Mobile Response Stabilization Service (MRSS) is a rapid mobile response and stabilization service for young people who are experiencing significant behavioral or emotional distress and their families.Download MRSS Tool Kit PDFMRSS is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is delivered face-to-face at the young person’s home, school, local Emergency Department (ED), or another location in the community.The purpose of MRSS is to help youth and families build needed skills to ensure that future distress is less frequent and less intense. MRSS consists of a series of three stages: triage and screening, mobile response, and stabilization.
Interventions are designed to maintain the young person in his/her current living arrangement and to stabilize behavioral health needs to improve functioning in identified life domains.
CIP Training Brief | Introduction to Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment (ICT)
The Center for Innovative Practice’s Mike Fox, MA, PCC-S, LCDC-III, launches a new series of Training Briefs on Integrated Co-Occurring Treatments and Youth with Multiply-Occurring Needs. The Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment (ICT) model, an evidence informed practice, uses an intentionally-integrated and domain-guided treatment approach, which aligns with the Intensive Home Based Treatment (IHBT) design. The reciprocal interactions of co-occurring substance use and serious emo
tional disabilities are addressed directly, with each considered ‘primary’. Guiding principles include: System of Care (SOC) core values, a developmentally mindful and resiliency-oriented approach, strong family partnering, intentionally integrated screening and assessment, integrated and stage-matched treatment design, and ongoing safety and risk assessment. Youth, family and community engagement is emphasized and evaluated at all phases. ICT therapists receive weekly coaching and consultation in order to stay on top of the multi-faceted challenges and evolving areas of focus. Learn More
View Video of ICT Training Brief 1 |Download PDF of ICT Overview | Download PDF of Presentation Slid
Ohio Children’s Alliance Announces Telehealth Grant Award Winners
The Ohio Children’s Alliance is pleased to announce 56 scholarship recipients representing thirty-six (36) community mental health agencies across Ohio. These scholarships were made possible with support from the Ohio Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Scholarships will support mental health specialists to obtain 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.”
For the mental health practitioners and agencies who were awarded scholarships: click here
Mobile Response Stabilization Services (MRSS) Core Trainings Offered to Ohio Care Providers (All Virtual)
Continuing with its work with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and partnership with Ohio Governor’s Children’s Initiative along with the Ohio Department of Medicaid, the Center for Innovative Practices (CIP) is launching a series of MRSS online trainings for Ohio care providers. MRSS help children/youth and their families who are experiencing an emotional or behavioral stressor by interrupting immediate crisis and ensuring youth and their families are safe.
SEE FULL SCHEDULE AND REGISTER FOR TRAININGS
Learn More about MRSS HERE.
New Report | Children’s Mental Health: Understanding an Ongoing Public Health Concern
A new report on children’s mental health used data from different sources to describe mental health and mental disorders in children during 2013–2019. Poor mental health among children continues to be a substantial public health concern. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety among children of all ages, and symptoms related to depression among adolescents, are the most common concerns. More information on positive indicators of mental health such as emotional well-being and resilience is needed to truly understand children’s mental health.
New HHS Study in JAMA Pediatrics Shows Significant Increases in Children Diagnosed with Mental Health Conditions from 2016 to 2020
A new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study published in the American Medical Association’s journal JAMA Pediatrics reports significant increases in the number of children diagnosed with mental health conditions. The study, conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), finds that between 2016 and 2020, the number of children ages 3-17 years diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29 percent and those with depression by 27 percent. The findings also suggest concerning changes in child and family well-being after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Download PDF of Study | Visit HHS.gov Site
Fact Sheet | President Announces Strategy to Address National Mental Health Crisis
In his first State of the Union, the President will outline a unity agenda consisting of policy where there has historically been support from both Republicans and Democrats, and call on Congress to send bills to his desk to deliver progress for the American people. As part of this unity agenda, he will announce a strategy to address our national mental health crisis.
Our country faces an unprecedented mental health crisis among people of all ages. Two out of five adults report symptoms of anxiety or depression. And, Black and Brown communities are disproportionately under-treated – even as their burden of mental illness has continued to rise. Even before the pandemic, rates of depression and anxiety were inching higher. But the grief, trauma, and physical isolation of the last two years have driven Americans to a breaking point.
RECENT RESOURCE | Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory
A Surgeon General’s Advisory is a public statement that calls the American people’s attention to an urgent public health issue and provides recommendations for how it should be addressed. Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that need the nation’s immediate awareness and action.
Download PDF here.
This Advisory offers recommendations for supporting the mental health of children, adolescents, and young adults. While many of these recommendations apply to individuals, the reality is that people have widely varying degrees of control over their circumstances. As a result, not all recommendations will be feasible for everyone.
That’s why systemic change is essential. The Advisory includes essential recommendations for the institutions that surround young people and shape their day-to-day lives—schools, community organizations, health care systems, technology companies, media, funders and foundations, employers, and
government. They all have an important role to play in supporting the mental health of children and youth.
