

The holiday season can be a time of joy, but it can also bring stress, loneliness, and complicated emotions, especially for people in or affected by recovery. To offer support, perspective, and connection, Tom Farley from Recovery.com and Mobilize Recovery's Co-Founder Ryan Hampton will be hosting a live, virtual Fireside Chat on Dec. 18 at 1:00 p.m. CST (2:00 p.m. EST). Together, they’ll discuss practical ways to stay grounded, connected, and supported during a season that isn’t always easy. This free, live discussion is open to all. Click HERE to RSVP and receive a Zoom link. 

In observance of January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month, The Governor's Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force has announced a three-part webinar series focused on current topics and trends in the anti-trafficking field. The series was developed in partnership with national, state, and local partners including Allies Against Slavery, The Jensen Project, Gracehaven, and Freedom A la Cart. Click the links below for more information and to register. Questions? Email AHT@info.dps.ohio.gov. 

Jan. 8 | Data in Action: Using National and State Human Trafficking Data
Jan. 15 | Serving Child and Youth Survivors: Updates on Ohio's Response to Human Trafficking in the Child Protection System
Jan. 22 | Supporting Survivors: Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Sustainability

The Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center (CHSC), in partnership with DBH, has released upcoming training dates for its two-part training series — The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Client: Developing Clinical Competency in Mental Health Treatment. All sessions are virtual from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ASL interpreters and Zoom captioning will be provided. Click the links below for more information and to register. Questions? Email rleffel@chsc.org.

Part 1 | Jan. 9 and March 6 | View Flyer
Part 2 | Feb. 6 and April 10 | View Flyer

CHSC has also released 2026 dates for its Zoom-based Interpreter Community of Practice Series. Upcoming dates include: Jan. 20, Feb. 19, March 19, April 21, and May 21. Click HERE for more information. 

As part of the Psychedelic Emergency, Acute, and Continuing Care Education (P.E.A.C.E.) program, The Ohio State University Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education will host a free Psychedelic Crisis Assessment and Intervention Behavioral Health Seminar on Jan. 12 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. at The Fawcett Event Center in Columbus. This training will equip licensed behavioral health professionals with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to effectively recognize and respond to psychedelic-related crises. Participants will learn evidence-informed approaches that prioritize safety, de-escalation, and compassion while supporting improved outcomes for individuals in distress and those providing care. In addition to addressing acute crisis response, participants will gain valuable tools for supporting individuals after and before psychedelic use — enhancing integration, promoting long-term stabilization, and fostering continuity of care across disciplines and settings. Questions? Email CPDRE@osu.edu.

PGNO will host a free, virtual case presentation: Challenges with Complex Cases and Specialized Services on Jan. 13 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Ken Buzzelli, LISW-S, LICDC-CS-GAMB, will present the timeline and scope of services provided to an individual in the deaf community. He'll showcase coordinated support involving family members and translation services within the community through a Problem Gambling Helpline call, warm transfer, and telehealth.

Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (StarkMHAR) will host its biannual Substance Use Symposium, titled “Evolving Epidemic: Historical Roots and Emerging Challenges,” on Jan. 28 from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at First Christian Church’s Heritage Hall in Canton. The symposium will feature presentations from leading experts who will examine evolving trends, emerging substances, and their impact on individuals and communities. Registration is $45 and open to anyone working with individuals impacted by substance use, including behavioral health providers, peer supporters, criminal justice professionals, health care providers, and housing partners. The deadline to register is Jan. 14. Questions? Email ashley.jarvis@starkmhar.org. 

Registration is 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. Join more than 300 national experts, state leaders, and local innovators in problem gambling prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, research, administration, and safer-play.