Promote
At the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH), we promote the rights of people receiving mental health services. We also promote a number of areas linked to this, including research, prevention, emergency preparedness, clinical best practices and community supports.
Community Supports and Clients Rights (CAP)
Through its Office of Community Supports and Clients Rights (CAP), ODMH promotes the rights of people receiving mental health services.
Housing
ODMH is committed to ensuring that an array of safe, decent and affordable housing options is available for Ohioans experiencing mental illness.
Consumer Employment
ODMH helps consumers of mental health services locate, obtain and maintain employment.
Consumer Benefits
Cash and medical assistance benefits provide essential support for many people with serious mental illness. ODMH provides leadership and supports strategies to improve access to these benefits for people with serious mental illness.
Mental Health Promotion and Prevention
Prevention services focus on promoting mental health; intervening early to prevent and address emerging mental health problems; decreasing the negative impact of mental illness and eliminating stigma associated with emotional problems and mental illness.
Elimination of Stigma
Eliminating stigma associated with mental illness is critical in ensuring people seek the treatment they need. Therefore, ODMH is committed to eliminating stigma through the use of evidence-based, culturally competent prevention services, as well as through collaboration between traditional and non-traditional systems.
Suicide Prevention
Local suicide prevention coalitions have been formed in many counties. A number of initiatives are currently underway to raise awareness, eliminate stigma, promote suicide prevention as a public health issue and increase help-seeking behavior.
Clinical Quality
The three components of Ohio's Clinical Quality Agenda (use of clinical best practices, quality improvement tools and outcomes measurement) represent a systematic approach to facilitating recovery by improving clinical services for people with mental illness.
Coordinating Centers of Excellence (CCOEs)
These centers train mental health professionals in effective practices that address critical needs of adults and children affected by serious emotional disturbances and/or mental illness. ODMH supports eight CCOEs—each composed of a unique mix of partners that include Ohio universities, consumer and family advocacy groups, mental health boards, provider organizations and research entities.
Research and Evaluation
ODMH funds and conducts research to evaluate mental health programs and identify key information for the public mental health system to utilize in formulating policy. We also disseminate a number of publications, reports and bulletins that share findings from research studies funded through our Research Grants Program. The grants program is open to researchers and graduate students from Ohio colleges, universities and other organizations.
Residency and Traineeship Program
Recruitment and retention of professionals to work in public mental health is closely linked to experience gained and expertise fostered in ODMH-supported Residency and Training Programs. For example, the goal of the Health Professional Shortage Area Program (HPSA) is to increase the availability of qualified mental health care practitioners in underserved areas of Ohio. Local systems and organizations also benefit by the linkages created between educational institutions and mental health agencies, boards, advocacy groups and other organizations as a result of these programs.
Tobacco Cessation and Recovery
This program provides consultation and staff training to help behavioral health agencies plan and implement effective tobacco cessation and prevention services.