For additional background and to read other Surgeon General’s Advisories, visit SurgeonGeneral.gov.
As part of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) partnership with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Children’s Initiative and the Ohio Department of Medicaid, the Center for Innovative Practices (CIP) at Case Western Reserve University’s Begun Center for Violence Prevention hosted a two-day virtual conference on Mobile Response Stabilization Services (MRSS) September 21-22, 2021. The MRSS Virtual Conference was presented in partnership with SAMHSA’S ENGAGE 2.0 and OhioMHAS. The Conference featured local, regional, state, and national MRSS experts presenting on a wide range of topics. Below are the videos of each individual presentation, each about an hour long. Just click on the picture to view the video. MRSS stands for Mobile Response and Stabilization Services. Families with youth and young adults up to age 22 who are experiencing difficulties or distress can receive assistance within 60 minutes after contacting MRSS. You may also receive up to 45 days of intensive, in-home services and linkage to on-going supports. Services provided by the MRSS team may include: safety assessments, de-escalation, peer support, and skill building, among others. Access to MRSS is available 24 hours per day, seven day a week. You make the call, together we respond.View videos of individual conference sessions here.
Webinar | A National Perspective on the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)
An Innovative Conversations Webinar with Sheila Pires
Guest Sheila Pires, Managing Partner, Human Service Collaborative Core Partner, National TA Network for Children’s Behavioral Health, speaks with former CIP Director and Innovative Conversations host, Patrick Kanary present a national perspective discussing the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFSPA). It is the first installment of a two-part discussion, the second of which will explore Family First from a state-wide perspective with specialists from Ohio. This session involves the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and what it means to states funding in-home treatment and recovery for at-risk you dealing with the challenges of mental health, substance use, trauma, and judicial justice issues.
View Video of Webinar Session | Learn More about FFPSA
VIDEO SESSIONS from PROJECT ECHO | A NEOMED PartnershipTo better reach, inform and serve Ohio’s children, youth and families facing complex mental health, substance use, and behavioral challenges, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) offers Ohio Systems of Care Project ECHO for Multi-System Youth as part of the State of Ohio’s Wraparound Ohio Systems of Care initiative. The Project ECHO team of experts and specialists provide opportunities to present complex cases and to receive written recommendations from multidisciplinary experts; develop the knowledge and skills to manage complex conditions in their own communities and be part of a community of practice; and learn from brief lectures and case-based learning on topics of special interest. From July 23, 2020 – June 24, 2021, the Project ECHO team will meet Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Each week a case presentation will be shared from different region in Ohio: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. You are invited to view videos of past sessions by clicking the link. View Video of Sessions | Learn More About Project ECHO
CULTURAL HUMILITY TRAINING | Working With Latinx Youth and Families and Recovery from Trauma
The Center for Innovative Practices presents a two-part discussion and training entitled, “Working With Latinx Youth and Families and Recovery from Trauma,” with Ramfis L. Marquez, PhD, LPC,, Gisela Diaz, MA, and Francisco J. Cornejo, MSW. The two sessions guide clinicians and caregivers toward a better understanding of the many Latinx cultures and offers approaches, strategies, and tools for when working with Latinx youth and their families. Topics range from the subtleties and diversity of experiences in the many Latinx cultures to the degrees of generational trauma that uniquely affects these families and communities.
THIS TWO-SESSION, SIX-HOUR deep dive into Latinx culture in the United States and the unique challenges presented for behavioral healthcare clinicians and caregivers working with Latinx youth and families is explored in significant detail in a wide-ranging conversation, covering a broad landscape of topics, punctuated with dozens of real-life examples of challenges met and triumphs made along the path of recovery. The collaborative team-approach uses a combination of instruction, intervention, (listen for Uno Therapy in the fifth stanza), and lessons learned. The true-life examples – some amusing, some harrowing, all poignant, if not inspiring – provide a narrative tapestry that connects and engages throughout the training and makes the daily small victories.
Learn More and Listen to Sessions
CULTURAL HUMILITY TRAINING | Working With Latinx Youth and Families and Recovery from Trauma
The Center for Innovative Practices presents a two-part discussion and training entitled, “Working With Latinx Youth and Families and Recovery from Trauma,” with Ramfis L. Marquez, PhD, LPC,, Gisela Diaz, MA, and Francisco J. Cornejo, MSW. The two sessions guide clinicians and caregivers toward a better understanding of the many Latinx cultures and offers approaches, strategies, and tools for when working with Latinx youth and their families. Topics range from the subtleties and diversity of experiences in the many Latinx cultures to the degrees of generational trauma that uniquely affects these families and communities.
