NewsNow - 07.01.2022

>>> Governor DeWine Announces Launch of OhioRISE

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced the official launch of Ohio Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence (OhioRISE), a new Ohio Medicaid specialized managed care behavioral health program for young people with the most complex needs. Nearly 5,500 children and youth can access services immediately. OhioRISE builds on work the administration began in 2019 that has helped more than 800 families obtain care and avoid the heartbreaking possibility of giving up their child to a children’s services agency. Launching OhioRISE is another huge step forward in achieving the governor’s vision of ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Through a partnership with Aetna Better Health of Ohio, Medicaid’s OhioRISE program addresses longstanding gaps in care and coordination that often result in families having to navigate complex, often siloed systems on their own. In the most unfortunate circumstances, these gaps and lack of coordination have resulted in families relinquishing custody of their child so they can access much-needed behavioral healthcare services.

The program features a new statewide network of care management entities that operate under the OhioRISE plan and serve as community-based experts in navigating and coordinating care. OhioRISE also aims to keep more families together by creating access to new and enhanced, evidence-based mental health services. The Ohio Department of Medicaid has been working with partner state agencies to identify youth eligible to start in OhioRISE immediately. Proactively enrolled children and youth include those currently in custody of a children services agency who are receiving intensive residential treatment and youth who were recently admitted for inpatient hospital care. OhioRISE is expected to grow and expand access to care in its first year. By the end of year one, Ohio Medicaid expects to enroll up to 50,000 children and youth with new, specialized services and support. Ohio Medicaid will work closely with Aetna Better Health of Ohio to continuously improve the program to ensure Ohio’s children and families receive quality care that leads to fulfilling lives. OhioRISE is a cornerstone of Governor DeWine’s Children’s Initiative and is governed by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and Governor DeWine’s Family and Children First Cabinet Council. Families interested in learning about eligibility should contact Aetna OhioRISE Member Hotline at 833.711.0773.

Important Information for OhioRISE Behavioral Health Providers:

Ohio Medicaid has created additional tools and resources for behavioral health providers supporting this important program.

Click HERE to find an info graph summarizing today’s OhioRISE launch announcement.
The OhioRISE Launch Information page is a terrific source for regular updates on the program and implementation. Bookmark this on your browser for quick access.
If you have any questions, please reach out to OhioRISE@medicaid.ohio.gov or attend OhioRISE implementation open office hours, available every Tuesday from 2-3 p.m. starting July 5 to Aug. 30. Click HERE to join the office hours.

See what OhioRISE partners are saying about the program:

“OhioRISE is both a culmination and a beginning. It is a once in a generation innovation that builds on decades of what we know about effective, community-based interventions for kids and families. We know that we can have great behavioral health services in our communities, but if they are not accessible or families are too overwhelmed, they are of little use. OhioRISE brings us the process to wrap our arms around our kids and families and give them the care and access they deserve, with a consistency of experience across the state that is unprecedented.”

Philip D. Atkins, Chief Care Coordination Officer / Vice President Harbor, and OhioRISE Care Management Entity

“Cincinnati Children’s HealthVine is excited and proud to partner with the Ohio Department of Medicaid and Aetna Better Health of Ohio in the OhioRISE program. OhioRISE represents a tremendous investment in mental health services for the children in Ohio that need it the most. We appreciate the commitment of Governor DeWine and Director Corcoran to ensuring children are a priority in our state.”

Steve Davis, President & CEO Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and OhioRISE Care Management Entity

>>> Governor DeWine Announces $1.3 Million for Statewide First Responder Wellness Programs

On Tuesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced enhanced support for the wellness needs of first responders in Ohio. As part of the new Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program, Governor DeWine is awarding approximately $1.3 million to three statewide programs that focus specifically on the unique wellness concerns of law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and others who routinely respond to traumatic incidents.

