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The Ohio Children's Alliance is excited to announce that the Ohio Reach Postsecondary Designation is live. The Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education released a Directive today, encouraging Ohio Postsecondary Institutions (public and independent universities and colleges, community colleges, and Ohio technical centers) to support students with a history in foster care by becoming designated. This is an important step toward creating inclusive campuses that support our students with a foster care history and we are excited to welcome new institutions to our programming. The designation will provide students with a network of institutions and resources to empower them as they assess options for pursuing higher education pathways that can provide the financial, career, and academic supports they may look for. It will also create a stronger network amongst supportive institutions to benchmark and collaborate to share resources and successful methodologies, increasing the opportunities for foster care connected students to achieve success in higher education and career pathways. Please feel free to share this information with any colleagues or connections. All details and the application can be found here: https://ohioreach.org/postsecondary-designation and here: https://highered.ohio.gov/ohioreach and more information can be found here: https://highered.ohio.gov/about/news-events/all-news/ohio-reach_may2023

Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Children’s Alliance is pleased to announce 17 grant recipients representing six community mental health agencies across Ohio. This opportunity was made possible with support from the Ohio Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. This opportunity was created to support mental health specialists in obtaining a Certified Tele-Mental Health Provider Credential (BC-TMH). Expanding access to behavioral health services to children is especially important today given the unprecedented need and the mental health workforce shortage. “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the virtual world into just about every aspect of our lives, including mental health services.” said Mark Mecum, Ohio Children’s Alliance CEO. “As demand increases from families across Ohio, children’s mental health agencies are committed to expanding access to high-quality care through this virtual platform. The Tele-mental Health credential distinguishes these practitioners as leaders in tele-mental health service delivery and signals to families that the services are aligned with best practices.” Mental health practitioners from the following agencies were awarded funding: Beech Brook Cadence Care Network Crossroads Health Family Pride of Northeast Ohio Maryhaven National Youth Advocate Program The selected individuals will enroll in the New STAR Institute to access the certification training. It includes a 9-hour self-paced training program covering the several aspects of using telehealth. Once completed, the individuals will qualify to take the exam to become a Board Certified-Tele-Mental Health Provider. The Ohio Children’s Alliance is a not-for-profit organization based in Columbus, Ohio. They are dedicated to sustainably improving the provision of services to children, young adults, and families through advocacy, education, and innovative solutions. Learn more at www.ohiochildrensalliance.org. ####

Before the Ohio General Assembly session expired last month, they passed a major spending bill, HB 45, which created a new adoption incentive program. This new program would incentive individuals who adopt children, whether they are from foster care, private adoptions, or even international adoptions. The incentives range from $10,000 to $20,000 per adoption, with most foster children adoption being in the $15,000 to $20,000 levels. According to ODJFS, the total annual cost of this new program could be greater than $40 million. Therefore, this is the largest new investment to promote adoptions in recent state history. As a result of this new massive program, the Ohio Adoption Tax Credit will also be phased out. We have begun to hold discussions with ODJFS about implementation strategies. There is a lot to explore over this next year. How will this new program affect post adoption subsidies, the Adoption Connections program, and overall recruitment of adoptive families? Foster care and adoption agencies will also need to assess how to leverage the incentives to motivate the right families to consider and follow through on adoptions. Our own staff unit that oversees the It Takes Heart resource home recruitment program is also exploring this opportunity. Over the course of 2023, we will learn much more about the program and have opportunities to work with ODJFS to shape its implementation. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this new law!

PROGRAMS Early Childhood Mental Health: Mental Health Bridge Established in 2022, Ohio Mental Health Bridge is a new program aimed at expanding access to mental health services for children in Ohio child care centers licensed by ODJFS. An Innovative Early Childhood Program The program offers an online referral tool that assists in setting up ongoing mental health services for children delivered by mental health agencies located in their community. Services may include office-based therapy, home-based treatment, virtual mental health visits, and more. Ohio’s Mental Health Bridge will build upon and supplement other state government investments in early childhood mental health. Find resources below for behavioral health providers and for childcare centers. *The referral form is undergoing changes and will be down 4/18 through 4/21* ​ ​ ​ Learn how we're bridging the gap for mental health access: Access Referral Form Families can learn more here: Interested in Learning More? ​ Email Us Parents of children enrolled in participating child care centers should contact the child care center to make a referral. View Program Flyer See All Our Programs Get the Details A Network of Trusted Experts Participating mental health providers are OhioMHAS certified, nationally accredited community mental health agencies with specialization in child and family mental health. Provider specialists possess various credentials and certifications including: Ohio Infant Mental Health Credential and Ohio Early Childhood Mental Health Credential, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and NMT (Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics). Participating providers are clinically integrated within the Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio. ​ Learn More & Find Resources: For Behavioral Health Providers > For Childcare Centers >

CHILDCARE CENTERS Mental Health Bridge Resources: ​ Mental Health Bridge Training Video for Childcare Centers Find Mental Health Bridge Early Childhood Providers: Click Map for Details Back to Mental Health Bridge Program Interested in Learning More? ​ Email Us Parents of children enrolled in participating child care centers should contact the child care center to make a referral. View Program Flyer See All Our Programs Get the Details

What a fantastic couple of days! We want to express our sincere thanks to each and every one of you for being part of the 48th Annual Spring Conference. Your active participation and passion for the topics discussed added immeasurable value to the event. ​ From the insightful keynote addresses to the engaging workshops and lively networking, the energy was palpable throughout the event. ​ Again, thank you for being part of the 48th Annual Spring Conference. Until next year, stay connected and keep the conversation going! Featured Speakers DAY 1 : Bruce D. Perry M.D., Ph.D. (LIVE Virtually!) Presentation Focus: The Impact of Trauma and Neglect on the Developing Child: Implications for Systems of Care. Dr. Bruce Perry is the Principal of the Neurosequential Network and a Professor (Adjunct) in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia. Over the last thirty years, his work on the impact of abuse, neglect and trauma on the developing brain has impacted clinical practice, programs and policy across the world. Dr. Perry is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children and Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered. Dr. Perry’s most recent book, What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, was released in 2021. DAY 2: Becky Haas Author, Speaker, Trainer Presentation Focus: Building a Trauma Informed Resilient Community. Known for her contagious enthusiasm, Becky Haas is an international advocate, trainer, and organizational coach on using a trauma informed approach, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) study. She is a pioneer in creating trauma informed communities. The work she led in Northeast Tennessee was recognized by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 2018 as a model for other cities to follow. In 2019 she co-authored the Building a Trauma Informed System of Care toolkit for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services detailing a blueprint for creating community resilience. Course Agenda for CME Care Coordinators & Supervisors The Ohio Children's Alliance, in partnership with the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, has developed and implemented sessions within the 48th Annual Spring Conference focused on providing guidance and support for those working in our sector. General conference workshops and a special agenda for OhioRISE CME Care Coordinators and Supervisors are designed to empower conference attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to create a nurturing and supportive environment for the healthy development of children and youth. Financial support for Center of Excellence workshops is provided by the Ohio Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Medicaid, and Children and Youth. Thank You to Our Sponsors! Gold Sponsor Keynote Sponsor Community Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors Event Exhibitors: Adopt America Network allventa AMFM (A Mission for Michael) Buckeye Ranch Chaddock Charlie Health Family Centered Treatment Foundation Integrated Services for Behavioral Health JusticeWorks Family of Services Ohio Department of Development Disabilities UMCH Family Services WSI Technologies Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office Youth Villages Have Questions? Please Email our Learning and Development Team: LandD@ohiochildrensalliance.org