“Voices for Recovery” 5K Family Run/1 Mile Walk date announced!

Save the Date for 15th Annual Lorain County’s “Voices for Recovery” 5K Family Run/1 Mile Walk, Saturday, September 26, 2020, in the Lorain County Metro Parks.

September will mark the 31st anniversary of the “National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month” to celebrate the positive impact of treatment for alcohol and drug use disorders in communities nationwide.

The recovery month effort aims to “promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of treatment providers and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders in all its forms.” During this time of significant impact of healthcare reform, the heroin epidemic, we need to come together to make a difference in Lorain County.

The main event will be a 5K (3.1 mile) family run or 1 mile walk through the beautiful Lorain County Metro Parks – Black River Reservation. The Course will begin at the Bur Oak Picnic Area. The Race will be followed by a picnic and prizes.

Other activities that day will be a children’s fun run and an awards ceremony. What better way to celebrate recovery than a family-friendly event that promotes health and fitness!

The race will be professionally managed and include: official timing, website registration, race results, official finish line set up, water stops, and runners bibs.

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CANCELED: Peer Parent trainings available

 

CANCELED

In partnership with the Department of Justice – Cleveland Area, two training opportunities are coming to our community.

PEER PARENT TRAININGS AVAILABLE

 

Peer Parent Coach Training – DOWNLOAD FLYER

REGISTER by contacting Jinx Mastney, Opioid Response Outreach Coordinator, 440-282-9920, jmastney@lorainadas.org

This 3 day training is to build capacity for a national Peer Parent Coach system – focus is parents who have had teens/young adults with addiction – the Peer Parent Coaches will be part of the national bank through Partnership for Drug Free Kids to support parents who need connections. This training is limited to 15 peer parent coaches.

Training Dates: March 20, 21, 22
LCCC Spitzer Conference Center, 1005 North Abbe Rd. Elyria, OH 44035
Attendance is required for all 3 days. This is a 20-hour program.

DEA 360 Train the Trainer

REGISTER ONLINE for Lorain County locations

You will become part of our community’s training team to provide presentations to community partners (churches, rotaries, etc) with the presentation “Heroin and Other Opioids, from Understanding to Action.”

 

Ohio Drug Overdose Report available

The Ohio Department of Health’s 2018 Ohio Drug Overdose Data: General Findings Report is now available HERE on the ODH website.

Key findings from the report include:

• In 2018, 3,764 people died of unintentional drug overdoses, a decrease of 1,090 compared to 2017 and the lowest number of deaths since 2015.
• Fentanyl was involved in nearly 73% of overdose deaths in 2018, often in combination with other drugs. That percentage was up from 71% in 2017, 58% in 2016, and nearly 38% in 2015.
• In 2018, fentanyl was involved in nearly 80% of all heroin-related overdose deaths, 74% of all cocaine-related overdose deaths, and 67% of all psychostimulant/methamphetamine-related overdose deaths. Carfentanil was involved in 75 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2018 compared to 1,010 in 2017.

• For the second year in a row, the population with the highest overall overdose death rate was among black non-Hispanic males (49.5 per 100,000 population) followed closely by white non-Hispanic males (48.1 per 100,000 population).
• The age groups with the highest overdose death rates were 35-44-year-old white non-Hispanic males (110.4 per 100,000 population), followed by 55-64-year-old black non-Hispanic males (108.8 per 100,000 population).
• The number of unintentional overdose deaths involving psychostimulants/methamphetamine increased 5% in 2018 while deaths involving all other drug categories declined.
• The number of overdose deaths involving natural and semi-synthetic opioids (e.g., oxycodone and hydrocodone) declined 42% from 2017 to 2018.
• Cocaine-related overdose deaths declined 29% from 2017 to 2018.
• Heroin-related overdose deaths declined nearly 28% from 2017 to 2018.

Seeking Community Services Director – DEADLINE EXTENDED

The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board is seeking a Community Services Director.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 19, 2020.

The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County is seeking an experienced community mental health and substance use disorder professional as Community Services Director. The person will provide leadership in ensuring the highest standards of care for the county’s comprehensive community mental health and substance use disorder system, and will ensure that high quality, fiscally responsible, mental health and substance use disorder system services meet the needs of those in Lorain County.

