Friday, May 3, 2024
5/3/2024
Ohio is transforming children's behavioral health through its System of Care Expansion grants referred to as ENGAGE (Engaging the new Generation to Achieve their Goals through Empowerment). ENGAGE 2.0 advanced children's crisis services and interventions with the development and implementation of Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS). Ohio's MRSS as an upstream crisis intervention that provides a 24/7 hotline; on-site mobile response triage; clinical assessments; referrals and follow-up services including Wraparound care coordination, serves children and young adults with multi-system needs; maintains children in their homes and communities; leverages resources across systems to be more effective in meeting youth and families needs; and institutes shared governance. Within four years of implementing Ohio's MRSS, Ohio Medicaid incorporated MRSS in the state plan for children's Medicaid billable services. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its emotionally tolling consequences, there is even a greater need to amplify the importance of addressing children's and young adult crisis especially in rural counties. According to A FAIR health white paper in March of 2022, young people have proven especially vulnerable to mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is submitting this proposal in response to SAMHSA's Grants for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Severe Emotional Disturbances, which we titled "ENGAGE 3.0" to expand MRSS to rural counties which have had increased youth suicide rates and a greater need for infrastructure support to develop evidence-based behavioral health services. This need combined with data showing that youth needing treatment are unable to receive it, positions these board areas of Ohio to receive resources that will expand access to MRSS and ultimately reduce the number of youth suicides and out of home placements due to behavioral health crises.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
