NewsNow - 03.08.2022

>>> Courtney Patel Named CEO of Summit Behavioral Healthcare

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Courtney Patel as Chief Executive Officer of Summit Behavioral Healthcare (SBH), effective March 14. Patel replaces Liz Banks who retired after more than 20 years of service to the State of Ohio. As CEO, Patel will oversee approximately 450 employees and be responsible for the well-being, care, and treatment of 291 patients at the Cincinnati psychiatric hospital. In addition to overseeing day-to-day hospital operations, Patel will also manage the hospital’s relationships with the county Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Boards in the southwestern Ohio catchment area served by the hospital.

Patel has served diverse populations from all over the U.S. during her career. She began her career in the behavioral health field as a Mental Health Technician for the Boys and Girls Home of Alaska in Fairbanks. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Operations and Quality at Haven Behavioral Hospital of Dayton. She previously worked as Director of Risk Management and Performance Improvement at Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Patel holds a master’s degree in administration and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, both from Central Michigan University. She also holds certifications as a Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) Trainer and NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance) Crisis Response Team Member.

>>> Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund Pilot Program

In partnership with Stepping Up Ohio, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, OhioMHAS has set aside approximately $115,000 to pilot a state-funded Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund. The pilot program will operate as an insurance program for eligible landlords who rent to individuals and families who have long histories of criminal justice involvement, poor rental histories, and mental illness and co-occurring substance use. This Risk Mitigation Claims Fund will encourage landlords to reduce restrictions and feel confident that their investment of rental property will be protected while working with local providers to house people with mental health issues who have histories of incarceration. The counties participating in the pilot include: Cuyahoga, Delaware, Hancock, Lorain, Lucas, Ross, Summit and Wood. Claims reimbursement will begin March 14. For more information about the pilot program, please contact Kaitlin Waggoner LCDCIII, OhioMHAS Recovery Housing Administrator, at LandlordClaims@mha.ohio.gov.

>>> HPIO Forum to Address Ohio’s Health Workforce Shortages – March 24

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio is hosting a free online forum on March 24 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., titled Charting a Path Forward: Addressing Ohio’s Health Workforce Shortages. This online forum will explore the causes of the health workforce shortages in Ohio, how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the existing workforce crisis and potential policies and strategies for increasing and diversifying the workforce. The forum will include a panel discussion featuring OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss and Ohio Department of Aging Director Ursel McElroy. Other speakers include: Teresa Lampl, Chief Executive Officer, The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services Providers; Dr. Michelle Durham, Vice Chair of Education, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center; Ankit Sanghavi, Executive Director, Texas Health Institute; and Brian Posey, Senior Legislative Representative, AARP. Click the link for more information and to register.

>>> OhioRISE Community and Provider Training Module 2 – March 29

The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) invites you to attend Module 2 of the OhioRISE community and provider training series on March 29 from 12:30-5:00 p.m. to help you prepare for implementing this important program. This module will highlight referrals and care coordination, and system of care integration. All local system partners and providers (including staff at all levels) that serve multisystem youth are encouraged to attend. A recording will be available on the OhioRISE webpage following the live training session for those unable to attend. Office hours will be held on April 6 from 1:00-2:00 p.m., April 7 from 9:00-10:00 a.m., and April 8 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. to provide opportunities to ask questions to OhioRISE subject matter experts. Click HERE to register to attend the Module 2 training.

ODM is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact ODM’s ADA Coordinator at 614.995.9981/TTY 711, Fax 614.644.1434, or email: ODM_EEO_EmployeeRelations@medicaid.ohio.gov at least three business days prior to the applicable scheduled meeting. Further information can be found here: Notice of Nondiscrimination.

ODM will send information about the upcoming modules 3 and 4 soon, which cover the following training topics:

IT Systems, Enrollment, Billing, and Claims
Systems Engagement - Local and Statewide

OhioRISE will also offer trainings for community partners between now and go-live for child protection, juvenile justice, developmental disability, managed care and providers, the CANS IT system, and hospitals. Watch for additional communications from ODM in the coming months regarding trainings for other elements of the Ohio Medicaid Next Generation program, including the Provider Network Management module/Centralized Credentialing, Fiscal Intermediary, and the Single Pharmacy Benefit Manager. Direct any additional OhioRISE questions to OhioRISE@medicaid.ohio.gov.

>>> Registration Open: 13th Annual RSVP Conference – March 30

Registration is now available for the 13th Annual RSVP Conference hosted by the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County and Disability Rights Ohio on March 30 at the Ashland University Convocation Center. This year’s conference features Sam Quinones, The New York Times bestselling author of Dreamland and recently released The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth. Click HERE to view the full agenda and to register for this in-person conference.

>>> Tri-State Trauma Network Series: Impact of Death Sentencing and Execution on Family Members

The Tri-State Trauma Network is partnering with the Texas After Violence Project to host a free Impact of Death Sentencing and Execution on Family Members lunch and learn series throughout the month of April. Sessions will be held every Thursday, beginning April 7 and concluding on April 28. Click the link for more information and to register. Questions? Please email Melissa Adamchik at madamchik@tristatetraumanetwork.org.

>>> Virtual Pediatric Mental Health Symposium 2022 – May 13

Cincinnati Children’s Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry will host its annual Pediatric Mental Health Symposium virtually on May 13. This annual professional education event is for those who care for or interact with children and adolescents with mental health needs. This year, the Symposium focus topic is “Motivational Interviewing.” Cost is $25. Click HERE for more information and to register.

>>> Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center Training Institute Schedule

Registration is now open for Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center’s 2022 Training Institute. The highlighted speaker event is titled Protected but Not Protected: Addressing Military Sexual Trauma featuring Natalie Khawam, attorney for the Vanessa Guillen Family and Heath Phillips, U.S. Navy Veteran and military sexual assault survivor. This training series offers nine training events and 23 continuing education credits for Ohio Counselors and Social Workers. All trainings aim to increase knowledge of providing trauma-informed care services to survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Click the link above for more information and to register. Questions? Please contact Ashley Kline at 330.374.0740 or email ashleyk@hope-healing.org.

>>> Adult Advocacy Centers Trainings

Adult Advocacy Centers has announced the following free trainings. Click the links for more information and to register. Please email training@adultadvocacycenters.org with questions.

Trauma-Informed Care | June 10 and Oct. 14

Diversity & Intersectionality Training Through a Disability Lens | June 15-17, Sept. 7-9, and Nov. 16-18

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3.5.22 | WFMJ-TV New therapy is now offered to help treat depression