NewsNow - 09.07.2022

>>> Director Criss Attends OTP Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Lorain Correctional Institution

On Friday, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director Lori Criss and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new opiate treatment program at Lorain Correctional Institution (LorCI). The directors were joined by State Sen. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) staff from both departments, and Glenn W., an OTP patient who shared his personal recovery story. OhioMHAS, the recovery services provider for Ohio’s prisons, secured a $2.8 million, two-year contract with Community Medical Services (CMS) that expands the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program currently offered. The expansion provides a continuum of care for individuals with opiate use disorders across the criminal justice system. Under this new contract, incarcerated adults can start MAT treatment in the form of methadone and buprenorphine as soon as they arrive at a state prison, expanding upon the currently provided continuation of community treatment and reentry-based MAT services. Additional treatment services such as cognitive-behavioral programming will continue to be provided by OhioMHAS clinicians. By Oct. 1, 2022, all of Ohio’s incarcerated population will have the access to the induction of MAT services. Click HERE for more photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Pictured (l-r): OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss, ODRC Director Annette Chambers-Smith, LorCI Warden Jennifer Gillece Black, and Sen. Nathan Manning attended the ribbon cutting event today for the opiate treatment program at the Lorain Correctional Institution. Sen.Manning presented a proclamation from the Ohio Senate congratulating the facility on this significant accomplishment.

>>> Direct Care Workforce Recruitment Campaign Launches

OhioMHAS collaborated with the Ohio Departments of Health, Medicaid, Aging, and Developmental Disabilities to develop a public awareness campaign to showcase the rewarding career of being a direct care worker. This campaign “Looking for Meaningful Change? Direct Care is the Answer.” is being featured on TV, radio, social media, billboards, and other print materials. Ads encourage Ohioans to consider direct care jobs and direct them to ohiomeansjobs.com/directcare to look for jobs in the behavioral health, developmental disabilities, and aging spaces. From this page, interested applicants will be able to see job listings specific to direct care positions, like Therapeutic Program Workers, Peer Supporters, and others. To ensure the PSA is most effective, we encourage providers to list their direct care jobs on ohiomeansjobs.com and in a way to ensure their jobs are shown in the results. To do this, providers simply need to list the job title as “Direct Support Professional.” General resources for employers posting jobs at https://ohiomeansjobs.ohio.gov/for-employers%20(HYPERLINK).This campaign’s assets specific to the behavioral health field can be found on the workforce page of our website, https://mha.ohio.gov/about-us/priorities/workforce under the “Workforce Initiatives Underway” section.

Click HERE to watch the PSA.

>>> 6th Annual Suicide Awareness 5K Color Run/Walk – Sept. 10

Shawnee Family Health Center, in partnership with the Scioto County Suicide Prevention Coalition and Shawnee State University, will host the 6th annual Suicide Awareness 5K Color Run/Walk on Sept. 10 in Portsmouth. The event also features speakers, costumed characters for children, facepainting, food trucks, information booths, live music and more. Cost is $35. Click the link to register. For more information, contact Janie Haas at 740.355.8687.

>>> PBS Stations to Air Suicide Prevention Special – Sept. 13

In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, PBS has announced that it will air Facing Suicide beginning Sept. 13 at 9:00 p.m. (check local listings). Facing Suicide combines the poignant personal stories of people impacted by suicide with profiles of scientists at the forefront of research to reveal new insights into one of America’s most pressing mental health crises. Shining a light on this difficult topic can destigmatize suicide while revealing that there is help as well as hope for those at risk and their loved ones.

>>> 3rd Southeast Ohio Suicide Prevention Conference 2022: Sustaining our Roots – Sept. 19

The Southeast Ohio Suicide Prevention Collaborative will host the third annual Southeast Ohio Suicide Prevention Conference on Sept. 19 at Ohio University. This event is made possible through partnerships with the Athens-Hocking-Vinton 317 Board and Gallia-Jackson-Meigs Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board, Ohio University School of Nursing, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Ohio Chapter. The theme for this year is “Sustaining our Roots,” focused on suicide awareness efforts in Appalachia. Click the link for more information and to register online.

>>> Recovery Is Beautiful Fall Fun Festival – Oct. 11

The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, with support from OhioMHAS, will host a Recovery Is Beautiful Fall Fun Festival on Oct. 11 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at Van Buren Acres, a family owned and operated farm in Hebron, OH. Attendees will be able to participate in a variety of activities including a corn maze, hayrides, soybean maze, pumpkin picking, and more. Join us in celebrating, connecting, and strengthening recovery with outdoor activities, food, and fall festivities throughout the afternoon and evening. The event is free and families are encouraged to attend. Click the link for more information and to register.

>>> Director Criss Visits Montgomery County Recovery Clubhouse

OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss recently visited Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley Miracle Clubhouse in Dayton where she was able to see firsthand the incredible work underway to support Ohioans in recovery. The Clubhouse is a vital community for growth, hope and opportunity for people recovering from mental illness in the Dayton-area. The Clubhouse is committed to ongoing improvement, positive development of strengths and elimination of the stigma against those with mental illness. Click HERE to view more photos from the Director’s visit.

>>> Director Criss Attends Fairfield County Overdose Awareness Day Vigil

OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss visited Fairfield County on Aug. 31 where she participated in the fifth annual Overdose Awareness Day vigil on the Sherman Town Green in Lancaster. The Fairfield County ADAMH Board, Fairfield County Health Department, Lancaster Police Department and the Fairfield CARES Community Coalition co-hosted the vigil, which provided a space to remember people lost to an overdose, as well as those in recovery or people struggling with addiction. Click HERE to view more photos.

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