>>> ONIC, RecoveryOhio Participate in Coordinated Drug, Outreach Saturation Event

More than 13 tri-state law enforcement and treatment agencies joined the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) and RecoveryOhio in Lawrence County Friday for the first time to conduct a coordinated drug/outreach saturation event. Dubbed Operation BRIDGE, the effort was aimed at removing drugs and traffickers from the streets as well as connecting individuals with substance use disorder to the help and treatment they need. The Lawrence County Drug and Major Crimes Unit, which operates as part of the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s office, sought to be proactive in addressing the drug scourge in southern Ohio and requested the surge. The two-day enforcement surge combined the efforts of drug task forces, law enforcement agencies, quick response teams, and harm reduction and treatment providers from Ohio, West, Virginia, and Kentucky for a comprehensive approach to the addiction crisis in southern Ohio. Law enforcement agencies fanned out across Lawrence County and other major interdiction routes coming into Lawrence County to stop the drugs flowing through the area and to nab the couriers responsible for supplying drugs to the tri-state. RecoveryOhio supported the mission by working with local agencies to have 150 Naloxone kits and 150 prescription drug disposal bags on hand. These prescription drug disposal bags were available at a drug take back effort that was held in the community during the saturation event. The Lawrence County Drug and Major Crimes Unit assumed responsibility for storing and destroying all the collected pills. Click HERE to read the full media release.

>>> OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss Visits Hancock County

On Friday, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director Lori Criss visited Hancock County to learn more about local partnerships and needs. Director Criss spent most of her time in Findlay at the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services, where she met with members of the Board, leadership from the county Opiate and Addictions Task Force (pictured above), local treatment providers, local public health officials and staff from area schools. Following her meeting at the Board office, Director Criss toured Focus Recovery and Wellness Community, a recovery community organization offering free support and resources to anyone impacted by mental health, addiction, or trauma issues. Click HERE to read news coverage of the visit in the Findlay Courier.

Pictured (l-r): Precia Stuby, director, Hancock County ADAMHS Board; Mark C. Miller (Task Force); William Kose (Task Force); Jamie Decker (Task Force); Debra Parker (Task Force); Lori Criss, director, OhioMHAS; Gary Bright (Task Force); and Mark Rimelspach, chair, Hancock County ADAMHS Board.

>>> Reposting: Expanding Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis RFA

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is accepting applications from community mental health agencies interested in implementing a new program aimed at expanding access to coordinated specialty care (CSC) for first episode psychosis (FEP) via utilization of telehealth services in coordination with specialists from the EPICENTER program at Ohio State University’s (OSU) Wexner Medical Center Harding Hospital (MHA-FY22-Treatment-First Episode Psychosis-10). OhioMHAS seeks to choose two community mental health agencies that will serve as pilot locations for the initiation of the program during its first year. The goal is to expand CSC for FEP to areas of the state where a first episode psychosis program does not currently exist. OSU EPICENTER experts will provide ongoing training and implementation technical assistance free of charge. The pilot period for this project is July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023, and funding of up to $100,000 for each program is available to cover the cost of training and non-billable time required to engage in the project. Applications must be submitted to CSCFEPVirtualTeam@mha.ohio.gov by 4:00 p.m. on May 20. All questions must be submitted to CSCFEPVirtualTeam@mha.ohio.gov by 4:00 p.m. on May 16. Responses to frequently asked questions will be posted on the OhioMHAS Funding Opportunities webpage.

>>> BroadbandOhio: Telehealth RFP

BroadbandOhio is currently soliciting proposals for a statewide telehealth administrator to help continue Governor Mike DeWine’s efforts to expand telehealth throughout the state in Ohio’s K-12 School System. On March 20, 2020 Governor DeWine announced the launch of a telehealth pilot project to connect students with behavioral health providers in the Switzerland of Ohio School District in Monroe County. The objective is to connect the school district with behavioral health services while also providing high-speed internet connections to Ohioans who have been left behind. The project is currently in Phase Two, and is operational in two school districts. To learn more about this project, please visit: https://innovateohio.gov/priorities/resources/broadband/telehealth-blueprint.

BroadbandOhio is currently requesting proposals from contractors to provide the technical expertise to help update existing technology infrastructure in school settings to high quality, real-time, secure video conferencing technology in schools and has the experience or can partner with an entity that has the experience, to facilitate and obtain behavioral health services from OhioMHAS-certified community behavioral health providers. Responses are due by 2 p.m. on June 21.

>>> Special Considerations for the Reentry Community when Addressing Substance Use Disorders – May 12

Relink.org is hosting a Special Considerations for the Reentry Community When Addressing Substance Use Disorder webinar on May 12 at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Bryan Borland of Basecamp Recovery, Angi Lee with Safe Harbor, and Ruchelle Pride with the Office of Justice Policy and Programs will discuss special considerations for the reentry community when addressing substance use disorder (SUD). Registrants for the webinar will have the opportunity to ask questions about addiction treatment and recovery during a live Q&A session.

>>> OYLPN: So, You Want to be an Adult Ally Webinar – May 16

The Ohio Youth Led Prevention Network’s (OYLPN) Youth Council Connection Committee is hosting a So, You Want to be an Adult Ally webinar on May 16 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Participants will learn the definition of allyship and how to earn an invitation to become an adult ally to youth. Through positive relationship building and effective communication approaches with youth, learn what it truly means to be an adult ally and working together toward impactful change.

