MARCH NEWSLETTER

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING

Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Meeting:

March 19th, 2026 @ 8:30AM

4717 Main Ave. (Lower Level)

Ashtabula, OH 44004

COALITION MEETINGS

Ashtabula County Prevention and Suicide Prevention Coalition Meeting:

April 1st, 2026 @ 3:00PM

4717 Main Ave. (Lower Level)

Ashtabula, OH 44004

BOARD UPDATES

Meet the MHRS Team

Kaitie Hart

Executive Director


Kaitie Hart has been employed with the Ashtabula County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board since January 2015. She is a 2007 Graduate of The Ohio State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family Studies through the College of Human Development and Family Science. She received her Master’s in Public Administration through Kent State University in 2021. Prior to her role with the Board Kaitie was a Probation Officer for the Ashtabula County Courts System from 2008–2015.


She began her career at the MHRS Board during a time when opioid prevention and overdose reduction dominated the conversation. The work was urgent and deeply impactful. Today, while substance use prevention remains a core priority, she has watched the community’s needs evolve. Mental health challenges and suicide prevention have taken on a new level of urgency, requiring thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and constant adaptation.


When she stepped into the role of Executive Director after spending nine years growing her career at the MHRS Board, she knew there would still be much to learn. “The last two years have felt like drinking from a fire hose,” she reflects. “The scope of the Board’s responsibilities is vast, and it continues to evolve alongside the behavioral health needs of our community.”


“For me, this role is about listening to our providers, our partners, and most importantly, to the people we serve,” she says.


Her leadership reflects both experience and empathy grounded in nearly a decade of service, yet driven by a continued willingness to learn, adapt, and respond to the changing needs of the community she cares deeply about. Looking ahead, she remains focused on both strategy and service. “As we move forward, our Board will continue to plan, fund, and monitor access to high-quality, cost-effective behavioral health services across the continuum, from prevention to treatment and recovery supports, enhancing the well-being of our community.”


We are incredibly grateful to have Kaitie as our leader. She not only guides our work with vision and dedication, but also keeps our team fueled with Diet Coke and chocolate—small gestures that reflect the thoughtfulness and care she brings to everything she does.



TRAININGS

Join us for Webinar on Addressing Veteran Substance Use: Promoting Recovery Through Collaboration and Compassion 


March 3, 2–3:30 p.m. ET


Supporting Veterans means strengthening recovery pathways. Attend this free webinar and learn how cross-system collaboration improves outcomes in substance use care.


Join leaders from the Department of Veterans Affairs, SAFE Project, and Oregon Health Authority leaders for a focused discussion on effective, evidence-informed approaches to supporting Veterans and Service Members affected by substance use.


Key learning objectives:

  • Key trends in Veteran substance use and co-occurring conditions  
  • Proven treatment and recovery models
  • Practical strategies for cross-system collaboration


Featured Speakers:

  • Jay A. Gorman, Ph.D., Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Adam Swift, SAFE Project
  • Susan Davis, LPC, CADC I, Oregon Health Authority


Click to Register ------------ Click to Register -------- Click to Register

Free, Online ASAM Criteria, Fourth Edition, Adult Volume Training Videos Now Available on Ohio Learn Citizen Portal 


DBH, in partnership with the Ohio Institute for SUD Excellence (⁠OISE), is offering a series of free, on-demand virtual courses* designed to familiarize behavioral health professionals with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria, Fourth Edition, Adult Volume.


The training videos feature Dr. R. Corey Waller, Editor in Chief of The ASAM Criteria Fourth Edition. Dr. Waller leads participants through eight, one-hour lectures that provide a comprehensive overview of standards for placement, continued services, and transitions of care for individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions. Key changes between the Third and the Fourth Editions are highlighted throughout the series.


Available courses include: 

  • Introduction to the ASAM Criteria
  • The Updated Dimensions of the ASAM Criteria
  • Death Dimensions
  • Method Changes Framework
  • Medically Managed Levels of Care 
  • Clinically Managed Levels of Care 
  • Standards and Co-Occurring Enhanced Care 
  • Dimensional Admission Criteria and Treatment Planning 


How to Access Trainings

The courses are available through the Ohio Learn Citizen Portal. This site requires an OH|ID account to log in and track training records. To access Ohio Learn from the OH|ID Citizen Portal, navigate to https://ohid.ohio.gov/. If you do not have an OH|ID account, choose the “Create New Account” button to register. Reference the Ohio Learn Citizen Portal Job Aid for assistance. Once you have successfully logged in, search for the keyword “ASAM” to view available courses.


DBH is pleased to offer free continuing education credits for all eight courses to professionals in the following disciplines: registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and Ohio chemical dependency professionals. 



*These virtual courses are intended to introduce Ohio's behavioral health care professionals to the ASAM Criteria Fourth Edition, Adult Volume. At this time, certain DBH and state rules continue to reference the Third Edition of ASAM (e.g., OAC 5122-27-05, 5122-27-07, 5122-29-09, 5122-40-04, and 5122-40-15). DBH-certified behavioral health service providers must remain in compliance with current DBH rules until the Fourth Edition is formally adopted and applicable rules are updated.

Ohio's 2026 Mental Health and Addiction Conference — June 1-2

The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA), in partnership with DBH, will host the 2026 Mental Health and Addiction Conference on June 1-2 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. This year's theme is "Inspiring a Stronger Tomorrow." More than 1,000 participants are expected to attend the conference, which focuses on efforts related to mental health and addiction prevention, education, intervention, treatment, recovery, family supports, community engagement, and more. Conference Sponsor/Exhibitor registration is now open. Questions? Email Shelby Stutzman at sstutzman@oacbha.org. 


Click HERE to learn more!

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Let Us Know How We Are Doing!


The Ashtabula County MHRS Board is interested in obtaining feedback from persons we serve, their family members, our providers, and partners. Your anonymous feedback will help the Board build upon its strengths and improve its services.



Please take a few minutes to complete the survey as your input will help the Board achieve continuing success!

Want to see something in our Newsletter or subscribe?

Email Christy Fisher: Cfisher@ashtabulamhrs.org