Ohio START Newsletter July 2024

July 2024

Newsletter

Director's Corner

Ohio START believes that everyone is deserving of second chances. Together, we have served more than 4,000 Ohioans in need of support, compassion, and healing.

“Thanks to the START program, my family has been able to stay happy, heathy (physically and mentally), SOBER, and together.” – Kristina, Butler County START graduate

From the Field: County Highlights

Fairfield

Fairfield welcomes Tineah Spencer and Mary Bryant as their new START Caseworker and FPM.

Knox

Knox County has accepted their first START family.

Gallia

The Gallia County START team closed 2 families successfully in June.

Mahoning

Mahoning now has two complete dyads, and welcomes Anthony and Ashlee as the new START Caseworker and FPM.

Meigs

Meigs welcomes Raeline Reeves, a prior START Caseworker, as their newly promoted START Supervisor.

Auglaize

Auglaize County is seeing great strides with parents in recovery, and parents have expressed desire to promote START to others.

Panel Features Family Peer Mentors

Montgomery County hosted a presentation to highlight START and the unique role of Family Peer Mentors. The technical assistance consultants, Diana Hoover and Pam Meermans, provided an overview of START and facilitated the panel presentation. Current peers from Lucas (Brandi Amonette), Medina (Laurel Ridenour), and Allen (Angela Mueller) counties joined the panel and shared messages about the power of recovery.

Ohio START Success Stories

Warren County Success Story

Warren County celebrated the START Graduation of Matt! Matt has done amazing things throughout his time in the START program. Not only did he make necessary changes in his life, but both of his children expressed how Matt has changed since being in the program. There were no dry eyes in the room listening to his children speak about how their father is now a more active in their lives.

Matt put in the work once he decided enough was enough--he reached out for help and stayed during his recovery journey, even when life threw some curveballs. The Warren START team is excited for Matt's future with his family!

Butler County Success Story

Kristina and Stephen attended treatment and consistently met with their Caseworker and Family Peer Mentor who helped them achieve their goals while keeping their child safely in their home throughout the process. They were each able to achieve and maintain sobriety, leading their case to close successfully.

When asked about their time in Ohio START, Kristina reported, “Thanks to the START program, my family has been able to stay happy, heathy (physically and mentally), SOBER, and together. The overwhelming support we received throughout our entire journey through START has been such a huge blessing and we are forever grateful for the opportunity we were given to participate.” The Butler County START team is grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside them in their journey.

Hamilton County Success Story

After more than 10 years of active addiction, Bradley recently graduated from the Hamilton County Ohio START program. Bradley gives credit to Hamilton's Ohio START Caseworker, Melissa From, and to Family Peer Mentor, Amanda Gray, for helping him stay in recovery and reunify with his daughter. He now has full custody of his daughter and will celebrate two years of recovery in October.

Share your success story to be featured in the next newsletter here.

Nominate an Ohio START staff member to be spotlighted here.

Did You Know?

Program Closure Data Now Available

Did you know OSU has updated the Ohio START data dashboard with a new tab focused on program closure information? Check it out here.

Resources and Events

Please Share Upon Completion of Ohio START

You can now participate in a phone interview study about your experience. If you participate in an interview from Ohio University or Ohio State University, you will receive a $75 gift card.

If you are co-parenting, each parent that completes Ohio START can participate and receive a gift card. Your participation is voluntary. Interviews can be over the phone or via video conference call.

To schedule an interview text or call: 740-486-0065

Each interview will last approximately 45 minutes.

Or email: OhioSTART.parentinterview@gmail.com

IRB Number: 19-F-40

Ohio START Job Postings

Do you have an open Ohio START position? Please send the details of your open positions to christine@pcsao.org to post on the Ohio START website.

FASD Assessment and Intervention Webinar

Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is offering a webinar titled "Responding to Prenatal Alcohol and Other Substance Exposures: FASD Assessment and Intervention," on July 24, 1-2:30 p.m. This second webinar of a 3-part series will focus on models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) assessment and intervention that are effective and well-suited for child welfare systems’ array of services. Join to learn about a brief consultation behavioral health clinic model for utilizing FASD-informed care to provide assessment, consultation, and links to supportive services. CEUs will be available for purchase. Register here.

Learning Community Discussions 2024 Schedule

Here are the 2024 dates for Learning Community Calls for caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, behavioral health workers, and family peer mentors. Please note that future dates are subject to change.

Caseworkers

Calls will occur on the third Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Here is the Zoom link. Calls will be based on county size, divided into the following three groups: Metro/Large, Medium, and Small.

Metro/Large call: July 17, Oct. 16
Medium: Aug. 21, Nov. 20
Small: Sept. 18, Dec. 18

Supervisors

Calls will occur bi-monthly on the third Thursday of the month from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. The dates are as follows: July 18, and Sept. 19. Here is the Zoom link.

Administrators

Calls will occur quarterly on the third Thursday of the month from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. The final meeting is Aug.15. Here is the Zoom link.

Behavioral health workers

Calls will occur quarterly on the third Thursday of the month from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. The dates are as follows: July 18, and Oct. 17. Here is the Zoom link.

Family peer mentors

Calls will occur monthly on the last Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The dates are as follows: July 31, Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 30, and Nov. 27. Here is the Zoom link.

Training

Visit the training calendar below to register

Introduction to START for New Staff

July 18 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Supervisor Professional Learning Community

July 18 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Foundations 3: Behavioral Health Treatment Provider Strategies

July 23-24 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Training Calendar

Ohio START is a program of PCSAO and an affiliate of the National START Model

Our Mission: We approach Substance Use Disorders with compassion, understanding and hope for recovery. We work as a team, supporting and holding each other accountable. We believe in family, love, equity, and redemption.

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