Strong Families, Safe Communities Project

SFSC The State of Ohio is committed to improving care coordination and providing support for families with children in crisis who present a risk to themselves, their families or others because of mental illness or a developmental disability. Since 2013, the Strong Families, Safe Communities project has been engaging local systems to identify community-driven solutions that highlight collaboration across agencies to develop the best possible outcomes for these families. This initiative is funded by the Ohio departments of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) and Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS).

Many children who are at risk are not engaged in treatment programs and may not be known to the community until a crisis unfolds. Care coordination and crisis intervention services can quickly stabilize a child’s health. Support for these families will reduce risk of harm and help the family remain together.

Systems of Care

SYSTEMS OF CARE IN NW OHIO: Webster Family Story

What's New?

Strong Families Safe Communities Webinar Series

Joyful Together: 2-Part Webinar Recordings Now Available
In June, the Strong Families, Safe Communities Webinar Series hosted Dr. Benjamin Kearney and Holli Ritzenthaler for a 2-part session called Joyful Together: Reigniting Relationships and Reinforcing Resiliency in Children and Caregivers Through Play. These webinars demonstrated the effects of toxic stress and strategies for insulating against and repairing damages caused by trauma through joyful interactions. Part 1 focuses on the theory and neurobiology behind Joyful Together and Part 2 teaches a variety of joyful activities and approaches for professionals and families to utilize.

Webinar Recording: FASD Symptoms, Red Flags and Importance of Screening, Webinar with Dr. Ergun 

This webinar provides a basic understanding of how prevalent FASD is and the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the unborn baby and discusses the importance of screening for FASD to prevent secondary disabilities and high misdiagnosis rate.

Webinar Recording: The Power of Reset with Aubrey Page

Escalations can be overwhelming as a caregiver. There are strategies to use to avoid them and end them quicker, but first we have to learn what is going on in our child’s brain. In this webinar, learn what may be going on in a child’s mind during an escalation and how we can use that information to help us keep everyone calm. Both proactive and reactive strategies are taught that will help you rethink the next time a child gets escalated.

Webinar Recording: Understanding Breath and Emotion with Doug Keller

We have long been accustomed to speaking simply in terms of the "sympathetic" (fight or flight) and "parasympathetic" (relaxation) responses of the nervous system. But recent research into the vagus nerve paints a richer and more varied picture. Understanding the vagus nerve represents important insights into the deeper aspects of our mental and emotional responses to stress from our environment. In this webinar, Doug Keller shares an accessible understanding of these new insights with a special emphasis on simple and safe corrective exercises that can easily be practiced individually.

View the Strong Families March Quarterly Meeting Recording

In March, we held our 3rd quarterly meeting for Strong Families grantees. Two collaboratives presented their projects and NAMI Ohio presented on their Parent Peer Support Training. View the recording here.

New: Pause Program Shares Online Toolkit

Pause is an initiative for special needs families committed to providing consistent support while partnering with caregivers to grow their natural support system. Strategies include supporting families through respite, scheduled family fun events and opportunities for parents and children to connect with other each other.

Pause has recently completed an interactive online toolkit with videos, documents, and guidance for implementation.

See the Live Binder at the link below using the Access Key: Pause

https://www.livebinders.com/play/play_shared_binder/2711654?backurl=/shelf/my&play_view=play

Learn more about Pause or connect with other Pause families below.

Grantees and News Coverage

SFY 2016 Grantees

A virtual town hall titled "Kids in Crisis: Preventing tragedies through earlier intervention" took place on Nov. 2, 2016. DODD Director John Martin and OhioMHAS Director Tracy Plouck shared information about the origins of the project, project partners shared successes and lessons-learned as well as how best practices are being shared across the state, and the FY2016 grantees were recognized. Families shared how the services have made a difference in their lives. Below are materials from the event.

SFY 2014 Program Activities