Natalie Bollon, Executive Director of the ADAMHS Board (pictured), welcomed community members and provided opening acknowledgements. DBH Director Tia Marcel Moretti spoke next, highlighting statewide suicide prevention efforts and emphasizing the importance of addressing stigma, especially in rural communities. 

Tony Coder, Executive Director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF), moderated a lived-experience conversation with Shannon Ortiz, CEO and Founder of Light After Loss. The discussion focused not only on recognizing warning signs and supporting those who may be struggling, but also on the importance of postvention supports and healing for families impacted by suicide loss.

A State of the County panel brought together leaders from multiple sectors, including Carroll County Health Commissioner Kelly Morris, Weslee Warner of Southeast Healthcare, Dr. Pastor Chuck Wilson Jr., and Shannon Ortiz. The panelists discussed how stigma shows up in small communities, where early intervention opportunities exist, and how relationships within schools, churches, and local organizations can serve as protective factors. 

The evening concluded with a youth prevention spotlight featuring local students Owen Ball and Bristol Warner of the Empower Youth Resiliency Team (pictured, top), who shared how young people are promoting connection and resilience among their peers.

Area residents who attended the Hope in Ohio: Carroll County Community Conversation are encouraged to complete the Carroll County Community Assessment to inform next steps, including a gap analysis and recommendations tailored specifically to Carroll County.

Click HERE to view more photos from the event.

The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood (OCF), through the Ohio Department of Children and Families (DCY), is seeking applicants for its SFY 2027 Responsible Fatherhood Initiative: Strong Fathers, Strong Families grants. The initiative will provide fathers with resources, support, and encouragement to enhance their parenting role.

DCY will award a total of $8.1 million annually to support services across 54 counties. Funding is set at $150,000 per county for the state fiscal year. Each application must clearly identify the specific county to be served with a maximum of up to two counties per applicant. The deadline to submit an application is April 14.

Questions? Email procurement_inquiries@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov 

The School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention and Early Intervention (at Miami University) is celebrating an important milestone for its School Wellness Podcast, hosted by Amanda Hampton. Now in its third season, the podcast surpassed more than 5,000 downloads by the end of February.

The program features a new expert each episode discussing ways to support mental health in K-12 education and explores innovative strategies and initiatives to create nurturing environments for students. Listeners can find Season 3 episodes on Apple, Spotify, and most podcast player apps. The latest episode features Suzanne Aftabizadeh discussing Empowering Appalachian Youth Through Prevention and Community Collaboration.  

Ohio Peer Recovery Organizations (OhioPRO), in partnership with Achara Consulting, is currently developing an additional Peer Supervisor Training Curriculum. To ensure a wide range of perspectives are reflected in the curriculum’s development, OhioPRO invites peer supporters and supervisors to complete a brief statewide survey. 

The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Your input will directly inform the planning and development of a training model designed to support effective, sustainable, and values-aligned peer supervision across Ohio. Please select the appropriate survey link below based on your role:  

•  Peer Supporters
•  Peer Supervisors

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and  National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) are teaming up to support National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week March 15-21. This annual observance focuses on the science of drug use and addiction, educates and empowers youth to make informed decisions about substance use and their health, and seeks to dispel myths. Click HERE to access NIDA resources, including event ideas, educational resources, videos, and quizzes.    

Relink.org, in partnership with RecoveryOhio and the Addiction Policy Forum, will host a Responding to Addiction webinar on March 25 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Led by presenter Carol Baden of RecoveryOhio, participants will learn about the science of addiction, signs and symptoms of addiction, evidence-based treatment options, medications to treat addiction, and engagement strategies. 

In honor of Social Work Month, Carve Your Own Path, Inc. (CYOP) is hosting a Social Work Appreciation Event on March 30 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. in Copley. Join CYOP for a restorative evening of community and professional growth. This in-person event features a networking hour followed by a complimentary 1.5-hour Self-Care CEU workshop designed to help providers navigate burnout and prioritize holistic wellness. The event is free for social workers (registration required). Questions? Email Amanda Kostura, Executive Director, at Amanda@cyopinc.org.

