As we near the end of 2022, we reflect on the growth of each of our programs, the opportunities that have been created, and the impact we’ve been able to have on the communities we serve. We look forward to continued growth of these programs under the direction and leadership of our new Executive Director, Kevin McDaniel, who joined the MHAOhio team in October.
We are happy to share the following program updates, and feel encouraged and excited about the possibilities for 2023.
POEM continued to support an increasing number of moms and birthing persons in 2022, while also working to expand POEM’s services and advocacy statewide. Aiming to both support those in need while also making systemic change for the benefit of all birthing persons, POEM launched a Maternal Mental Health Complications Screen and Referral training. These trainings are open to anyone involved in the care of pregnant and birthing individuals in the perinatal period. POEM is offering two more training sessions in 2023. If you are interested, please register here.
Keep an eye on POEM’s statewide efforts in 2023. A new statewide resource hotline has opened up POEM’s information and referral services to Ohio professionals and providers outside of Central Ohio. Launching in January 2023, a new Perinatal Mental Health Task Force will increase communication, coordination, and collaboration efforts with the end goal of making Ohio one of the leading states in the country in maternal mental health education, access to care, and treatment. For more information about how to be a part of this taskforce, please contact Becca Alexander at balexander@mhaohio.org .
MHAOhio’s Support Groups grew significantly in 2022. New groups were added, including four new groups in Fairfield County. Some groups returned to an in-person format while others remained virtual. We’ve welcomed twelve new facilitators, connected with dozens of local organizations, and focused heavily on creating an inclusive and high-quality program that offers support to both our community members and our volunteers. There’s plenty more to come in 2023, and we are currently accepting applications for new facilitators to fill critical gaps so we can continue to run these groups successfully.
The Pro Bono Counseling Program successfully linked and provided treatment for 115 individuals in 2022. Of the 66 active volunteers, over a third of them have been with the program for two or more years. Community partnerships were nourished this year as practices like Meadows Counseling Group, Starks Counseling and Consultation, and Theravault connected clinical interns to the PBCP to help meet community counseling needs. Survey outcomes report that 100% of respondents experience at least one positive outcome as a result of counseling at 90 and 180 days post linkage to care.
The Get Connected and Family Advocate programs continued to connect Central Ohio residents who are living with a mental illness and their families to mental health resources. Get Connected offered care navigation to over 1,000 callers in 2022. One client reported, “I love everything about the program. Everyone I worked with understood my needs and took a lot of stress off of me, helping me find someone. I can’t tell you enough how much you guys helped me! Thank you for all you do!” The Family Advocate Program also had another successful year, helping 33 new families find caregiver support in 2022. The program onboarded two new peer volunteers ready to use their experience to help even more people in the coming year. We launched our Family Advocate Families in Touch group at the beginning of December. We had a nice turnout for our first one and look forward to continuing in the coming months. The program has big plans for 2023 – stay tuned!
MHAOhio’s education programs also flourished in 2022. Collaboration with our phenomenal partners helped the Peer Recovery Support Program build and launch new projects to support PRS and employers this year. In partnership with the ADAMH Board, Maryhaven, The P.E.E.R. Center, and Southeast Healthcare, we hosted the first annual PRS Community Event and Job Fair. Ten employers, more than 50 supervisors, and certified PRS and peers interested in the field came together in August to network and support one another. Six certified PRS panelists shared their incredible recovery stories and reflections on the work they do, and five supervisor panelists offered their insights on hiring and supporting a PRS workforce. In November, MHAOhio and Southeast Healthcare launched an internship pilot program for graduates of the PRS 40-hour Certification Training. Interns will spend two weeks observing a PRS professional on one of the Southeast teams, an opportunity that can help them determine what type of peer support work is right for them.
The Mental Health First Aid Ohio Project team, in collaboration with MHA of Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio, is projected to surpass their project goal this month of training 6,000 Ohioans in youth and adult MHFA. The project team has also supported 40 Ohioans in getting certified and ready to instruct MHFA for their communities.
Occumetrics, MHAOhio’s workplace wellbeing assessment, continued to grow in 2022. A third staff member joined the workplace health team, to assist with an increasing number of assessments. The program grew from being funded for 29 assessments to 36, conducted its first government sector Occumetrics assessment, and provided “Recognizing Mental Health Issues in the Workplace” training for various for-profit companies. We know that there is a workforce crisis in behavioral health, but we also know that we are not powerless in the face of these challenges. Many factors impact employee retention, productivity, and engagement. Occumetrics helps agencies quickly identify, understand, and address employee concerns with customized improvements to create an engaged and productive workforce.
The Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, hosted by MHAOhio, was able to add a full-time staff member in 2022. This increased capacity allowed the coalition to reach more individuals, create more partnerships, and facilitate more lifesaving Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) trainings. This year, the coalition has also elected a new chair. We welcome Susan Ortega, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at Syntero, into this role. Susan Ortega is taking the reins from Dr. Glenn Thomas, who has served as the FCSPC Chair for the past four years. Thank you for your commitment to suicide prevention in Franklin County, Dr. Thomas!
This life changing work is only possible thanks to you – the community that supports us. Thank you to the volunteers, donors and the mental health advocates that drive our work forward –including the ADAMH Boards of Franklin and Fairfield County, OMHAS, United Way of Central Ohio, the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation and The City of Columbus.
