NewsNow - 03.16.2022

>>> Brain Awareness Week March 14-20

Brain Awareness Week is a nationwide effort to promote enthusiasm and support for brain science. Learn more about resources and activities created by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to help you share the excitement of brain research with your community. Join NIMH and the National Museum of Health and Medicine on Saturday, March 19 for a virtual Brain Awareness Day program.

>>> Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (Virtual) Conference – March 21-23

The National Center of Excellence for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation at Georgetown University is hosting its annual Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Conference virtually on March 21-23. This free conference is specifically geared towards IECMHC consultants, supervisors, managers, consultees, parents, leadership, and funders, but all are invited to attend. Participants will access a range of presentations related to implementing infant and early childhood mental health consultation and promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion for infants, children, families, and the workforce. Presentations include Ohio’s IECMH Journey From Logic to Outcomes; Inspiring Equity in IECMH; and IECMH in Appalachia. These sessions have been developed to showcase the outstanding achievements in Ohio’s statewide IECMH program, and to enhance knowledge among the participants on the most important elements to design, implement, evaluate and sustain a state of- the-art IECMH program. Click the link above for more information and to register.

>>> OMH Announces Theme for April’s National Minority Health Month 2022

The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) will celebrate National Minority Health Month 2022 with the theme, Give Your Community a Boost! Throughout April, OMH will promote #BoostYourCommunity, a social and digital media campaign to empower audiences to debunk misinformation and support vaccination in their communities. Activities and materials throughout the month will highlight the overall message that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic in one's community and the importance of combating COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation. Equally important are the existing recommendations to prevent COVID transmission, such as physical distancing, use of well-fitting masks, adequate ventilation, and avoidance of crowded indoor spaces. Click HERE to learn more.

>>> Ohio Adult Allies Regional Learning Collaborative: Engaging Youth to Create Positive Change – April 8

Ohio Adult Allies and the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network will host a statewide regional learning collaborative session “Engaging Youth to Create Positive Change on April 8 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. This session will explore the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and how to engage young people in every step of the process. Networking activities will provide opportunities to learn and share creative and innovative ways to build relationships for positive change. Participants will have a basic level comprehension of the SPF and its value, will identify the key sections of the SPF and how to engage young people in the SPF process, and be able to apply the activities presented to more effectively engage with their local coalition. Click HERE to register.

>>> Summit Victim Assistance Academy Hybrid Learning Course

The Victim Assistance Program of Summit County, through the Summit Victim Assistance Academy, will be hosting a spring Essentials of Victim Advocacy training series. This program is the only nationally approved comprehensive online and in-person training of its kind offered in the state of Ohio, for assisting individuals in becoming a comprehensive National Credentialed Advocate. Participants who complete the 44-hour hybrid learning course will become equipped to use National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) crisis intervention model to assist individuals impacted by victimization or traumatic events. In addition, participants will increase their knowledge about the judicial system, victims’ rights as well as resources available for both victims and the advocate providing the service. Click HERE to see training dates and to register.

>>> Recognizing and Responding to a First Episode of Psychosis Twitter Chat – May 12

The Ohio Program for Campus Safety & Mental Health (OPCSMH) and the Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center is hosting a “Recognizing and Responding to a First Episode of Psychosis” Twitter chat on May 12 from2:00-3:00 p.m. This live chat will provide opportunities to learn and chat about:

Identifying signs and symptoms of a first episode of psychosis
Encouraging people to seek help for psychosis as soon as symptoms begin
Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis treatment programs
Providing culturally responsive care when working with students living with psychosis
Facilitating referrals to community-based Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis treatment programs in Ohio.

To participate, visit the OPCSMH twitter page: @neomedopcsmh at 2:00 p.m. on May 12. The OPCSMH moderator tweets questions one-by-one giving time for participants join in the discussion. To request questions in advance, please contact opcsmh@neomed.edu.

>>> SAMHSA Rolls Out New 988 Website

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has rolled out a new 988 website. The website is designed to serve as your one-stop-shop for 988 resources from SAMHSA, including a 988 partner toolkit. The partner toolkit is intended for SAMHSA’s 988 implementation partners (crisis call centers, state mental health programs, substance use treatment providers, behavioral health systems, and others) to provide key messages, FAQs, and more information about what 988 is and how it will work. As a reminder, you can find Ohio-specific planning and implementation progress and resources on the OhioMHAS website.

In the News

3.15.22 | Lorain Morning Journal Lorain County Crisis Receiving Center to begin design phase of construction

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3.15.22 | WCPO-TV Suburban America grappling with drug use more than ever before

3.15.22 | Findlay Courier Mental health workforce shrinking

3.15.22 | WKSU 89.7 CommQuest offers walk-in mental health screenings to reach more people in need

3.15.22 | Good Morning America New study shows rise in kids diagnosed with mental health conditions

3.14.22 | Canton Repository As teen mental health, substance use diagnoses rise in Stark County, providers scramble to help

3.14.22 | Lisbon Morning-Journal Video gaming – addiction or not?

3.14.22 | Toledo Blade Lucas County jail project receives $2M in federal funding

3.14.22 | WTVG-TV Recovering addict has been helping other gambling addicts in our community for more than a decade

3.14.22 | HealthDay Some teens are overdosing with meds prescribed for ADHD, anxiety