OSPF will host the 2026 Interfaith Conference on Suicide Prevention: Building Hope Through Faith and Community on May 15. This full-day, in-person conference will bring together faith leaders, mental health professionals, educators, community leaders, and advocates committed to advancing suicide prevention efforts in Ohio through faith-centered dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning. Conference organizers are currently seeking proposals from speakers interested in presenting on how faith and faith-based communities can engage in suicide prevention. Proposals are due by March 31 at Noon. Questions? Contact Monae James at 380.268.8558 or email monae.james@ohiospf.org.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce will host its 2026 Behavioral Health Summit on April 1 from 8:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Ohio Statehouse. The third annual Summit brings together industry leaders, behavioral health care professionals, and employers to discuss pressing behavioral health challenges and solutions in Ohio. The event features keynotes, expert-led panels, and discussions covering topics such as problem gambling, innovative approaches to treatment and recovery, youth mental health, and building sustainable integrated care models across the state. The event promises valuable insights into supporting behavioral health in both businesses and communities across the state. Keynote presenters include DBH Director Tia Marcel Moretti, Radley Care Co-Founder Mark Murphy, and Joe Burrow Foundation Secretary and Treasurer Robin Burrow. 

The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO) has announced training dates for it's three-part Spring Gambling Disorder Stages Training series. Completing all three courses provides the 30 hours needed to become qualified in treating gambling disorder through a Gambling endorsement for those licensed through the OCDP Board, or adding it to a clinician's scope of competency for those licensed through the CSWMFT board. Click the links below for more information and to register. Questions? Email info@pgnohio.org. 

April 1-3 | Stage I: Gambling, Problem Gambling, and Ohio's Service System 
May 6-8 | Stage II: Applications and Approaches in Treating Problem Gambling Disorder
June 4-5 | Stage III: The Roles of Family and Finances in Treating Gambling Disorder

Join the Ohio Youth-Led Collective for a collaborative professional development experience. The Community of Practice Evolve & Empower session is designed for Ohio youth‑serving professionals who want to strengthen leadership development, elevate youth voices, and build more impactful and sustainable youth programs. Through interactive activities, reflective dialogue, and practical tools, participants will explore how shifting adult mindsets and practices can open the door to authentic youth leadership. To increase access across the state, this in‑person session will be offered in three regional locations: 

April 10 | Northern Ohio (Independence) | Register
April 17 | Southern Ohio (Cincinnati) | Register
July 9 | Central Ohio (Delaware) | Register

The sessions, which include lunch and CEUs, are free to attend

Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR) will host the Fifth Annual Recover Out Loud Celebration on April 29 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – Africa Event Center. Each year, OCAAR celebrates champions in recovery by awarding a national and statewide "Champion in Recovery." This year's Ohio honoree is Hannah Schilling, a Certified Peer Support Supervisor and Community Outreach Coordinator at Hamilton County Public Health. Hannah has led with courage and authenticity — openly sharing her recovery story to reduce stigma, inspire hope, and show that long-term recovery is possible. Her work at both the community and systems level has earned multiple honors, including two National Promising Practice Awards. The 2026 national honoree is TBA.  

Register now for the 2026 Source of Strength Ohio Virtual Conference on April 29 from 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Whether you’re new to Sources of Strength or experienced in Elementary or Secondary Programming, you’ll gain new insights and connect with others passionate about this life-saving program. CE credit is requested for Ohio prevention, addiction counseling, social work, mental health counseling, and CHES.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio (NAMI Ohio), with support from DBH and Aetna OhioRISE, will host its annual Youth Advocacy Brunch and Resiliency Ring on May 6 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Youth from across Ohio will gather in downtown Columbus for a powerful morning of connection, leadership, and action. This free event includes a brunch with legislators, inspiring youth speakers, and the 20th Annual Resiliency Ring Rally at the Ohio Statehouse. Click HERE to view a schedule of events. Questions? Call Sarah Malich, NAMI Ohio Director of Youth and Families, at 614.224.2700. ext. 245, or email sarah@namiohio.org.

OhioPRO will host the 2026 Peer Recovery Summit Connection Creates Recovery: Healing Happens Together on July 8-9 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. With an expected attendance of nearly 600 individuals, the Summit provides a dedicated space for networking, growth, and learning — all of which contribute to the advancement of peer support in Ohio. Sponsorship registration is now open. Click HERE for more information on the available levels of sponsorship. Questions? Email OhioPRO Executive Director Michael J. Krause at mkrause@ohio-pro.com.