The 2026 Ohio State Fair comes to a close this weekend. The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) has been proud to be a part of the fair's success. 

Marketplace Building Engagement
Throughout the fair, department staff greeted thousands of visitors at the DBH booth in the Marketplace Building. Staff connected fairgoers to local resources, answered questions, and distributed information on critical programs, including Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) and problem gambling prevention and treatment. 

Fifth Annual Mental Health Day
On July 31, DBH partnered with Governor Mike DeWine's RecoveryOhio initiative and the Ohio Department of Insurance to sponsor the Fifth Annual Mental Health Day. Volunteers from all three agencies — including RecoveryOhio Director Erin Reed, DBH Director Tia Marcel Moretti, and ODI Director Judith French (pictured top) — distributed 5,000 resource-filled string bags at the Cardinal Gate. Fairgoers also had an opportunity to meet Hope, the Ohio State Highway Patrol therapy K-9 (inset photo) at the DBH booth. Meanwhile, the American Legacy Theatre debuted See Me, Hear Me: Cyberbullying, an MRSS-focused performance at the fair’s new Cardinal Stage.

Battle for the Bacon
On Aug. 5, Director Moretti participated in the Fourth Annual Battle of the Bacon at the Ohio State Fair. The event brings state legislators and leaders together to learn from 4-H and FFA children about how to show livestock and introduces them to the importance of agriculture in Ohio.

“We are committed to building a strong workforce to address the mental health challenges Ohioans are facing,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “These scholarships are filling a critical need in behavioral healthcare and encouraging students to remain in the state to serve their fellow Ohioans in the most needed areas.”

Eligible students may receive $15,000 per year, renewable for up to two years, and participating institutions of higher education will provide matching aid to ensure tuition and general fees are fully covered.

Students must enroll in an approved graduate or professional program by fall 2026 in fields such as counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, certified mental health assisting, or social work. They must also commit to working in an eligible Ohio underserved community for a period equal to the number of years they receive scholarship support.

Funding for the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship Program has been awarded to a broad group of colleges and universities across the state, ensuring that students in every region have access to high‑quality training pathways in behavioral health. The institutions will administer scholarship funding, provide the required matching aid to eliminate tuition and general fees for OBHS recipients, and oversee the selection and monitoring of participating students. Interested students should contact their college or university to learn whether their program participates in OBHS.

Click HERE to learn more about how DBH is working to strengthen and support Ohio's wellness workforce. 

DBH is pleased to extend an opportunity to eligible recovery housing residences to request supplies needed to maintain a healthy and safe environment in their recovery home. Funding was made available through the State Opioid and Stimulant Response Grant 4.0 Year 1 Carryover. 

Recovery housing residences must be on the statewide registry (https://rhsearch.dbh.ohio.gov) to be considered eligible for this opportunity. Supplies may only be used in the property on the application form. Operators may submit one form for each recovery housing residence they wish to order supplies for. Order forms must be completed by 3:00 p.m. on Aug. 21. 

Questions? Email the DBH Housing Team at recoveryhousing@dbh.ohio.gov.

DBH Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Kennedy (pictured above, fourth from left) recently joined local community leaders and advocates in Walnut Hills to cut the ribbon on the NorthStar Behavioral Health Center. The state-of-the-art, $18 million, 30,000-square-foot facility expands access to behavioral health care services in the Cincinnati region. The facility offers comprehensive treatment services, including both inpatient and outpatient care, along with access to community resources for employment and health care.

Formerly known as the Crossroads Center, the newly rebranded NorthStar facility is anticipated to serve more than 1,200 individuals annually. The center, which is expected to begin serving patients this month, features 26 beds for inpatient treatment, a full-service outpatient treatment center, and a medication-assisted treatment clinic. DBH contributed just over $1 million in capital funding toward project completion. 

Ohio Children's Alliance leadership said the new look reflects what the organization is today while honoring the values that have guided it for decades. While the look has changed, the mission remains the same: supporting providers, advancing policy, strengthening communities, and championing the well-being of children and families across Ohio.

"When I think about our organization, I think about the people who have dedicated more than 50 years to improving the lives of children and families across Ohio," said CEO Mark Mecum. "This brand refresh honors that history while making sure the next generation understands who we are, what we stand for, and why our work matters."

The brand refresh also brings a small but meaningful update to how the organization refers to itself. Going forward, the organization will retire the use of the "OCA" acronym in favor of using its full name. "Acronyms can be efficient, but they don't always make clear who we are or what we do ," the agency said in a notice to partners. "By using our full name, we ensure our identity, mission, and impact are immediately recognizable to everyone we collaborate with."   

The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) recently released two public safety bulletins alerting Ohioans of dangerous substances showing up in Ohio’s drug supply. All of these substances increase the risk of overdose and potentially fatal consequences.

The first bulletin addresses orphine analogs. Orphines are a sub-group of new synthetic opioids (NSOs) which are being encountered in seized drug samples and suspected overdose incidents across Ohio. NSOs are synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of controlled opioids such as morphine and fentanyl. NSOs are particularly dangerous because of their potency. They can disrupt breathing and impact the central nervous system, increasing the potential for an overdose.

The second bulletin warns of the synthetic veterinary sedatives medetomidine and xylazine, which are prevalent in Ohio’s drug supply. These substances are not approved for use in humans. Veterinary sedatives cause sedation and can induce life-threatening effects, which can complicate overdose response and emergency care.

