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Recovery in Action

Newsletter

April 2024 | Volume 8 - Issue 4

Signature Health's ORCA House Ribbon Cutting


On April 18, the ADAMHS Board joined Signature Health for the ORCA House Ribbon Cutting. The facility, now housed in a newly renovated, 24,000-square-foot space at the intersection of Prospect and E. 30th in Cleveland, features 36 beds and welcomed residents on April 29.


ORCA House includes 16 beds for a step-up/step-down facility that offers step-down care for patients discharged from inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and step-up care for individuals not needing hospitalization but requiring monitored residential treatment.


Scott Osiecki, ADAMHS Board CEO, said, “I am grateful that Signature Health stepped up to increase access to transitional residential treatment as part of our safety net that will assist in combating suicide and preventing re-hospitalizations. I am also thankful to OhioMHAS for providing the resources to establish this step-down/step-up facility in our community.”


This expansion is possible through support from the ADAMHS Board and OhioMHAS American Rescue Plan Act funding. Click here to read Signature Health's full press release.


J. Robert Fowler, Ph.D., ADAMHS Board Chair; Patricia James-Stewart, M.Ed., LSW.; ADAMHS Board Vice Chair; Scott Osiecki, Chief Executive Officer; Linda Lamp, Executive Assistant; Woo Jun, Chief Operating Officer; Leslie Koblentz, MD, Chief Clinical Officer Consultant; Maggie Tolbert, RN, Assistant Chief Clinical Officer; Clare Rosser, Chief Strategy and Performance Officer; Carole Ballard, Director of Education and Training; Allison Schaefer, Director of Adult Behavioral Health Programs; Evaluation and Research Officers Nick Weaver and Sarah Adkins; and John Coleman, Facility Inspector, attended the ribbon cutting.

(l-r): Scott Osiecki, ADAMHS Board CEO; Katie Jenkins, Executive Director of NAMI Greater Cleveland; Cassey Fye, Program Director of NAMI Greater Cleveland; and Martin Williams, Chief Program Officer, Behavioral Health Care, The Centers.

ADAMHS Board employees and

other guests applaud a speaker.

Youth Mental Health Workforce Development Task Force


The Youth Mental Health Workforce Development Sprint Task Force, of which the ADAMHS Board is a member, released recommendations for building the mental health workforce serving children and adolescents in Cuyahoga County. The recommendations were presented to Justin M. Bibb, Mayor of Cleveland, and Chris Ronayne, County Executive, in a roundtable session on April 11. 


The task force proposed sustaining its efforts through a funded partnership based at the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Workforce Development Board (CCWDB), reporting to CCWDB and ADAMHS Board leaders. Funding will be sourced from Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the ADAMHS Board.


These recommendations were presented in the form of a task force report. The ADAMHS Board, represented by Bishara Addison, ADAMHS Board Member, and Clare Rosser, Chief Strategy and Performance Officer, highlighted its responsibility for leading Career Chats for students in 6-12 grades. The Board also highlighted its outreach and career awareness at Student Career Fairs for local high schools and its career awareness materials; advocacy for policy changes that will promote wage equity; extensive services provided to Medicare beneficiaries; promotion of DEI to its providers and within the organization; translated care materials into Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Chinese, Russian and Ukrainian; and much more.


The sprint task force includes leaders from the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio Means Jobs, and dozens of partners across the education, social services, healthcare and philanthropy fields.


For more information and the full recommendations, click here.

CIT Champion of the Year Award


On April 10, Carole Ballard, ADAMHS Board Director of Education and Training, was honored with the CIT Champion of the Year award at the Ohio CIT Conference in Columbus.

 

Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice, presented the award to Carole for “going above and beyond in her dedication to CIT in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and across the nation."


"Carole is a leader in assisting and educating Cleveland Police on how they could enhance their programming around behavioral health crisis response and has played an active role, and still does to this day, in the Mental Health Response Advisory Committee,” said Justice Stratton.



The CIT program, now in its 24th year since its founding, featured awards given to eight individuals and programs. The conference was attended by more than 185 people at the Quest Conference Center. The annual event was sponsored by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence at NEOMED, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio and OhioMHAS.

ADAMHS Board

General Meeting at NORA

April's General Board Meeting was held at the Northern Ohio Recovery Association (NORA). We want to thank NORA for hosting and providing our community with culturally relevant services, and with dignity and respect to youth, adults and families. After, the Board was invited to tour NORA's facilities.

Staff Updates


Welcome, Latoya Hunter Hayes


Latoya Hunter Hayes joined the ADAMHS Board in April as Chief of External Affairs. She holds more than 15 years of experience managing traditional and digital media strategies for the public, private and non-profit sectors. Most recently, she held various leadership roles within the Cleveland Department of Public Utilities and the City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Communications. 

Out & About

Youth Resilience Summit 

On April 19, Joicelyn Weems, External Affairs Officer, attended the Lake Erie Council, Boy Scouts of America 2024 Youth Resilience Summit. This summit aimed to bring professionals together to shine a light on Adverse Childhood Experiences. It featured various workshops and speakers with topics ranging from mental health strategies, bullying and nutrition, to online safety and financial literacy. Both the Summit's sponsorship and impact boards are pictured below.


