Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Funding Opportunity

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and PreventionFIRST! are seeking partners to support the statewide rollout of Sources of Strength Ohio, an evidence-based suicide prevention program for elementary and secondary student populations. Click HERE to view the Request for Proposal document. Awardees will recruit schools to participate in Sources of Strength programs, provide technical assistance to local programs, assist with program implementation, and liaison between local and state partners. Candidates do not need to be trained in Sources of Strength to apply but must earn provisional certification during the state fiscal year 2022. Youth-led groups, not-for-profit organizations, schools, school partners, government organizations, and consultants are eligible to apply. Individual awards are expected to be $15,000. Questions? Please email evi.roberts@ohiospf.org or julie@prevention-first.org by Sept. 22. Responses to Frequently Asked Questions will be posted to the RFP webpage. The deadline to apply is Sept. 24

Ohio’s Hotel Industry Launches Initiative to Promote Use of Life- Saving Naloxone

In response to an increase in opioid overdoses, and to help save lives at hotel properties, Ohio’s hotel industry has launched an awareness and informational campaign aimed at getting as many hotels as possible to keep a supply of naloxone nasal spray on site, and to train hotel staff on its safe use in resuscitating individuals. The Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association (OHLA) effort was created in partnership with local initiatives and agencies, including the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board’s Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), and Governor DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative.

“Our industry is enthusiastic about promoting the use of this life-saving tool in businesses and enterprises of all types,” said OHLA President and CEO Joe Savarise. “It is safe and easy to use. Hotels around Ohio have already saved lives by having NARCAN® on site and being trained and prepared to use it.” By working with OhioMHAS, hotels will be able to obtain a supply of naloxone at no cost, and to legally use the prescription medicine in those businesses. Savarise said that hotels will also be encouraged to install a “NaloxBox” to keep the medicine secure, easily accessible and ready when needed. “Our goal is to make the NaloxBox a life-saving tool in hotels just like Automated External Defibrillators (AED) or fire extinguishers,” Savarise said. “Like those devices, the NaloxBox may never be used. But it will be a life-saver if it is needed.” Click HERE to read OHLA’s news release and HERE for related news coverage.