>>> ASAP 2022 Drug Summit – May 20

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Coalition will host its 2022 Drug Summit “Recovery: It Takes a Community,” on May 20 at the Kent State University-Trumbull Campus in Warren. Counselors, social workers, chemical dependency professionals, nurses, recovery support providers, community advocates and anyone interested in learning about how they can impact the drug epidemic. Cost is $60. Click the link for more information, including agenda and registration details.

>>> NAMI Ohio Parent Advocacy Connection RFA Opportunity Informational Session – May 23

The Parent Advocacy Connection (PAC) Program, led by NAMI Ohio, is seeking organizations for SFY23 to host PAC Parent Advocates and implement the PAC Program within an assigned region. NAMI Ohio will host an Informational Session on May 23 at 10:00 a.m. for organizations to learn more about PAC and the funding opportunity. To join the conversation, click the link above at the time of the webinar and enter the passcode: 253469. Please note that attendance for the Informational Session is required to access applications for interested organizations. For any questions, please email Raven Oglesby raven@namiohio.org.

>>> Men’s Mental Health: Help-Seeking Barriers and Enablers – May 25

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) will host a Men’s Mental Health: Help-Seeking Barriers and Enablers webinar on May 25 from 10:00-11:15 a.m. From 2009 to 2019, nearly 80 percent of Ohioans who died by suicide were men. This knowledge prompted OSPF to fund a research project led by Tyler Hudson, a veteran, therapist, and Ph.D. candidate at The Ohio State University. This Mental Health Awareness Month, join OSPF to learn about the results of Tyler’s research into men’s mental health and help-seeking behaviors. This 75-minute webinar will include clinical considerations for working with men, factors that affect men’s access to mental health resources, and recommendations on how to strengthen suicide prevention activities focused on men. Cost is $25.

>>> Prevention Action Alliance to Host Two-Part Communication Training

Prevention Action Alliance, with support from the OhioMHAS, is pleased to offer a two-part series of communication trainings to be held on May 18 and June 1. Each course will offer 1.5 hours of Communications (P3) training for prevention specialists. Click the links below for more information and to register. Questions? Please email James Syphax at jsyphax@preventionactionalliance.org.

Session 1: May 18 | 10:00-11:30 a.m. will offer information on hosting effective meetings, creating engaging presentations, and delivering impactful trainings.

Session 2: June 1 | 10:00-11:30 a.m. will offer advanced information on facilitating inclusive meetings in a hybrid environment, nurturing virtual relationships, and professional branding.

>>> Sources of Strength Ohio Booster Trainings for K-2 – May 11 and June 17

Sources of Strength Ohio will host two booster trainings to certify Ohio Coaches in the new curricula for kindergarten through second grade. Individuals who have already completed the two-day Coaches training for the 3-6 grade curriculum are eligible to sign up for one of the booster trainings scheduled for May 11 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. or June 17 from 9:00-1:00 p.m. Click HERE to register for the May 11 booster training and click HERE to register for the June 17 training.

>>> Suicide (Prevention) in the LGBTQ+ Community – June 8

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation will host Suicide (Prevention) in the LGBTQ+ Community on June 8 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Researcher Andréa Kaniuka will detail risk and protective factors in the LGBTQ+ community and describe the role of community members and professionals in LGBTQ+ suicide prevention and intervention. Cost is $25. Continuing education will be provided for prevention, addiction counseling, social work, marriage and family counseling, and psychologists.

>>> Ohio Youth Leadership Forum – June 13-17

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and the Center for Disability Empowerment will host a Columbus Regional Youth Leadership Forum on June 13-17 at The Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University. The Forum is a weeklong career leadership training program for 11th and 12th grade high school students with disabilities. Students interested in self-advocacy and leadership development are encouraged to attend. For more information, please email zwenk@disabilityempowerment.net or call 614.575.8055. Additional regional forums will also be held in Canton, Cleveland, Dayton/Cincinnati and Toledo. Click the link above for more information. 

>>> Save the Date! 33rd Annual UMADAOP Statewide Conference – Sept. 14-16

Mark your calendar! The Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program of Franklin County has announced that it will host the 33rd UMADAOP Statewide Conference Sept. 14-16 at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center. This year’s theme is “Ujima: Be the Village. A Time for Action.” Registration information will be available soon. Questions? Please email umadaopfranklincounty@gmail.com or call 614.227.9694.

>>> NIAAA's Alcohol and Your Pregnancy Brochure Now Available

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has released a new Alcohol and Your Pregnancy brochure. This resource provides answers to frequently asked questions about alcohol and drinking during pregnancy and describes conditions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. The brochure is also available in Spanish. Click HERE to learn more about what Ohio is doing to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

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4.25.22 | CNN How 15 minutes of mental health hygiene can change your whole day

4.25.22 | Marietta Times (Editorial) Address the root cause of addiction

4.24.22 | Warren Tribune-Chronicle Beyond the OD numbers. Drugs weave way into many crimes.

4.24.22 | Fostoria Review-Times Recovery center offers help for men

4.24.22 | Toledo Blade State of mind: Are psychedelics the next frontier of mental health care?

4.24.22 | WLIO-TV Artists in Lima helping to break the stigma and decriminalize addiction

4.23.22 | Findlay Courier State mental health director impressed at local partnerships

4.23.22 | The New York Times ‘It’s life or death’: The mental health crisis among U.S. teens

4.23.22 | Lima News For suicide loss survivors, a support group teaches acceptance

4.23.22 | Springfield News-Sun New opioids banned in Ohio after DeWine’s executive order

4.22.22 | Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune Taking the first step