The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville (OHFN) and the Athens-Hocking-Vinton Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (317 Board) recently announced new funding awards as part of an ongoing collaboration to jointly support programs designed to improve the health and quality of life for individuals and their families affected by substance use and behavioral health issues.
Since 2012, the collaboration between OHFN and the 317 Board has resulted in successes including new partnerships developed among primary and behavioral health providers in southeast Ohio; increased screening and treatment of more people with behavioral health needs in primary care settings; and improving chronic disease management for individuals diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, asthma and/or obesity, along with behavioral health conditions.
Building on these successes, the funding partnership expanded focus in 2017 to respond to the continued unmet needs of individuals with serious and persistent mental illness and communities negatively impacted by the opiate epidemic. Informed by a planning session with community providers in April of this year, OHFN and the 317 Board released a Request for Proposals in July with the goal of strengthening the mental health and addiction services continuum of care in Athens, Hocking and Vinton counties.
The following projects, totaling $707, 836 were recently approved for support:
- Athens Photographic Project: $65,000 to complete the exterior renovations needed at the organization’s new facility and to purchase lobby furnishings and art installation hardware.
- Hocking Hills Inspire Shelter: $50,000 to complete the parking lot and purchase appliances for the new emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing units in Logan.
- Hopewell Health Centers: $60,000 to support a training initiative for Hopewell staff and community members on evidence-based treatment models.
- Health Recovery Services: $60,000 to purchase an electronic health record system with business solutions software to achieve full health information exchange and improved outcomes monitoring and reporting.
- Integrated Services for Behavioral Health: $33,000 to purchase a new van to provide transportation for participants in Hocking and Vinton counties to peer support programs.
- Integrated Services for Behavioral Health: $60,000 to support the purchase of a home to provide recovery housing for families with children.
- John W. Clem Recovery House: $51,950 to support the purchase and renovation of a home to provide safe, sober and affordable housing to men in recovery.
- My Sister’s Place: $57,139 to add one ADA accessible bedroom and bathroom and confidential office space for hotline staff at the domestic violence shelter serving Athens County.
- The Gathering Place: $66,740 to renovate the kitchen and bathroom to support increased health and wellness programming.
- Vinton County Commissioners: $130,000 to support a pilot project with the Vinton County Sheriff Department, working with individuals with mental health and substance use disorders and who are involved with criminal justice and child protective service agencies. (Note: this project is funded solely by the 317 Board)
- Vinton County Senior Center: $24,007 to purchase a vehicle to provide medical and other transportation services to older adults in Vinton County.
- Women for Recovery: $50,000 to purchase a new vehicle and repair the driveway at the new recovery house for women in Athens County.