NewsNow - 12.27.2022

Dec. 27, 2022

>>> OhioMHAS Staffing Update: Alisia Clark to Retire, Jamie Carmichael to Return to Department

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Assistant Director of Community Planning and Collaboration Alisia Clark has announced her retirement at the end of December, after 31 years of dedicated public service. Clark previously served as executive director of the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board, the government entity that certifies prevention and addiction professionals. She has an extensive work history in substance use and mental health disorders and previously served as housing policy and resource administrator at OhioMHAS, project director for the former Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (overseeing the Access to Recovery grant), and field operations manager for the Ohio Secretary of State. “I cannot thank Alisia enough for her years of service to the people of Ohio and for her leadership in our behavioral health system, and we will plan a time in the coming weeks to come together to celebrate her and her many accomplishments. Having a leader of her caliber retire is a significant change for our Department,” said OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss. See below for photos from Alisia’s retirement celebration.

Clark’s vacancy will be filled by Ohio Department of Health Chief Healthy Opportunity Advisor Jamie Carmichael, who previously managed the Office of Public Affairs at OhioMHAS. “I’m excited to bring Jamie’s strong public health strategic planning experience to our leadership team,” said Criss. As Chief Health Opportunity Officer, Carmichael has been instrumental in establishing the new Office of Health Opportunity and leading work to eliminate population level health disparities and focus the state’s resources on communities with the highest levels of need. “Jamie is a collaborative, compassionate, and innovative leader, and I’m grateful that she is willing to return to the OhioMHAS family,” said Criss. Carmichael will officially return to OhioMHAS in early January.

>>> Governor DeWine Signs Executive Order Banning Tianeptine

On Thursday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2022-17D to label tianeptine, a Schedule 1 controlled substance, classifying it as having no accepted medical use in treatment and to prohibit its use. Tianeptine is an atypical tricyclic antidepressant that is not approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not subject to the same regulatory or medical oversight as other tricyclic antidepressants approved for use in the U.S. The FDA issued a consumer update on tianeptine products in February 2022 noting that it has identified cases in which people experienced harmful effects from abusing or misusing tianeptine by itself or with other drugs, including antidepressants and anti- anxiety medicines. These effects included agitation, drowsiness, confusion, sweating, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, slowed or stopped breathing, coma, and death. Click HERE to read a related media release from the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy.

>>> OhioMHAS Trauma-Informed Care Series: First Training Now Open for Registration

The first training in the OhioMHAS Trauma Informed Care Series, Treating Insomnia: Transdiagnostic Clinical Strategies to Optimize Sleep & Improve Outcomes in Clients with PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, & Chronic Pain with Dr. Donn Posner, is now open for registration. This training starts by grounding participants in the basics of sleep medicine that undergird the practice of CBT-I. It goes on to present systematic, empirically validated treatment methods and essential information about the etiology and evolution of chronic insomnia necessary to inform assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and the handling of treatment resistance. This is a two-part, virtual training that will take place on Jan. 19-20 from noon-4 p.m. CEUs have been requested for counselors, social workers, psychologists, and SUD professionals. Click the links below for more information and to register.

Jan. 19 | Day One

Jan. 20 | Day Two

>>> OhioPRO Adds Statewide Consumer Network Manager to Leadership Team

Ohio Peer Recovery Organizations Executive Director Michael Krause, this week announced an addition to the OhioPRO leadership team. Ruby Horner has joined OhioPRO as Program Manager of the Statewide Consumer Network (SCN) grant awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The goal of the grant is to enhance consumer-run organizations and promote mental health and related service systems capacity and infrastructure development throughout Ohio. Horner will coordinate and collaborate with training hubs that will hold workshops for leadership development, capacity-building, and resources for health and wellness management. Horner has extensive experience as a member of senior leadership focusing on quality and performance improvement since 1997. She has acted as a consultant for various entities in Ohio and other states, including Maine in 2019 and a Massachusetts-based program in 2022. Prior to doing full-time consulting work, Horner worked at Consolidated Care, Inc., for 17 years as Quality and Performance Improvement Director.

>>> Public Input Sought on Revised Draft of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Criteria

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) invites the public to provide comments on the revised draft of the updated Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Certification Criteria. Please provide your recommendations and input on the revised draft of the CCBHC Criteria by emailing CCBHCCriteria@samhsa.hhs.gov no later than Jan. 20, 2023.

>>> Register for SAMHSA’s 19th Annual Prevention Day and CADCA’s 33rd National Leadership Forum

SAMHSA’s Prevention Day will take place Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, in conjunction with CADCA’s National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland. This national event will provide an opportunity to learn about what’s new and innovative in substance misuse prevention and mental health and connect with your peers. SAMHSA’s Prevention Day is a free event; however, through our coordination with CADCA, continuing education credits will be provided for all registered Prevention Day attendees. Participants will have the opportunity to meet SAMHSA representatives and have exclusive access to SAMHSA’s innovative “Prevention Action Center,” an interactive learning hub and cyber experience with exhibits and resources on the latest trends, games and activities, and exposure to SAMHSA’s major health communication initiatives and campaigns. Please check out the Prevention Day website to get bi-weekly updates leading up to the event.

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