ODMH Pharmacy Director Diane McAllister receives Governor's Award for Employee Excellence
On May 11, Governor Kasich honored several state employees for excellence at a ceremony in the Statehouse. Diane McAllister is the regional pharmacy director for Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare in Columbus and Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare in Athens, two of ODMH's six regional psychiatric hospitals. She was recognized for her efforts that have improved patient care by involving pharmacists in monitoring high-risk medications and enhancing safety practices. She also led an initiative to reduce costs by changing purchasing practices, which is projected to save $1 million over a year once applied to all six state hospitals.
Podcast features messages of state directors and superintendent regarding children's health
Listen to an Ohio Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week podcast featuring four state leaders addressing the importance of mental health and what you can do to support Ohio's children and youth. Those featured are: Tracy Plouck, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health; Dr. Ted Wymyslo, director of the Ohio Department of Health; Stan Heffner, superintendent of the Ohio Department of Education; and Orman Hall, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. A Resource Toolkit provides more resources on Caring for Every Child's Mental Health in Ohio. Also read the proclamation from Gov. John Kasich recognizing Children's Mental Health Day in Ohio on May 10 and view the list of awards presented to Ohioans that day during the 2012 Resiliency Ring event at the Statehouse.
Update on development of a more efficient outcomes measurement system
The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) is developing a Treatment Episode Outcomes system to collect five client-level National Outcome Measures (NOMs) on consumers with serious mental illnesses and serious emotional disturbances. This data collection is taking place in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. Ohio behavioral health providers will be asked to submit federally required NOMs data starting in July of 2013. Learn more.
Block Grant Funding Priorities Survey identifies strategies endorsed by stakeholders
The ODMH Office of Research and Evaluation
collected data from 650 stakeholders throughout Ohio during February 2012 to identify their top priorities for future Federal Block Grant funding. Read the report.
ODMH accepting applications from Adult Care Facilities for critical repair funds
ODMH will administer $1 million from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund to pay for health and safety repairs at Adult Care Facilities (ACFs) throughout the state.
These homes are a source of permanent community housing for people who do not require a nursing home level of care, but need a higher level of support to maintain their health and safety.
Eligible ACF owners can apply for amounts ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. Application materials are on our Numbered Advisories webpage. Read the press release.
Medicaid health homes concept will benefit beneficiaries with mental and physical illnesses
Physical health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease are common for people with serious and persistent mental illness. These conditions, often exacerbated by medications taken to treat mental illness, are preventable when care providers treat the whole person instead of a particular illness. Ohio Medicaid has teamed with ODMH to improve care coordination by creating "health homes" that will break down the silos that exist between physical and behavioral health care benefits, funding and treatment. Visit the ODMH webpage on this topic.
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