MONTHLY BOARD MEETING

Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Meeting:

September 17th, 2026 @ 8:30AM

4717 Main Ave. (Lower Level)

Ashtabula, OH 44004

COALITION MEETING

Prevention Coalition and Suicide Prevention Coalition:

October 7th, 2026 from 3:00PM to 4:15PM

4717 Main Ave. (Lower Level)

Ashtabula, OH 44004

Pictured above from left to right; Commissioner Casey Kozlowski, Christy Fisher from the MHRS Board, Commissioner Kathryn Whittington, Kaitie Hart from the MHRS Board, Commissioner J.P. Ducro.

Ashtabula County Recognizes Overdose Awareness Day

On August 27, 2026, the Ashtabula County Commissioners presented a proclamation to the Ashtabula County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board recognizing Overdose Awareness Day in Ashtabula County.

Overdose Awareness Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the impact of substance use and overdose in our community, while remembering and honoring the lives lost. In 2025, 23 members of the Ashtabula County community lost their lives to fatal overdoses, leaving behind families, friends, and loved ones who continue to feel that loss. We also remember the many others we have lost throughout the years.

This day is not only about remembering those we have lost, but also about recognizing the hope, prevention, recovery, and lifesaving work happening throughout our community. We are incredibly grateful for our first responders, law enforcement, healthcare providers, behavioral health professionals, peer supporters, community organizations, and countless individuals who respond when someone is experiencing an overdose and work every day to prevent the next one.

In 2025 alone, nearly 7,000 naloxone kits were distributed throughout Ashtabula County. Every kit represents a chance to intervene, a chance to save a life, and a chance for someone to have another day to seek recovery. Naloxone saves lives. Naloxone gives families, friends, first responders, and community members the ability to act when seconds matter.

Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a story. It is a day to remember those we have lost, support those who are struggling, thank those who continue to respond, and remind our community that recovery is possible and help is available.



Join the Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions on

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 12-1:30 p.m. ET,

for a dynamic webinar exploring how integrated care and peer support can strengthen recovery, engagement and person-centered care for pregnant and postpartum women affected by substance use.

Participants will learn about the EMPOWERED recovery support model, an integrated approach that connects primary and obstetric care, substance use treatment, mental health services, social supports and peer recovery support to meet the needs of both parent and baby throughout the perinatal journey.

After this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe challenges pregnant and postpartum women affected by substance use face and why integrated care is essential.
• Identify core components of the EMPOWERED model for supporting pregnant and postpartum women affected by substance use.
• Explain how stage-based peer support promotes engagement, recovery and retention across the perinatal journey.
• Recognize organizational considerations for successfully embedding peer recovery support specialists into perinatal care.

Featured Speakers:

• Andria Peterson, PharmD, Executive Director of EMPOWERED
• Rachel Mack, LMSW, LADC, Director of EMPOWERED
• Farzad Kamyar, MD, Psychiatry Clerkship Director at Roseman University College of Medicine
• Stephanie Woodard, PsyD, Managing Principal at Bowling Business Strategies

This virtual event is hosted by the Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions, funded by a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you have questions about this session, please contact Integration@TheNationalCouncil.org.

COMPLIMENTARY HOTEL ROOM!

 Thanks to the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, OCAAR is able to provide up to 45 complimentary hotel rooms for the upcoming Recovering People's Convention.

If you are attending the Recovering People’s Convention on September 14, you may be eligible to receive a complimentary hotel room for Sunday night, September 13. Complete the application below to be considered. Rooms are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to attendees traveling the greatest distances.

SUD COE: Overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders

Thursday, September 17, 2026

9:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps individuals identify and modify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress and maladaptive coping. By strengthening self-awareness and developing practical skills for managing triggers and stressors, CBT promotes healthier patterns of thinking and behavior, supporting overall well-being and recovery across behavioral and physical healthcare settings. By building insight into the connection between thoughts, emotions, and actions, CBT equips clients with practical coping strategies, enhances self-efficacy, and supports long-term recovery and relapse prevention across behavioral and physical healthcare settings. CBT is an evidence-based intervention widely used to treat substance use disorders (SUD), with research demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing substance use, preventing relapse, and improving coping skills (Carroll & Onken, 2005; McHugh et al., 2010). CBT helps individuals identify and modify maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that contribute to substance use, while developing adaptive skills to manage triggers, cravings, and high-risk situations.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Cnslr: 3.0

LPN: 3.0

RN: 3.0

SW: 3.0

OCDP: (C1) 0.75, (C2) 1.50, (C8) 0.75

Nursing Contact Hrs: 3.0

To view a whole list of trainings provided for the month of September please click below:

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

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Email Christy Fisher: Cfisher@ashtabulamhrs.org