Candidates must have knowledge of and experience with the continuum of community based services, public funding streams and fiscal planning, program evaluation, budgetary analysis, project management, and treatment and recovery supports for adults and children. Collaboration and team facilitation skills required. Must be an excellent verbal and written communicator and have successful experience providing administrative and clinical supervision.

Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or a closely related field; Ph.D. preferred. No less than 5 to 10 years progressively responsible clinical, supervisory and management experience in mental health, substance use disorders or a closely related field.

Salary is negotiable with excellent fringe benefits.

Send completed applications and résumés to Patrice McKinney at pmckinney@lcbmh.org or at 1173 North Ridge Rd. East, Suite 101, Lorain, Ohio 44055. The deadline to apply has been extended to February 19, 2020.

The MHARS Board of Lorain County reserves the right to extend the timeframe for the search if a desirable candidate is not found or for any other reason.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

EEO/AAP

NAMI seeking volunteers for LOSS Team

NAMI seeking volunteers for LOSS Team

The local LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Team, facilitated by NAMI of Lorain County, is seeking volunteers to receive training and join our team in creating a Community of Caring for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. They have a critical need for qualified volunteers to be available on weekdays.

DOWNLOAD FLYER

What is a LOSS Team?
The Lorain County LOSS Team is based on a national program that provides support to survivors bereaved by a suicide loss. For every suicide death, there are dozens of survivors left to make sense of it. NAMI’s team of trained and caring volunteers are present to help.

Volunteer Requirements:
• Must be I8 years of age or older
• Background Screening
• Successfully complete a 4 hour training, post program interview and screening process
• Have access to reliable transportation and phone during your shift.

Volunteer Training Dates:
Jan. 30, April 30, July 30 & Oct. 29, 2020
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Amy Levin Conference Center
1165 North Ridge Rd. • Lorain, OH 44055
440-233-8181 ext. 223

Questions?
dshumpertnamilc@gmail.com

MHARS Board advocates for national 3-digit suicide prevention hotline

Holiday schedule for accessing services

Crisis resources are available year-round. If a person in Lorain County, Ohio, is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 9-1-1 or the hotline at 1-800-888-6161.

Non-emergency services also are available most days, but there will be a delay in response on some holidays. Please note the following:

Navigator non-emergency line (440-240-7025) will not be staffed on these holidays. However, callers may leave a voice mail at any time, and the call will be returned at the next opportunity:
Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25
New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1
Three Kings Day – Monday, January 6

Alcohol and Other Drug Services non-emergency line (440-282-9920), and the MHARS office (440-233-2020), will not be staffed on these holidays. However, callers may leave a voice mail at any time, and the call will be returned at the next opportunity:

Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25
New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1

Helpful Information for Provider Agencies

Helpful Information for New Grads, Job or Internship Seekers

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR NEW GRADS, JOB OR INTERNSHIP SEEKERS

Resources for Aspiring Mental Health Professionals

We are always looking for new talent to join our mental health and addiction network.

 

There are several ways to get experience and knowledge if you already are, or aspire to be, a community-based mental health or substance use worker, a social worker, a peer support specialist, or a clinician.

 

Earn certification in Mental Health First Aid, ASIST, or other education opportunities through our free trainings

 

Search for a job or internship

 

Follow us on LinkedIn

 

Join our e-newsletter to learn about upcoming events and opportunities 

Helpful Information for Advocates and Voters

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR ADVOCATES AND VOTERS

Resources for Practitioners, Clinicians, and other Professionals

The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA) has a Legislative Advocacy page with resources to help practitioners, clinicians, and other professionals in the mental health field shape public policy.

The resources can be useful to consumers and community members as well, with tips like:

 

• how to build a relationship with your legislator
• how legislation is introduced and becomes law in Ohio, or
• how to testify to a legislative committee.

 

Local groups often advocate for the needs of people with mental illness or substance use disorder as well, like the Advocacy Committee of NAMI of Lorain County. http://nami-lc.org/advocacy/