Fighting COVID-19, BWC Expands Indoor Air Quality Program to Include SUD Treatment Centers, ACFs

In the continuing effort to weaken COVID-19’s spread, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation’s Board of Directors has voted to expand the agency’s Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program to include substance use treatment centers, group homes, and others. Prior to the Board’s vote, the federally funded $28 million program was limited to nursing homes, assisted living centers, and adult day centers that invested in heating, air conditioning, and ventilation improvements that weaken COVID-19’s spread. The program offers up to $15,000 in reimbursement for eligible entities to inspect and assess their air quality needs and address those needs through portable air filtration systems, new filtration systems, maintenance on current systems, and other interventions implemented on or after March 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Launched in December, the program is funded by federal Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars and administered by BWC at Governor Mike DeWine’s request. Click HERE to view the full media announcement.

Ethical Considerations for Peer Recovery Supporter Dual Certification

The Department recognizes that some certified Peer Recovery Supporters (PRS) hold credentials from other credentialing boards such as the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board and the Chemical Dependency Professional Board. OhioMHAS is in support of holding a dual license and certification with clear delineation between the roles. When employed and serving in a dual role as a Peer Supporter and/or counselor, it is an ethical obligation of all dually credentialed individuals to communicate clearly to clients the role in which they are functioning. It is essential to create clear and understandable distinctions between the duties of a Peer Recovery Supporter (PRS) and another licensed role to avoid any compromise of ethical boundaries with any other license. A Peer Supporter must avoid serving a client in both roles. Peer Recovery Supporters are encouraged to consult with their supervisor(s), or OhioMHAS to clarify any dilemmas relating to professional practice. For more information, visit the OhioMHAS Peer Supporter web resource page or email ohiopeercertification@mha.ohio.gov.

Strong Families, Safe Communities Webinar Series

The Ohio Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Developmental Disabilities are pleased to announce a new webinar series as part of the Strong Families, Safe Communities initiative. All trainings are free and CEUs have been applied for. Upcoming trainings include:

 

Presented by Dr. Gokce Ergun, this webinar will provide a basic understanding of how prevalent FASD is and the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the unborn baby and discuss the importance of screening for FASD to prevent secondary disabilities and high misdiagnosis rate. Register HERE.

 

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, Aubrey Page will focus on de-escalation

strategies for children with brain-based disabilities for professionals to coach families and for families to coach themselves. Register HERE.

New Data Resources Available

The Ohio Department of Health Violence & Injury Prevention Section has published two new data resources. Click the links for more information.

• Suicide Demographics and Trends, Ohio, 2019

• Unintentional Fall Deaths Among Older Adults: Demographics and Trends, Ohio, 2019

Behavioral Health Training Institute (BHTI) Leadership Check-Up Series

The National Council for Behavioral Health has announced a new webinar series, “Behavioral Health Training Institute (BHTI) Leadership Check-Up Series: What We Can Learn from Crisis and Resiliency.” Please note: there is no registration process and the Zoom links and passwords for the webinars are available below. If you have any questions, please email Taslim van Hattum at TaslimvH@TheNationalCouncil.org.

 

Presented by Elizabeth Guroff, MA, LCMFT, Director, Trauma-Informed Services, National Council, this session will explore the concept of post-traumatic growth and how to harness it to emerge from this crisis in a positive direction, both personally and professionally.

Meeting ID: 930 1263 7998

Password: 410493

 

Presented by Joan Kenerson King, RN, MSN, Integrated Health Senior Consultant, National Council for Behavioral Health and Elizabeth Guroff, MA, LCMFT, Director, Trauma-Informed Services, National Council for Behavioral Health, this webinar will explore the range of individual and collective responses to trauma and practice strategies to effectively respond to stress and engage in self-care.

Meeting ID: 976 0793 5933

Password: 623484

 

 

Presented by Tramaine EL-Amin, Assistant Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, National Council for Behavioral Health and Elizabeth Guroff, MA, LCMFT, Director, Trauma-Informed Services, National Council for Behavioral Health, this primer provides concrete tools and engagement with local mental health resources, national organizations, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addiction treatment and support.

Meeting ID: 937 6563 3909

Password: 459061

DEA Announces Launch of ‘Operation Engage’ Drug Prevention Initiative

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration this week announced the launch of Operation Engage, a new comprehensive law enforcement and drug use prevention initiative aimed at reducing drug misuse and overdose deaths. Operation Engage builds upon and replaces DEA’s 360 Strategy, which was exclusively aimed at reducing opioid misuse. Operation Engage allows DEA’s field divisions to customize drug use prevention strategies and resources to target the drug that presents the greatest threat to public health and safety in a local community. The 11 participating field divisions in year one (FY 2021) are Boston, Detroit, El Paso, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.

In the News

2.25.21 | Findlay Courier Fighting fear, isolation

2.25.21 | SpectrumNews1 Life after prison: CleanTurn gives ex-offenders second chance

2.25.21 | Findlay Courier Class helps loved ones of substance abusers

2.25.21 | Cleveland.com Coping through COVID: Pandemic focuses funding on mental health, but advocates say more is needed

2.25.21 | GlobeNewswire CareSource donates $1M to increase behavioral health treatment options in Ohio

2.24.21 | WCMH-TV Fighting the stigma of mental health, suicide among Black families

2.24.21 | WKEF-TV Montgomery County ADAMHS addresses rise in alcohol abuse amid pandemic

2.24.21 | Greenville Daily Advocate Mirror of truth, moment to reflect. Eating disorders on the rise amid COVID.

2.24.21 | New Philadelphia Times-Reporter Hope Line offers guidance for addiction

2.24.21 | WDTN-TV Five Dayton-area law enforcement agencies partner with mental health intervention specialists

2.24.21 | Chillicothe Gazette Integrated Services planning to transform elementary school into supportive housing

2.24.21 | Pomeroy Daily Sentinel Mental health organization launches

2.24.21 | Brookings Institution Educators are key in protecting student mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

2.23.21 | The New York Times For some teens, its been a year of anxiety and trips to the E.R.

2.23.21 | WCPO-TV COVID-19 pandemic created barriers to recovery for victims of opioid epidemic

2.23.21 | Loveland Magazine Calls to Clermont County 528-SAVE Crisis Hotline increase

2.23.21 | WTVG-TV Local judges work to combat mental health issues in the court system

2.22.21 | Youngstown Business Journal Mercy Health adds new depression treatment to suite of services