What We Do
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Community Supports and Clients Rights Consumer Benefits Consumer Employment Coordinating Centers of Excellence Housing Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Research and Evaluation Residency and Traineeship Program Trauma-Informed Care Veterans, Service Members and Families Protect and Monitor
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Research and Evaluation

The Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) identifies questions of importance to the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) and the public mental health system, and funds research projects to address these priorities. The office conducts major statewide research on services and outcomes for adults with serious mental illness and on factors related to the adoption of best practices. The office also evaluates ODMH program and policy initiatives, and manages the new Treatment Episode Outcomes System.

Featured report

Chillicothe Veteran Needs Assessment Focus Group Report
In 2009, Ohio received a federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant to divert veterans to community resources and away from jails and prisons. The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) manages Ohio's Project VETS Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program. ODMH offers funding to Project VETS sites for grant-related staffing, training, technical assistance and program implementation. ODMH also evaluates the local programs at no additional cost. During late 2011, ODMH conducted a focus group in the Chillicothe area to gather information about the needs of veterans.
Chillicothe Focus Group Report
Project VETS brochure
Forensic Focus newsletter

Other Reports/Evaluations

• Special Population Report: Mental Health Consumers with Military Service
• Ohio's Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant Study of System-Level Change Study: Time 2005-2010 Data Collection Results


• 2008 Ohio Family Health Survey: Special Population Report

Applying for a grant

The ODMH Research Grants Program is open to researchers and graduate students from Ohio colleges, universities and other for-profit and non-profit organizations. ODMH offers two types of research grants -- regular and small. Regular grants are available to researchers in universities and mental health settings throughout Ohio. Small grants are available to graduate students at Ohio colleges and universities. However, small grants are not restricted to people enrolled in graduate programs.

Grant Application Questions and Answers

Question 1: Do the proposals require IRB approval prior to submission?

Answer: On page 5, the RFA does state that IRB approval is required. However, understanding that this is unlikely given the timeframe of the proposal due date, this will not be required until after the funding as been approved.

Question 2: My understanding is that I submit two documents: (a) Form DMH-RES-617 and (b) the Proposal, which contains the letter, the proposal, and the allowable attachments. Kindly correct any misunderstandings. There appears to be a good deal of overlap between the information requested on document (a) and the information called for in document (b).

Answer: There will be considerable overlap between the 617 forms and the proposal document you submit. You can simply paste some of your proposal elements onto the 617 form. The 617 form is a requirement for the funds.

Question 3: I can find nothing on the web site regarding the email address we use to submit materials. Could you direct me to that web page or simply provide the address.

Answer: Please send your completed proposal and supporting documents to Kraig Knudsen. If you have trouble sending your proposal and supporting documents, please call 614-728-2527.

Information and resources

Research Conducted by ORE Staff
ORE staff members actively participate in research projects designed to evaluate mental health programs and identify key information for the public mental health system to utilize in formulating policy.  Currently, ORE staff are conducting a study titled, "The Impact of an Economic Recession on the Delivery of Mental Health Services".  Other major studies conducted by ORE staff include the Longitudinal Consumer Outcomes (LCO) Study and the Innovation, Diffusion and Adoption Research Project (IDARP).

Treatment Episode Outcomes System: 2010 and Beyond
ORE staff are managing the development and implementation of a treatment episode outcomes system that collects four client-level National Outcome Measures (NOMs) and randomly surveys 4,000 consumers on perception of care, social functioning, and social connectedness with the Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program (MHSIP) and the Youth Services Survey for Families (YSS-F) instruments.

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Transformation State Incentive Grant (TSIG) Evaluation
ORE evaluated the activities of the Transformation State Incentive Grant (TSIG) for the state and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Evaluation reports and publications are available on the TSIG Web page.

Research and Evaluation Publications
ORE publishes a number of research-related publications and evaluation reports that provide new knowledge to mental health professionals, consumers and families.

Research and Evaluation Links
ORE has compiled a list of Web sites that provide information and assistance related to research & mental health. The links include a number of research centers, mental health departments, government agencies, national associations, consumer & family organizations, and funding organizations. Links are also provided to information about mental health issues/topics.

Ohio Consumer Outcomes: 2003-2009
ORE developed a standardized way to measure clinical outcomes of consumers in Ohio's public mental health system. Instruments and procedures, training tools, statewide reports and norms, and other technical documentation are available for public use.

About ORE
Information about the mission and staff of the Office of Research and Evaluation.

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