THIS TWO-SESSION, SIX-HOUR deep dive into Latinx culture in the United States and the unique challenges presented for behavioral healthcare clinicians and caregivers working with Latinx youth and families is explored in significant detail in a wide-ranging conversation, covering a broad landscape of topics, punctuated with dozens of real-life examples of challenges met and triumphs made along the path of recovery. The collaborative team-approach uses a combination of instruction, intervention, (listen for Uno Therapy in the fifth stanza), and lessons learned. The true-life examples – some amusing, some harrowing, all poignant, if not inspiring – provide a narrative tapestry that connects and engages throughout the training and makes the daily small victories.
Learn More and Listen to Sessions
For Teens In Crisis Seeking Support, “Hey, I’m Here” Is a Place to Turn
Youth dealing with challenges to their mental wellness, especially during current times of crisis and concern, can find like-minded young people v
ia, “Hey, I’m Here.” As the video says, “When you need support, every second matters and it’s important to know that you are not alone.”
View ‘You’re Not Alone’ Video | Visit ‘Hey, I’m Here’ Website
Contact via Instagram @HeyImHereOhio | Email imhere@heyimhere.org
“Hey, I’m Here” is part of Ohio’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), helping children, youth, and their families who are experiencing an emotional or behavioral stressor by interrupting immediate crisis and ensuring youth and their families are safe. MRSS provides the support and skills necessary to return youth and families to typical functioning. | Learn More about MRSS |
RESOURCE FOR CLINICIANS DURING COVID-19
Conversations and Resources on Covid-19 | The Institute for Innovation & Implementation
University of Maryland School of Social Work
Over the past weeks we have held a number of conversations to support your work during COVID-19. Each conversation—crisis communications, in-home behavioral health, supporting families, residential care, infant and early childhood mental health, and mobile response and stabilization—has had a large turnout and active online participation. Access the recordings here. We continue to plan new conversations to address the challenges of today and to create forward-looking solutions for a brighter tomorrow. And we are working on new resources based on your questions.
Please visit Conversations & Resources on COVID-19 and sign up for our new dedicated email list.
RESOURCE | Youth and Policing in Cleveland
A Five-Minute Video ToolKit for Community and Neighborhood Action
For several years following the police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, a number of Cleveland community partners, in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University’s Schubert Center and Strategies for Youth, worked to bring attention to the importance of having officers recognize and protect the youthfulness of the children and teens they encounter.
VIEW RESOURCE VIDEO HERE | Download PDF of ToolKit Here
This requires the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) to develop policies, training and ongoing support to ensure understanding of age-appropriate expectations by officers during their interactions with young people.
In 2021, the CDP adopted a first-of-its-kind Interactions with Youth Policy, part of a comprehensive set of policy reforms, which recognizes how children and teenagers are developmentally less mature than adults and require age-appropriate protections and care.
This 5-minute video and Toolkit are designed to spark dialogue, understanding and action among adults working with children and teens in our community – in organizations supporting youth, recreational programs, schools and other settings. The goal is to help raise awareness about these important changes in our Cleveland community and to provide background information about the new CDP Interactions with Youth Policy. This Toolkit also offers discussion questions, links to other resources, and strategies and actions for the community groups who serve as valued partners in supporting our kids and helping to deter criminal justice system involvement.
RESOURCE | Crisis Services White Paper Report from OhioMHAS
The COVID-19 pandemic still has a major impact on the lives of children and youth. Though typically resilient to everyday stressors, children and youth continue dealing with new challenges due to COVID-19, like social distancing, changes to their routines, and a lost sense of security and safety, making them especially vulnerable to feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed.
Visit site and read white paper.
For some children, these challenges are exacerbated by the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on their communities. Black and Hispanic Americans, in particular, have faced a significant share of COVID-19 cases in the United States, and Black and Hispanic students have been less likely to have access to online learning.
FROM SAMHSA | Helping Your Children Build Resilience to Substance Use
SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign recently launched a new mobile app that helps parents and caregivers prepare for some of the most important conversations they may ever have with their kids- conversations about alcohol and other drugs. The app shows parents and caregivers how to turn everyday situations into opportunities to talk with their children, and equips them with the necessary skills, confidence, and knowledge to start and continue these conversations as their kids get older. There is even a feature within the app where you can practice having the conversations, so you feel more comfortable when the time comes. Visit page.
VIDEO RESOURCE | Raising Awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
FASD Awareness Day was September 9th and FASD Advocates in the US and Canada worked together to teach about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and why it matters to you! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) Directory is part of the CDC mission of educating families, professionals, and the public by supporting trainings for medical and allied health students and practitioners, promoting screening and intervention tools for women’s health care providers, promoting educational materials to various audiences, and responding to public inquiries. View Awareness Video | View the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) Directory
Ohio Start Program Map 2021
Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma) is an evidence-informed children services-led intervention model that helps public children services agencies (PCSAs) bring together caseworkers, behavioral health providers, and family peer mentors into teams dedicated to helping families struggling with co-occurring child maltreatment and substance use disorder.