The first initiative is a pilot program that will embed caseworkers with anti-human trafficking expertise in three public children services agencies in Cuyahoga, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties. These dedicated caseworkers will focus solely on human trafficking cases and serve as the agency’s subject matter experts, strengthening identification, screening, and service coordination to improve outcomes for vulnerable youth. Embedding these workers in children services agencies in communities with active anti-trafficking networks will enhance collaboration and ensure survivors are connected to the supports they need.

The second initiative, in Montgomery County, will focus on addressing the root causes of numerous runaway reports of missing children. The effort is modeled after Denver’s Runaway, Outreach, Notification and Intervention (RONI) Project. A local nonprofit (Daybreak) will lead non-police response efforts for youth who repeatedly run away or go missing from care, using a human trafficking screening tool and other trauma-informed services. 

The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) is funding the $400,000 caseworker pilot program, while OCJS and DCY will jointly fund the $550,000, two-year RONI project.

DBH is pleased to announce that Scott Ferguson has been promoted to serve as the agency's Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

As CFO, Ferguson will be responsible for overseeing the agency's budgeting, financial operations, compliance with state and federal funding requirements, and overall fiscal strategy. Prior to accepting this new position, Ferguson served as the Assistant CFO and previously managed DBH's Accounting, Procurement, and Fiscal Operations.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently released Youth Inpatient and Residential Treatment Psychiatric Beds, a national study that analyzed data from 2010 to 2022 across all states on the number of youth in inpatient and residential psychiatric treatment. The study found that 79 percent of states experienced a reduction in the number of youth in inpatient facilities, and 94 percent experienced a reduction in the number of youth in residential facilities. While further research is needed to understand these trends, SAMHSA says the findings highlight the need to strengthen youth mental health infrastructure, expand access to a full continuum of care, and ensure that every child and family can receive timely support.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s Bringing Systems Transformation to Scale: CCBHC and Workforce Capacity Building (CCBHC-T) team has announced the release of a Request for Applications (RFA) to identify qualified vendors to design and develop Technical Assistance (TA) modules that support Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) implementation and operational excellence. 

The National Council is seeking vendors with expertise in behavioral health systems, curriculum and training development, workforce strategies, financing, quality improvement, and related subject areas to create high-quality, scalable TA products aligned with the needs of clinics at varying levels of CCBHC maturity. Applicants may propose modules across one or more of the five domains. 

The full RFA and application instructions are available through the National Council’s AwardForce platform. You can also view the RFA, Application Template, and accompanying FAQ for additional guidance. Applications must be submitted no later than Feb. 2. 

The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD COE) at Case Western Reserve University's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences has released a schedule of upcoming training opportunities. Click the links below for more information and to register. Check out the Center's calendar for a full schedule of upcoming trainings and events. 

Jan. 22 | Resilience Focused Supervision
Jan. 23 | Foundations of Severe and Persistent Mental Health Disorders
Jan. 27 | Integrating OUD Pharmacotherapy into Clinical Practice
Jan. 27 | Foundations of Trauma-Informed Care: Key Concepts and Core Principles
Jan. 28 | Overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUDs
Jan. 28 | Reducing Risk, Increasing Connection: Effective Approaches to Substance Use
Jan. 29 | Right or Wrong? The Ethics of Harm Reduction
Jan. 29 | Treatment of Pregnant and Postpartum Women with OUD
Jan. 29 | Foundations of Stage-Wise Treatment

As part of its free, monthly Lunch and Learn virtual training series, OhioPRO will present Crisis Escalation and De-Escalation for Ohio Peer Supporters on Jan. 29 from Noon-1:00 p.m. Facilitated by Dr. Mara Glantz, Melissa Marier, and Lynette Zielinski from Navita Health, this training provides peer supporters with clear, practical strategies to respond to clients in distress safely, calmly, and within scope. Participants will learn how to recognize safety concerns, apply effective de-escalation techniques, and confidently escalate situations when needed to ensure client and peer safety.  

The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA), in partnership with DBH, will host the 2026 Mental Health and Addiction Conference on June 1-2 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. This year's theme is "Inspiring a Stronger Tomorrow." More than 1,000 participants are expected to attend the conference, which focuses on efforts related to mental health and addiction prevention, education, intervention, treatment, recovery, family supports, community engagement, and more. Conference Sponsor/Exhibitor registration is now open. Click HERE to learn more. Questions? Email Shelby Stutzman at sstutzman@oacbha.org. 

Save the date! The Ohio School Safety Center will host its 2026 Summit on June 2-3 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Sandusky. Participants will dive into dynamic sessions led by top voices in school safety and learn about what actually works in Ohio schools. More information will be available on the conference website at a later date.