What We Do
Plan and Implement
Capital Planning and Management Innovation, Diffusion and Adoption Research Project System Transformation Promote
Clinical Quality Coordinating Centers of Excellence Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Ohio Tobacco and Recovery Initiative Research and Evaluation Residency and Traineeship Program Solutions for Ohio's Quality Improvement and Compliance Protect and Monitor
Allocation Guidelines Block Grant Client Rights and Advocacy Community Plans Consumer Outcomes Fiscal Reporting Forms and Templates Legislation Licensure and Certification MACSIS Medicaid Patient Care System Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review Provide
Assertive Community Treatment Children, Youth and Families Emergency Preparedness Employment Faith Based Initiatives Forensic Services Hospital Services Housing Intensive Home-Based Treatment Older Adults Trauma Informed Care Warehouse and Pharmacy Goods and Services

Children, Youth and Families

Mentally healthy children and adolescents enjoy a positive quality of life and function well at home, in school and in their communities. (Source: Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General). Unfortunately, many children and adolescents in Ohio struggle with a serious mental disorder that causes significant functional impairments at home, at school and with peers. Through appropriate identification, evaluation and treatment, children and adolescents with mental illnesses can embrace the hope of recovery. They can achieve success in school, in work and in family life. (Source: NAMI Fact Sheet: Children's Mental Health in America)

Read the newsletter published by the ODMH Office of Children's Services:

• Ohio Kids News: Building Ohio’s Future

Learn about Children's Rights/Derechos de los Niños:

• English
• Español

Early Childhood Mental Health (Birth to 6 years)
Compelling evidence from developmental research indicates that early relationships and experiences at home and in early care and education environments set the stage for how a child learns self-regulation skills, the ability to manage emotions and how to develop close relationships. The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) provides cross-system leadership in the development of the early childhood mental health initiative.

School-Age Children
Student mental health is a major concern, affecting both the health system and the education system. In order to address mental health problems early, we must reach children where they spend the majority of their time—in schools. (Source: Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success Advocacy Brief, April 2006)

Transition-Age Youth (14 – 25 year olds)
The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a crucial stage of development in every person’s life. The capacity to function in adult roles is determined by the ability to master the critical life skills and rites of passage during the transition. The transition to adulthood is especially challenging for young adults with serious mental health conditions. Ohio has many innovative services and supports for transition-age youth. (Source: Paving the Way for a New Day for Young Adults in Ohio’s Mental Health System)

Stigma
While one in five Americans live with a mental disorder, estimates indicate that nearly two-thirds of all people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment, especially people from diverse communities. Lack of knowledge, fear of disclosure, rejection of friends and discrimination are a few reasons why they don’t seek help. Reducing stigma associated with mental illness is critical in ensuring that children, youth and families seek treatment.