NewsNow - 01.09.2023

Jan. 9, 2023

>>> Governor Signs Executive Order to Create New Mental Health Insurance Office

Within minutes of taking the official oath of office for his second term on Sunday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued Executive Order 2023-04D to create the Ohio Mental Health Insurance Office in the Ohio Department of Insurance to ensure compliance and to develop best practice standards for providing mental health and addiction insurance benefits.

The new Office will:

Help Ohioans identify and utilize their mental health and addiction insurance benefits.
Provide consumer protection through education and vigilant regulation of insurers’ compliance with mental health and addiction parity insurance laws.
Work collaboratively with employers, insurers, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy organizations to develop best practice standards for providing mental health and addiction insurance benefits.

>>> RFA: CABH COE Telehealth Certification Support Grant

On behalf of the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (CABH COE), the Ohio Children’s Alliance has announced the release of a Request for Applications (RFA) for Telehealth Credential Support Grants. Grant funding will go toward eligible providers earning the Board Certified-TeleMental Health (BC-TMH) credential. Eligible uses of funding are: (1) reimbursement for the costs of training registration (through the New Star Institute) and the exam and (2) as an incentive to participate in and complete the credentialing process. Requested funds per application shall not exceed more than $1,600.

For the purpose of this funding, qualifying behavioral health providers include:

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC)
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC)
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors of Mental Health (LPCC)
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC)
Licensed Mental Health Practitioners (LMHP)
Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)

The Ohio Children’s Alliance will host a virtual Overview Conference for this opportunity on Jan. 17 at 10:00 am. The deadline to apply for grant funds is Feb. 10. Click HERE for more information. Questions? Please email COE@ohiochildrensalliance.org.

>>> NCPG Agility Grants for Problem Gambling Prevention

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has announced the availability of its Spring 2023 Agility Grants. Funded by the National Football League Foundation, with additional support from FanDuel, NCPG Agility Grants offer funding to nonprofit organizations across the country to support problem gambling prevention programs. Funding will be deployed to support prevention programming innovation and amplification, including new activities, validation of promising initiatives or expansion of proven programming. Applications will be evaluated on several criteria, including alignment to the Agility Grants program principles and funding pillar strategies as well as anticipated community impact. Upcoming informational sessions will provide more detail, with a grant deadline of Feb. 28. Click the link above for more information.

>>> MACC, Inc. to Host Free Cultural Competency Training for the FASD Community – Jan. 25

Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC), Inc., is hosting a free Cultural Competency training for Ohio’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) community on Jan. 25 at 1:00 p.m. The training offers three CEUs. Click the link above for more information and to register. Questions? Please email cgoins@maccinc.net.

>>> Save the Date: 10th Annual Trauma-Informed Care Summit – May 16-17

Mark your calendar! The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) in partnership with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DoDD) will host the 10th Annual Trauma-Informed Care Summit on May 16-17 at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris. This year’s theme is Ohio’s Pathways to Resilience, Healing, and Recovery. The purpose of the 10th Annual TIC Summit is to move our systems from beyond being trauma informed to providing trauma responsive and competent care, services, and supports. When our care, services, and supports are trauma responsive and competent, the people we support and serve build resilience and are able to heal and recover. Watch OhioMHAS enews for more information in the coming weeks.

In the News

1.9.23 | Cleveland.com Gov. Mike DeWine highlights mental-health efforts in second inaugural address

1.9.23 | Columbus Dispatch Gov. Mike DeWine is sworn in for a second term. What can Ohioans expect?

1.9.23 | Dayton Daily News Montgomery County announces partnership with hospitals on behavioral health

1.8.23 | SpectrumNews1 Project focuses on new housing for those living with severe mental illness

1.8.23 | WKYC-TV Endless Ambition: After struggles with drugs and incarceration, James Anderson charts a new path

1.8.23 | Canton Repository (Column) Stark County’s share of opioid settlements will fight abuse and help recovery

1.8.23 | Springfield News-Sun Clark State adds opioid rescue kits on campus

1.8.23 | Warren Tribune Chronicle Grant expands Nile, Cadence program

1.8.23 | Toledo Blade Sylvania launches drug court to combat epidemic of addiction

1.7.23 | WTOL-TV The easily missed warning signs of suicide

1.7.23 | Steubenville Herald-Star (Column) Gambling: Let’s keep it fun