PCSAO Hosts 8th Annual Ohio START Summit
On Tuesday, DBH Director Tia Marcel Moretti (pictured) provided remarks at the 8th Annual Ohio START Summit hosted by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO). The Summit brought together more than 200 child protection caseworkers, supervisors, family peer mentors, and behavioral health providers to focus on strategies for supporting families affected by co-occurring substance use disorder and child maltreatment through the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) model. Managed by PCSAO, Ohio START was the first program of its kind to receive national certification from Children and Family Futures. Since its launch in 2017, the program has served nearly 5,400 Ohioans — including more than 3,100 children — in 55 counties.
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Ohio Selected to Participate in National Rural Health Transformation Learning Collaborative
DBH is partnering with the Ohio Department of Health to participate in a national learning collaborative hosted by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. This six-month collaborative, which begins in October, supports state leaders in strategies for implementing maternal health and behavioral health initiatives through the Rural Health Transformation Program. This will give state departments in Ohio the opportunity to collaborate across systems to maximize resources to improve care and outcomes for perinatal women in rural areas of the state. Topics covered will include advancing rural workforce, expansion of home-based and mobile care infrastructure, leveraging telehealth technology, and building integrated care models. DBH is looking forward to this partnership and connecting systems of care to best serve both medical and behavioral health needs of perinatal women in Ohio.
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Geauga County Opens Expanded Transitional Living Center
Last week, DBH Director Tia Marcel Moretti joined representatives from the Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHRS) Board, Ravenwood Health, and other community officials to celebrate the opening of a newly renovated and expanded Transitional Living Center (TLC) in Claridon Township. The project, which received more than $2.1 million in state and federal funds, nearly doubles the Center's capacity to serve Geauga County adults with serious mental illness. MHRS Board Executive Director Christine Lakomiak (pictured, cutting ribbon with Director Moretti) said the TLC provides stabilization and restorative services to persons needing a diversion or transition from a psychiatric hospital or to prevent psychiatric admission.
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 National Prevention Week — May 10-16
DBH is pleased to join with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in recognizing May 10-16 as National Prevention Week (NPW). This annual observance showcases the work of communities across the country to prevent substance use and promote well-being. Visit SAMHSA's NPW webpage to download a free toolkit to help plan and promote and event and to download free interactive prevention activities.
SAMHSA is also hosting three NPW-related webinars. Click the links below for more information and to register.
May 11 | Innovations in Prevention (2:30-4:00 p.m.) May 13 | Celebrate the Possibilities of Prevention (2:00-3:00 p.m.) May 14 | Storytelling for Prevention Impact (2:00-3:00 p.m.)
New School Wellness Podcast Episode
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The School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention and Early Intervention at Miami University has released the latest installment of its School Wellness Podcast. In this month's episode, hear from two Ohio high school students who share the impact of the Sources of Strength program in their schools. Click HERE to view the complete Season 3 schedule. |
Montgomery County ADAMHS Unveils New Campaign to Support Moms with Substance Use Disorders
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board is unveiling a “spin-off” to its anti-stigma campaign, Stigma is Out of Style. Keeping in mind the theme that recovery from a substance use disorder is not one-size-fits-all, the campaign has been aptly named Recovery Always Fits New Moms.
The campaign will roll out throughout May via billboards, social media, TV, radio, and digital advertisements, encouraging pregnant and new moms — and their support systems — to know that it is ok to reach out for help. Community members can be connected to local providers and other statewide resources by visiting stigmaisoutofstyle.com and selecting Pregnant & Postpartum Resources.
ADAMHS launched the Stigma is Out of Style campaign in March. The public awareness campaign focuses on rebranding mental health and substance use disorders and empowering the people of Dayton to become better allies in the recovery journey.
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ONDCP Releases 2026 National Drug Control Strategy
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The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has released its 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. This document serves as a strategic roadmap to address the nation's overdose epidemic and dismantle illicit drug supply chains. The strategy, which oversees a $44 billion budget coordinated across 19 federal agencies, frames the drug crisis as both a public health emergency and a national security issue. It calls for a two-front approach: attacking the supply of illicit drugs entering the country while reducing demand through prevention, treatment, recovery, and faith-based support. |
New Resources from SAMHSA
SAMHSA released two new publications this week. Click the links below to learn more.
Community Initiated Care in Behavioral Health: Exploring Funding Mechanisms for Substance Use Disorders — This report from SAMHSA's Center for Financing Reform and Innovation (CFRI) examines existing community-initiated care (CIC) organizations to better understand the strategies and funding mechanisms used to sustain substance use disorder (SUD) services in their communities.
A Systems-Based Approach to Supporting Individuals Who Have Experienced Grief and Loss — This paper presents a G.R.I.E.F. framework for system leaders and policymakers to help set an intention to shape grief-informed service delivery systems. The G.R.I.E.F. framework outlines five core principles to guide the development and implementation of high-quality grief-informed services throughout the community and within clinical service systems.