As summer winds down and a new school year begins, students and families face a mix of excitement, pressure, and uncertainty. Whether you’re a young person navigating new challenges or a caregiver looking to support your child’s emotional well-being, Mental Health America offers practical guidance, free tools, and resources for every step of the journey: 

• For kids and teens
• For young adults
• For parents and caregivers
• For schools and educators
• Free printables and resources
• Related webinars

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is hosting 988 Day Activation Workshops. Workshops are on Monday, Aug. 10 from 2-3 p.m. (Register) and on Thursday, Aug. 20 from 2-3 p.m. (Register). The workshops are intended for organizations and individuals interested in promoting mental health and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 

The goal of 988 Day is to raise awareness, understanding, and support of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through a variety of creative activities spearheaded by communities, organizations, businesses, advocates, crisis contact centers, and people across the country. This year’s theme is, "988 Reasons." 

The P.E.E.R. Center and DBH have team up to create a unique opportunity for supervisors of Peer Recovery Supporters to connect monthly in a virtual community of practice. The Lunchbreak Leadership Sessions — A Community of Practice for Supervisors of Peers opportunity is designed for the community to share tips and tricks, learn best practices, and expand the role of supervising Ohio's peer workforce. Sessions will be held on the first Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m.-Noon.

Feel free to join the next session by registering at https://www.thepeercenter.org/trainings. Questions? Call 614.453.4841 or email gkrafthefer@thepeercenter.org. 

Join DBH and OhioMeansJobs for a practical, hands-on training designed specifically for Ohio’s behavioral health agencies on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 10:00 a.m-11:30 a.m. Whether your agency is new to OhioMeansJobs or looking to refine its approach, this session will walk you through how to effectively use the OhioMeansJobs website to support your workforce needs, from posting open positions to promoting internship opportunities. Participants will learn how to create and manage job postings, highlight internships that attract emerging professionals, and navigate the recruitment management tools available through OhioMeansJobs. We’ll cover best practices for increasing visibility, improving applicant quality, and making the most of the platform’s built‑in resources to streamline hiring. Questions? Email Workforce@dbh.ohio.gov.

Older adults experience the highest suicide rate in Ohio, yet warning signs and risk factors are often overlooked or mistaken for a normal part of aging. Join the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) on Aug. 19 from Noon-1:00 p.m. for Strengthening Resilience: Identifying and Reducing Suicide Risk Among Older Adults. Participants will learn how to recognize suicide risk among older adults, strengthen factors that build resilience, and gain a better understanding of the unique factors that contribute to suicide risk later in life. The session will also offer practical tools to help identify risk and connect older adults with the support they need.

SAMHSA’s Office of the Chief Medical Officer will host a Metabolic Psychiatry: A Nutrition Based Approach to Treating Mental Illness webinar on Aug. 20 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Featuring Mark A. Frye, M.D., Christopher M. Palmer, M.D., and Hannah Warren, MA, the webinar will explore emerging evidence behind metabolic interventions, present current research findings, and highlight how ketogenic therapy is being integrated into behavioral health care. The webinar is open to all, but registration is required.  

The International Community Justice Association (ICJA) is hosting its 2026 Annual Research Conference on Aug. 30-Sept. 2 at The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center in Lewis Center. This year's theme is "Grounded in Experience, United for Impact." Join professionals, advocates, and system leaders from across the country as they explore innovative approaches, elevate lived experience, and work together to strengthen the future of community justice and reentry. Questions? Email info@icjaonline.org.

The Miami County Common Pleas Mental Health Court will host the Fifth Annual Mental Health and Community Resource Fair on Sept. 3 from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Miami County Courthouse Plaza in Troy. The event will feature more than 80 community partners and agencies, offering information and resources on everything from counseling services and housing to employment services, health screenings and more. For more information, call Jonathan Kanet at 937.440.6065, or email jkanet@miamicounty.ohio.gov. 

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 | Sept. 11, Nov. 20, and Feb. 5  | View Flyer
Part 2 | Oct. 30, Dec. 11, and March 5 | View Flyer

On Our Way Home, in partnership with Winner Mindset, DBH, and OhioPRO, will host Forming Recovery-Friendly Congregations on Sept. 17 from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Crossroads Church East Side in Cincinnati. Faith communities carry a unique and transformative ability to bring hope, healing, and connection to individuals and families facing suicide risk, substance use, mental health challenges, grief, and trauma. This symposium is designed to help congregations strengthen that role. Participants will hear from individuals with lived experience, prevention and recovery professionals, and community partners who are ready to walk alongside faith leaders, families, and caregivers. You’ll leave with practical tools, new relationships, and a clearer understanding of how your faith community can be part of a growing statewide movement of hope.

Mental Health America (MHA) will host its 2026 Annual Conference on Oct. 8-9 in Washington, D.C. This year's conference will focus on the theme "More Good Days, Together." Through this theme, the conference will explore how to make more good days possible for all by connecting people to the right support at the right time and recognizing that “good” is defined by unique mental health experiences and goals. Experts will share practical strategies, innovative tools, and lived experiences to help attendees shape effective advocacy, engagement, and care in their own communities. Click HERE to view the agenda. 

The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County will host the 2026 Roads to Recovery: Hope. Healing. Recovery on Oct. 26 at the Holiday Inn – Independence. Held every two years, Roads to Recovery brings together dozens of nationally and locally recognized behavioral health speakers to lead a full day of workshops dedicated to advancing mental health and addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. The conference is designed for behavioral health professionals, individuals in recovery, family members/caregivers, and community partners and advocates. Kellie Portman, Associate Director of the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), will deliver keynote remarks. Cost is $150. 

Save the date! Ohio Children's Alliance will host its inaugural System of Care Summit on Oct. 26-27 at the Renaissance Columbus – Westerville. This statewide event will unite leaders, providers, policymakers, and partners to strengthen connections across systems, elevate local perspectives, and help shape the future of services and supports for children and families throughout Ohio. Click HERE to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.  More details and registration information will be available soon.