NewsNow - 12.10.2021

Franklin County ADAMHS Announces Deployment of NaloxBox Opioid Overdose Rescue Kits

Key locations in central Ohio will have additional access to naloxone, the lifesaving overdose reversal medication, available for community access through a collaboration between the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board (ADAMH) of Franklin County, Columbus Metropolitan Library and additional partners. This is in response to increasing overdoses in Franklin County where overdose deaths climbed 47percent in 2020 to more than 800 deaths. With $242,442 of State Opioid Response Funds made available through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), ADAMH is purchasing 150 NaloxBox kits and installing them in public spaces in zip codes experiencing higher numbers of overdoses. OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss participated in a media launch event at the downtown branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library on Thursday. The announcement is part of an ongoing state strategy to promote widescale availability of naloxone in communities throughout Ohio. Click HERE to read the full Franklin ADAMH media release and HERE to view more photos from the event. Pictured: OhioMHAS Director Criss and RecoveryOhio Director Alisha Nelson with representatives from Franklin County ADAMH Board, Columbus Metropolitan Library, CompDrug and Southeast Healthcare; Director Criss shares brief remarks during the press conference; a sample NaloxBox rescue kit.

Ohio Children's Alliance: Therapeutic Child Care Development and Expansion Grant Opportunity

The Ohio Children’s Alliance announces the availability of $3.5 million in grant funds for the purpose of increasing childhood mental health access. This one-time funding opportunity is made possible by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA), and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. It will support the establishment and expansion of therapeutic child care programs for Ohio families by building upon collaboration. Selected entities will be Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS)-certified community mental health agencies that commit to partnering with a local community-based child care program licensed by ODJFS to design and implement the childcare program. The agencies, with their partners, will implement or expand a child care program built upon an evidence-based mental health practice. Funds must be spent by the end of FY 24. The RFP will be released in early January, followed by a bidder’s conference one week later with opportunities for written questions throughout the month of January. Once released, the RFP can be found at www.ohiochildrensalliance.org and www.occrra.org. More information will be released in the coming weeks.

Improving the Emergency Department Experience for Suicidal Patients and Providers Webinar – Dec. 14

Jaspr Health, Zero Suicide Institute’s first digital health partner, is a digital suicide-care platform developed collaboratively by suicide prevention experts, people with lived experience, and healthcare providers. Its automated, evidence-based protocols improve the patient experience, optimize provider care, and empower health systems to reduce their risks and costs, ultimately saving lives. Review Jaspr’s recent randomized control trial data and tour its features, including:

Automated Assistant that helps people in suicide crisis with immediate, on-demand evidence-based suicide risk assessment, lethal means counseling, and crisis stability/safety planning.
Comfort & Skills library with activities drawn to help patients stabilize the crisis and learn coping strategies for the future.
Shared Stories library from survivors with lived experiences to give guidance, inspire hope and create meaningful connections.
Jaspr At Home, a free companion mobile app that provides ongoing evidence-based support during the high-risk period that follows hospital discharge.

Register HERE for a free overview on Dec. 14, 2021, at noon or Jan. 11, 2022, at noon.

NIAAA Offers New Video Series About Alcohol-Related Terms

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has released a new “Short Takes” video series consisting of brief 60-second videos that explain, in an easy-to-understand way, the meanings of commonly used–but often misunderstood–alcohol terms. The number of topics covered in the series will continue to grow, and the first installment includes videos on alcohol use disorder, blackouts, alcohol overdose in both Spanish and English, and binge drinking. The videos in this series will be helpful to both the general public and health care providers.