Promoting Integrated Physical and Behavioral Healthcare for Older Adults — This advisory outlines evidence-based strategies to integrate physical and behavioral health services, improving outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing quality of life. It includes strategies for older adults with serious mental illness including self-management programs, telehealth, digital tools, and peer support to expand access — especially in rural and underserved areas.
 Upcoming MACC, Inc. Trainings — Spring/Summer 2026
Beyond the Screen: Creating Healthy, Engaged Elementary School Classrooms — May 12
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will host a virtual webinar based on the recently released fact sheet Beyond the Screen: Creating Healthy, Engaged Elementary School Classrooms on May 12 from 2:00-3:15 p.m. The webinar will provide practical strategies to help elementary school teachers, administrators, and school-based health professionals support healthy technology use among students. Dr. Kathlyn Elliott from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School will discuss key concepts related to technology use in children, including the distinction between active and passive screen use and how different types of screen use may affect children’s attention, sleep, and behavior. She will also share research-informed approaches to strengthen school providers' and families’ understanding of healthy screen routines, promote students’ digital and overall well-being, and reduce passive media use.
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Sandusky Town Hall Listening Session — May 14
Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR) and the Sandusky Artisans Recovery Community Center (SARCC) are hosting a free Town Hall Listening Session on May 14 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at 138 E. Market St., in Sandusky. The purpose of this event is to hear the voices and experiences of people in recovery from substance use disorders. Questions? Email advocate@oca-ohio.org.
Interfaith Conference on Suicide Prevention — May 15
The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) will host the Interfaith Conference on Suicide Prevention on May 15 from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Meekers Venue in Delaware. This statewide gathering, themed "Building Hope Through Faith and Community," will bring together faith leaders, mental health professionals, and community advocates to advance suicide prevention efforts through faith-centered dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning. Dr. Melinda Moore, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Kentucky University, will provide keynote remarks. Dr. Moore, who has authored two books, including After the Suicide Funeral: Wisdom on the Path to Posttraumatic Growth, works at the intersection of faith and suicide prevention and will share her personal and professional insights into suicide loss and prevention.
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2026 Drs. Fred & Penny Frese Lecture — May 20
The Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Department of Psychiatry Coordinating Centers of Excellence and Peg's Foundation will present the 2026 Drs. Fred and Penny Frese Lecture in-person and virtually on May 20 from Noon-1:00 p.m. This year's event will feature professor, mental health services researcher, and community psychologist Nev Jones who will discuss how her lived experience has led her to be an advocate and top researcher in the world of schizophrenia. During her lecture, titled "The Lived Experience Voice: How Lived Experience Can Impact and Change Systems," Jones will share how lived experience can make an impact and have a voice to change and challenge systems with sociocultural determinants of mental health, psychosis-focused services, and health equity. The presentation is free and open to the public. Questions? Email bestcenter@neomed.edu.
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Ohio's 2026 Mental Health and Addiction Conference — June 1-2
Register today to attend Ohio’s 2026 Mental Health and Addiction Conference: Inspiring a Stronger Tomorrow on June 1-2 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus. Hosted by the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA), in partnership with DBH and the Ohio Departments of Health and Rehabilitation and Correction, this 16th annual conference will focus on efforts related to mental health and addiction prevention, education, intervention, treatment, recovery, family supports, community engagement, and more. The conference will help advance the resources and knowledge essential for communities to provide support to those in need. Questions? Email Shelby Stutzman at sstutzman@oacbha.org.
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Grounded Supervision: Supporting Regulation, Reflection, and Resilience — June 3
Carve Your Own Path will present Grounded Supervision: Supporting Regulation, Reflection, and Resilience on June 3 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. This free, virtual CEU training will explore how supervision can either support sustainable growth or unintentionally reinforce cycles of stress and shame. Participants will dive into the "parallel process," examining how a supervisor’s ability to remain regulated directly influences the resilience of their entire team. Participants will also learn practical, trauma-informed strategies that foster curiosity over judgment and psychological safety over authority.
2026 School SUCCESS Conference — June 10-11
The Center of Excellence for Prevention and Early Intervention at Miami University, in partnership with Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC), Miami University’s ASPIRE, Central Ohio and Greene County Educational Service Centers (ESC), and other committed community and statewide partners, are hosting the 2026 School SUCCESS Conference on June 10-11 at Eversole Middle School in Plain City. This year's theme is, "Stronger Together: Cultivating Responsive School Communities." The conference will feature more than 70 presentations and workshops and keynote remarks from Matt Eicheldinger, known as "the teacher who wrote it all down." Teachers, school administrators, counselors, social workers, community advocates, prevention professionals, behavioral health workers, and anyone who cares about young people are encouraged to attend. Cost is $25.
