About 317 Board
The Athens Hocking Vinton Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (317 Board) is part of Ohio’s county and regional network of agencies responsible for planning, developing, funding and evaluating a community-based system of care for individuals in need of behavioral health and substance use disorder services. With primary funding from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and local tax levies, the 317 Board contracts with local service providers, offering comprehensive behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery services throughout Athens, Hocking and Vinton counties.
The Foundations continue to seek innovative approaches to supporting behavioral health services and addressing the opiate crisis. Partnering with the 317 Board is a key strategy in understanding the local strengths and needs within the communities we serve in southeastern Ohio.
Susan Beaudry, Vice President of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations
Foundation Support for the 317 Board
Since 2012, the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville (the Foundation) has collaborated with the 317 Board to support innovative and effective strategies designed to improve the health and quality of life for vulnerable individuals and their families negatively affected by behavioral health and substance use disorders.
The initial investment of funds through the partnership was directed to projects focused on the integration of behavioral health and primary care. Many successes were realized by the funded projects, including the formation of new partnerships embedding behavioral health consultants within six primary care sites. In addition, funded projects resulted in increased screening and treatment of over 3,000 individuals with behavioral health needs in primary care settings, 80% of whom had never previously received behavioral health services. The projects also improved chronic disease management for individuals diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, asthma and/or obesity, along with behavioral health conditions.
According to Earl Cecil, former Executive Director of the 317 Board, “The placement of behavioral health clinicians in primary care offices led to people, who would not have received behavioral health services otherwise, receiving these services in an environment where they are comfortable and in coordination with their primary care physician. This will have a very positive, long-term impact.” See the Health Integration in Southeastern Ohio Year 3 Report to learn more about this initiative.
Building on these successes, and informed by a planning session with community providers and stakeholders, the funding partnership expanded focus in 2017, responding to the continued unmet needs of individuals with serious and persistent mental illness and communities impacted by the opioid epidemic. As part of this effort, the funding partners prioritized one-time investments for projects reflective of one or more of the following outcomes: increased number of individuals receiving services; enhanced quality of care whereby clients achieve increased benefits in functioning, well-being and/or level of independence; improved service coordination; increased process efficiencies; additional resources leveraged; and reduced costs. Funding awards included support for recovery housing, advanced training in evidence-based treatment models, facility upgrades and transportation for participants of peer support and aging programs.
Capital Funding for the Adam-Amanda Rehabilitation Center
The Foundation also partnered with the 317 Board to provide capital funding for a new center serving patients discharged from Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare, southeastern Ohio’s state psychiatric hospital. The Adam-Amanda Rehabilitation Center offers patients a safe and supportive residential after-care program to continue treatment and stabilize before reentering their home community. The Center, operated by Hopewell Health Centers, is the result of a collaboration among National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Ohio, NAMI Athens, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the 317 Board and the Foundation.
Named after two young individuals who died by suicide only days after being released from inpatient psychiatric facilities, the Adam-Amanda Center is filling a much needed gap in behavioral health services.
“The Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare readmission rate is approximately 45% on a quarterly basis and nationally, the suicide rates for adults with mental health disorders within the first ninety days after discharge is over fourteen times the average rate of suicide in the United States. The Adam-Amanda Center step-down facility will save lives by stabilizing patients and preparing their families before reentry into the community,” explained Cecil.
Pandemic Response Support
In 2020, the Foundation and the 317 Board partnership provided crisis response funding as agencies navigated the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to support their clients.
317 Board
The Athens Hocking Vinton Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (317 Board) is part of Ohio’s county and regional network of agencies responsible for planning, developing, funding and evaluating a community-based system of care for individuals in need of behavioral health and substance use disorder services.
Appalachia Accessible Food Network
In 2013, the Appalachia Accessible Food Network (AAFN) was created to expand and diversify coordinated efforts to measurably increase the availability, affordability and consumption of healthy food among low-income, vulnerable populations in southeastern Ohio.
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) is a regional community foundation serving Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties, with a mission to create opportunities for Appalachian Ohio’s citizens and communities by inspiring and supporting philanthropy.
CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence
CHOICES is committed to excellence in serving domestic violence victims and survivors in Central Ohio and has served as the sole resource for those seeking shelter in Franklin County for more than four decades.
Hopewell Health Centers
Hopewell Health Centers, Inc. (Hopewell) provides access to affordable, high quality integrated healthcare for all. Designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center, Hopewell provides comprehensive health services throughout southeastern Ohio, regardless of a patient's ability to pay.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Center
Our Lady of Guadalupe Center (OLGC) is a program of Catholic Social Services, which evolved from an immigrant woman’s desire to give back to the Hispanic community in Columbus.
Athens Photographic Project
Athens Photographic Project (APP) is a vibrant community of artists dedicated to using photography as a tool for self-expression, personal growth and community contribution within the journey of mental health recovery.
Dr. Robert Nagele
Development of blood-based diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Breast Cancer.
Dr. Elizabeth A. Beverly
Pioneering the use of virtual reality to improve the lives of patients with diabetes.
Dr. Andrea Amalfitano
Developing technology to turn viruses into safe, effective and scalable gene therapies.
Dr. Nathaniel Szewczyk
Impacting patient care through the study of muscle health