2024 Homeless Stand Down

On April 20, Ian Jameson, External Affairs Officer, attended Homeless Stand Down at the Cleveland Public Auditorium. Community members received resources like clothing, medical care, free haircuts and more. The Board distributed harm reduction materials such as fentanyl test strips and naloxone, as well as information about behavioral health services in the county, 988 education and ways to alleviate stress.


Cleveland Public Library Mobile Pantry

On April 26, Joicelyn Weems distributed harm reduction materials and information about the ADAMHS Board at the Cleveland Public Library's Mobile Pantry event at its South Campus.


Cleveland Municipal School District Integrated Health Fair

On April 26, Ian Jameson attended the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's Integrated Health Fair. Attendees were able to take free and confidential health screenings, speak with medical professionals and explore careers in behavioral health. 


MetroHealth Men's Health Fair 

On April 27, the ADAMHS Board attended the 2024 MetroHealth Men’s Health Fair at its two locations. Clare Rosser, Chief Strategy and Performance Officer, and Nick Weaver, Evaluation and Research Officer, attended MetroHealth’s Cleveland Heights Medical Center. Michaele Smith, OUD Specialist, attended Tri-C’s Metropolitan Campus (pictured below).

2024 Transition Expo

On April 27, Joicelyn Weems attended the NEO Transition Expo. This event supports families, transition-aged youth with disabilities, caregivers and professionals in Northeast Ohio.

Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker Promo Video

Check out Dr. Joy DeGruy's promo video below for this year's annual meeting, including what her keynote will be about.

Annual Meeting Client Art Show and Contest

The Annual Meeting Art Show is open to any Cuyahoga County resident who is receiving prevention, treatment or recovery support services for mental health and/or substance use disorders. Prizes are also given to the top three artists.


Space is limited - Each artist may submit one piece of art. Art must be dropped off by Friday, May 3. Click here for more information!

Extended Deadline - Roads to Recovery '24: Creating Healing Communities Call for Workshop Proposals

This conference is for clients, family members and providers of mental health and/or addiction prevention, treatment and recovery services and will be held Monday, October 21, 2024.



The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. with workshops running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are included in registration and CEUs and RCHs will be provided.


Click here to learn more about the conference and the proposal guidelines. Proposals must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2024This link will take you to the online proposal form.

The City Club of Cleveland Forum: The Truth About Lethal Means, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health

Join the City Club on May 31, 2024, as Brian Lane, President & CEO of the Center for Health Affairs, leads a conversation about efforts to address lethal means, improve suicide prevention and increase mental health resources in Northeast Ohio. Tickets are available until May 29, 2024, at 12 p.m.


Use the ADAMHS Board's community partner discount code ADAMHS0531 at checkout to get 20% off non-member tickets and table purchases. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Spotlight

Alcohol Abuse Awareness, its Impacts and the Solutions

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says alcohol use is linked to more than 200 diseases and injury-related conditions. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol.


According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.8 million people ages 18 and older had AUD in the past year. Specifically, 3.6 million Black or African American adults, 929,000 Asian adults and 5.3 million Hispanic or Latino adults (11%, 6% and 11.9% in this age group, respectively) were found to have AUD in the past year.


This is a crucial time dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of alcohol abuse and promoting strategies for prevention and intervention. The good news is that most people with AUD can benefit from some form of treatment. Research shows that about one-third of people who are treated for alcohol problems have no further symptoms one year later. Many others substantially reduce their drinking and report fewer alcohol-related problems.


Treatment comes in various forms, such as behavioral, medication, support groups and more. For anyone thinking about treatment, talking to a primary care physician is an important first step. They can be a good source for treatment referrals and medications.


Click here for AUD statistics and here for information on treatment options.

Looking Ahead

Meetings

2024 Annual Meeting Brunch: REGISTRATION CLOSED: May 13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.


Client Lunch-N-Learn: May 23 from 1-3 p.m.


View our full calendar of meetings and trainings.


Awareness Opportunities

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues, breaking down stigma and promoting the importance of mental well-being. One of the primary goals of Mental Health Awareness Month is to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness. Stigma often leads to discrimination, shame and silence which prevents individuals from seeking help and support. By shining a light on mental health experiences and stories, we can aim to create an environment of acceptance and understanding, where individuals feel empowered to share their struggles and seek assistance without fear of judgment.


Throughout the month, various organizations, communities and individuals come together to initiate conversations, share resources and support those affected by mental health challenges. The ADAMHS Board has compiled a list of provider and community events happening during the month, including an event the Board is hosting. Click here to view the full event calendar.


Click here for more information about Mental Health Awareness Month

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.


– Maya Angelou, American writer, poet & civil rights activist, 1928 - 2014

Board of Directors


J. Robert Fowler, Ph.D., Chair

Patricia James-Stewart, M.ED., LSW, Vice Chair

Katie Kern-Pilch, MA, ATR-BC, LPC-S, HLM (BATA), Second Vice Chair


Bishara W. Addison

Ashwani Bhardwaj

Reginald C. Blue, Ph.D.

Gregory X. Boehm, M.D.

Erskine Cade, MBA

Michelle R. Curry, MPA

James T. Dixon

Sadigoh C. Galloway, MSW, LSW, LICDC-CS

Rev. Benjamin F. Gohlstin, Sr.

Steve Killpack, MS

Harvey A. Snider, Esq


Scott S. Osiecki, Chief Executive Officer

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