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2026 OCAM Conference — June 11
The Ohio Coaching and Mentoring (OCAM) Network will host its 2026 Conference on June 11 from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Marriott Columbus – Northwest. This year's theme is "From Insight to Action." As the prevention field continues to evolve, this year’s conference will highlight adaptive leadership, collaboration, and creative approaches that strengthen prevention work across communities. Through interactive sessions and shared learning, participants will gain actionable tools and strategies they can immediately apply. Cost is $50. Register by May 25. Questions? Email jlee@prevention-first.org.
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Life Is Better With You Here Suicide Prevention Summit — June 18
OSPF, in partnership with DBH, will host the Fourth Annual Life is Better With You Here Suicide Prevention Summit on June 18 from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Event Center at Violet Woods in Pickerington. This impactful gathering will feature engaging speakers, practical tools, and opportunities to connect with others who are dedicated to breaking stigma, reducing risk, and supporting mental wellness in the Black community. Attendees will gain valuable insights and actionable strategies to implement in their communities.
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Art as Therapy: Trauma-informed Creative Practices Among Substance Use Disorders — June 24
Carve Your Own Path will present Art as Therapy: Trauma-Informed Creative Practices Among Substance Use Disorders on June 24 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. This free, virtual CEU training will explore the ethical use of art-based interventions in SUD treatment to support emotional regulation and neurobiological healing.
2026 Peer Recovery Summit — July 8-9
Ohio Peer Recovery Organizations (OhioPRO) will host the 2026 Peer Recovery Summit on July 8-9 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. This year's theme is "Connection Creates Recovery: Healing Happens Together." With an expected attendance of nearly 600 individuals, the Summit will provide a dedicated space for networking, growth, and learning, which contribute to the advancement of peer support in Ohio. If you’re interested in sponsoring, OhioPRO is still accepting sponsors of all levels. Summit Sponsor registration can be found HERE. Questions? Email OhioPRO Executive Director Michael J. Krause at mkrause@ohio-pro.com.
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Save the Date: 3rd Annual Ruck Walk for Veterans and First Responders
Save the date! OSPF will host the 3rd Annual 5K Ruck/Walk for Veterans and First Responders on Oct. 10 at Columbus Commons. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to complete the 5K while carrying a ruck or weighted vest to symbolize the weight many veterans and first responders carry every day.
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 Several in Valley honored for mental health work WKBN-TV, May 8, 2026
HHS Secretary Kennedy Visits Hope Recovery Community Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, May 7, 2026
Transitional Living Center gets some TLC Geauga Times-Courier, May 7, 2026
Local nurse enjoys helping those recovering from addiction Ashtabula Star Beacon, May 7, 2026
WCESC prevention programs show strong impact BG Independent, May 7, 2026
Ohio moves to ban use of credit cards for sports betting Cleveland.com, May 6, 2026
8 graduate from Mahoning County SCORE Court WKBN-TV, May 6, 2026
Ohio lawmakers hear push to fund ibogaine research for addiction, PTSD Toledo Blade, May 6, 2026
Portage effort sharing suicide, crisis hotline information Ravenna Record-Courier, May 6, 2026
Mental health awareness takes center court in St. Clairsville WTOV-TV, May 6, 2026
Partnership aims to help Ohio teachers better assist students' behavioral health issues Spectrum News 1, May 5, 2026
Columbus voters easily pass community crisis response amendment WOSU 89.7, May 5, 2026
Recovery help for new moms struggling with addiction in the Miami Valley WDTN-TV, May 5, 2026
Mental health, drug treatment links visible in two Richland County proclamations Richland Source, May 5, 2026
Kennedy starts a push to help Americans quit antidepressants The New York Times, May 4, 2026
Cleveland Clinic Children's unveils program to expand access to pediatric MH care Cleveland Clinic Newsroom, May 4, 2026
ADAMHS provides resources for fight against mental illness WDTN-TV, May 4, 2026
Community wears green to launch Mental Health Awareness Month in Lima WLIO-TV, May 4, 2026
Back from the Darkness: Jim Bucher's story of hope WHIO-TV, May 4, 2026
Jason Mogus overcomes alcoholism. Becomes counselor and psychologist. Canton Repository, May 3, 2026
Local youth step up as mental health ambassadors to support peers WLIO-TV, May 3, 2026
Ashland County law enforcement participate in crisis intervention training Ashland Source, May 3, 2026
Rural youth show higher firearm exposure, suicide risk, and mental health harms MedicalXPress, May 3, 2026
As mental health crises rise, local first responders shoulder growing responsibility Findlay Courier, May 2, 2026
Eastway receives grants to upgrade kitchen at Webster Street Academy Dayton Daily News, May 2, 2026
Veterans advocate highlights importance of compassion in mental health struggles WLIO-TV, May 1, 2026
State launches one-stop hub featuring resources, info for older Ohioans Statehouse News Bureau, May 1, 2026
Blog: Every mental health journey begins with being seen SAMHSA, May 1, 2026
Family, friends of fentanyl victims share their stories Youngstown Vindicator, April 30, 2026
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