>>> OhioMHAS at the 2022 Ohio State Fair

After a two-year hiatus, the Ohio State Fair is back and better than ever. Rediscover the Ohio State Fair, a favorite family summer tradition since 1850, now through Aug. 7. Be sure to visit the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) information booth (Booth #307) and the Beat the Stigma booth (Booth #19) in the air-conditioned Marketplace Building. Test your knowledge of mental health, substance use disorders, and stigma by stepping into a replica of the trapezoid featured in the Beat the Stigma TV gameshow PSAs. Chat with OhioMHAS staff, participate in the Governor’s Office of Children Initiatives passport activities for a chance to win cool prizes, stock up on educational literature and get some fun SWAG (stress balls, pens, keychains, superhero pencils and capes, and more.) Click HERE to see more photos from opening day and HERE to read an Opening Day recap from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. 

>>> Registration Now Open for the Ohio Healthy Youth Environments Survey – OHYES!

Students’ mental health needs are at an all-time high due to the pandemic. They need mental health and environmental supports to accelerate learning and experience academic success. OHYES! is a free, voluntary, web-based survey schools and communities can use to assess students, grades 7-12, mental health and at-risk behaviors. Districts and schools are encouraged to use the survey data to identify and address specific challenges faced by their students. The data can inform school improvement, fiscal and community partnership decisions related to strengthening their multi-tiered system of support. OHYES! recently emailed each Superintendent a unique link to enroll, and they can enroll or decline through Sept. 13, 2022. Principals will be able to enroll Sept. 14 – Nov. 21, 2022. The OHYES! can be administered from Sept. 12 through Dec. 21, 2022. Results will be available in March 2023. For more information about the survey, visit the OHYES! website; watch this YouTube video; or explore the FAQs. Please email Jessica Kickel at info@ohyes.ohio.gov with questions.

OhioMHAS, ODE to Host OHYES! Webinar – Aug. 5

The Ohio Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and Education (ODE) invite members of state support teams, educational service centers, local mental health boards and community organizations, to attend a webinar on encouraging schools to participate in the Ohio Healthy Youth Environments Survey (OHYES!). This webinar will explain how schools can administer and utilize the OHYES! Survey. Participants will receive materials to use with their school and district administrators to present the reasons to say YES to OHYES! Join using this Microsoft Team link on Aug. 5 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Please email Jessica Kickel at info@ohyes.ohio.gov with questions.

>>> Governor DeWine Announces Expanded Eligibility for Utility Assistance Program

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine this week announced that more Ohioans are now eligible for electric and natural gas assistance from the Ohio Department of Development and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). On Wednesday, Governor DeWine signed Executive Order 2022-12D, which authorizes the Ohio Department of Development to work in partnership with PUCO to implement emergency rules that increase the income threshold for Ohio's Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The threshold will change from the current 150 percent of the federal poverty level to 175 percent. The Ohio Department of Development has jurisdiction over PIPP for electric service, and PUCO has jurisdiction over PIPP rules for natural gas service. PIPP helps eligible Ohioans manage their energy bills year-round. Utility payments are based on a percentage of the monthly household income and are consistent year-round. Customers that make their payments on-time and in-full may have the balance of their bills eliminated. Click HERE to read the full announcement

>>> OhioMHAS 340 Review Stakeholder Workgroup – Public Notice of August 23 Meeting

The next meeting of the 340 Review Stakeholder Workgroup will be Aug. 23 from 10:00 a.m.-2:15 p.m. at the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Shipley Building at 1970 W. Broad St., Columbus. Because of space limitations, members of the public who wish to join the meeting can do so virtually (click HERE) or by calling in 614.721.2972 (use meeting passcode: 512966878#). A copy of the agenda will be available on the 340 Review Stakeholder Workgroup webpage, and a recording of the meeting will also be posted online. Please direct any questions to 340ReviewWorkgroup@mha.ohio.gov. Media interested in attending should RSVP to eric.wandersleben@mha.ohio.gov by 9:00 a.m. on Aug. 23.

>>> Responsible Reporting on Suicide Webinar – Aug. 31

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) is hosting a Responsible Reporting on Suicide webinar on Aug. 31 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Reporting after a suicide death can increase the likelihood of suicide contagion or reduce the likelihood of additional suicides, depending on how the death is discussed in the news or social media. Join Dr. John Ackerman from the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital for a rundown on the relationship between reporting and suicide rates, responsible reporting guidelines for journalists and non-journalists alike, and how suicide prevention champions can encourage media partners to adopt these guidelines. The webinar is free for OSPF members and $25 for non-members. Click the link for more information and to register.

>>> 2022 Veterans Suicide Prevention Conference – Sept. 13

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, in partnership with OhioMHAS, the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, and Gilbane Building Company, will host the 2022 Veterans Suicide Prevention Conference on Sept. 13 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. Sebastian Junger, internationally acclaimed, best-selling author of WAR, The Perfect Storm, A Death in Belmont, and Fire will provide keynote remarks. There is no cost to attend. Click the link for more information and to register.

>>> Registration Open: 33rd Annual UMADAOP Statewide Conference – Sept. 14-16

Registration is now open for the 33rd Annual UMADAOP Statewide Conference. This year’s conference, UJIMA: BE THE VILLAGE, A Time for Action, will be held Sept. 14-16 at Nationwide Conference Center in Powell. Renowned author, poet, and civil rights activist, Nikki Giovanni will provide keynote remarks. Cost is $150. If seeking CEUs you will need to provide your licensure number at the time of registration. If you have any questions, please call 614.227.9694. Click the link above for more information and to register.

>>> Tri-State Trauma Network 8th Annual Fall Conference – Oct. 10

Registration is open for Tristate Trauma Network's 8th Annual Fall Conference: Trauma-Informed Care: Honoring Trauma Survivors' Unique Needs & Gifts which will take place in-person on World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10 at the Receptions Event Center in Erlanger, KY. The conference features trauma experts from Singapore, Texas, and the Greater Cincinnati region. Early bird registration, open through Aug. 1, is $100 for TTN members and $140 for non-TTN members. This includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, swag bags, exposure to various vendors, and 6 hours of continuing education credits.

>>> DBT in Schools Training – Oct. 26-28

Prevention Action Alliance (PAA) and DBT in Schools, LLC, will host a DBT Skills in Schools: Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A) training on Oct. 26-28. The DBT STEPS-A curriculum is designed to help adolescents develop coping strategies and decision-making abilities under emotional distress. The curriculum is based on the skills of comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that have shown to be effective with both adults and adolescents experiencing mild to severe levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Teachers, school mental health staff, and administrators serving youth ages 12-19 in grades 6-12 are encouraged to attend this virtual training. Click the link for more information and to register. 

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