Entities receiving grants in the first round of the Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program include:

Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation will receive a grant of $593,950 to train first responder personnel in the evidence-based Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention curriculum to help them become aware of the warning signs, risk factors, and situations that may cause someone to have suicidal thoughts. The foundation will offer train-the-trainer instructor courses so that first responders can educate their peers.
First Responders' Bridge will receive a grant of $455,000 to offer free, confidential retreats for Ohio first responders and their significant others who are experiencing depression, anxiety, and/or post-traumatic stress from tragedies and other stressors experienced on the job. Retreats will include support from clinicians who focus on serving first responders, peers who have experienced traumatic events firsthand, chaplains, and other volunteers.
Ohio ASSIST will receive a grant of $363,010 to conduct post-critical-incident seminars that address the mental wellness of Ohio's first responder community. The programming will focus on mindfulness and resilience, and it will also help first responders understand how on-the-job stress impacts them and their personal relationships.

The Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program is administered by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and will offer a total of approximately $75 million in funding for initiatives that support wellness programs addressing mental, physical, and emotional health issues unique to first responders; recruitment and retention efforts to restore workforce levels; onboarding and training costs; and explorer programs to engage young adults about first responder careers. Applications for future grant awards are currently under review and will be announced in the coming months.

>>> 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Launches July 16

The 988 National Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline launches nationally and in Ohio on July 16, 2022. From that day forward, Ohioans can call 988 for any behavioral health crisis. While national and statewide 988 public awareness campaigns will not begin until 2023, as local public-serving organizations and community agencies consider opportunities to educate their residents about the 988 service, key messages can include:

Remember – there is hope and help. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or addiction related crisis that is non-life-threatening (thoughts of suicide, emotional distress, or substance use/addiction), call, chat or text 988 for free, 24/7, confidential support. If you or someone you know is in immediate, life-threatening danger, call 911.
Call, text or chat 988 for a mental health, addiction, or suicide crisis. For police, fire, or emergency rescue, call 911.

OhioMHAS and SAMHSA have made several resources available to help communities and stakeholders share information about 988. More information can be found at:

Ohio Resources - https://mha.ohio.gov/988
National SAMHSA Toolkit - https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/partner-toolkit
When to Call 988 vs When to Call 911 - https://mha.ohio.gov/static/AboutUs/Priorities/988vs911.pdf
SAMHSA just released new 988 printable wallet cards, magnets, posters, and safety plan forms on the Partner Toolkit. SAMHSA provides organizations the ability to order limited supplies from the SAMHSA Store. If you need larger orders than SAMHSA can send, you can use the printer-ready files to make your own. For those who need just a few copies of an item, you can print those using the simple PDF download.

>>> Hundreds Attend Ohio’s 2022 Recovery Celebration

On June 28, hundreds of Ohioans in recovery joined the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health, Addiction Services, Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Boards from throughout Ohio, and Peg's Foundation, in downtown Columbus for Ohio’s 2022 Recovery Celebration: Growing Stronger Together. During the event individuals celebrated their recovery as they engaged with empowering speakers, activities, food, and entertainment throughout the day. Ohio PRO, Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery, NAMI Ohio, and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation also participated in the event, providing resources for individuals and family members in attendance. Click HERE to view more photos from the celebration.

>>> Creative Performance Management in Human Services – July 12

The Ohio Children’s Alliance is hosting a virtual Creative Performance Management in Human Services workshop on July 12 from 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. This workshop will cover the most important theories of employee motivation and how they relate to improved job satisfaction and morale. This virtual session will be interactive, utilizing guided group discussion, lecturette, video clips and break-out rooms to discuss and review interesting relevant case studies. Cost is $49 for Alliance members; $69 for non-members. Click HERE to view all upcoming Alliance trainings.

>>> Call for Proposals and Save the Date: Sixth Annual FASD Forum – Sept. 9

Save the Date! As part of FASD Prevention & Awareness Month in September, Ohio’s Statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Steering Committee will host the Sixth Annual FASD Forum: FASD Through a Trauma Lens on Sept. 9 (International FASD Awareness Day) at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel. The planning committee is currently seeking workshop proposals. The deadline to submit a proposal is July 11. Click the link for more conference information and instructions on how to submit a proposal. Registration for the Forum will open in July.

>>> NIMH Study: Feelings of Detachment After Trauma May Signal Worse Mental Health Outcomes

A new National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-supported study shows that experiencing persistent feelings of detachment following trauma is an early psychological and biological marker of worse mental health outcomes. Click HERE to learn more.

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