About ADAMHS

In 1988 Ohio passed the “Mental Health Act” which stressed the importance of community treatment rather than institutionalization. Community Mental Health Boards received even more authority to plan and develop local systems of care.

In 1989, Ohio recognized that a cabinet level department and local community control could best serve the recovery needs of Ohioans with alcohol and/or other drug addictions. Counties throughout Ohio reengineered their existing Community Mental Health Boards to also plan and oversee alcohol and other drug services.

Currently the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board for Montgomery County administrates the planning, development, funding, and evaluation of behavioral health services delivered by a network of nearly thirty (30) communities based organizations. In fiscal year 2010, this network provided service to more than 20,647 individuals at a system- wide cost of $64,008,719 million.

The Ohio Office of Health Transformation has been given a set of priorities that will impact the responsibilities and the role of the ADAMHS Board beginning July 1, 2011. These include:

• Improve Care Coordination
• Integrate Behavioral/Physical Health Care
• Rebalance Long-Term Care
• Modernize Reimbursement
• Balance the Budget

To ensure consistency with, and positioning to access future federal funds, the ADAMHS Board must realign its priorities with those identified as SAMHSA’s Eight Strategic Initiatives. These priorities are to focus SAMHSA in its use and allocation of its resources, thus allowing SAMHSA “to respond to national, state, territorial, tribal and local trends and support implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act and guide SAMHSA through 2014 to help people with mental and alcohol other drug disorders and their families”. The Eight Strategic Initiatives are:

- Prevention of Alcohol other drug and Mental Illness
- Trauma and Justice - Military Families
- Recovery Support
- Health Reform
- Health Information Technology
- Data, Outcomes and Quality
- Public Awareness and Support
 

Recent News


OhioMHAS Announces Community Innovations Initiative

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services announced it will invest $1.5 million next year in projects that help link non-violent offenders with community-based behavioral healthcare services. The investments into the 12 collaborative projects in 24 counties is part of the Department's new Community Innovations Initiative, which kicked-off last week at the University of Findlay. The funding was acquired through savings resulting from the consolidation of state-funded agencies for mental health and addiction services. ....More

 

Suicide Risk Management

There are over 38,000 completed suicides in the United States per year. It is the 10th overall leading cause of death and the 3rd cause of death for individuals aged 15-24. Over 90 percent of those who die by suicide meet criteria for a severe and persistent mental illness and the suicide rate has been increasing, particularly among our veterans and middle aged males. click here for More

 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

After a traumatic experience, it's normal to feel frightened, sad, anxious, and disconnected. But if the upset doesn't fade and you feel stuck with a constant sense of danger and painful memories, you may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can seem like you'll never get over what happened or feel normal again. But by seeking treatment, reaching out for support, and developing new coping skills, you can overcome PTSD and move on with your life.   For more information, Click here  


Even Moderate Drinking in Pregnancy Can Affect a Child's IQ

Relatively small levels of exposure to alcohol while in the womb can influence a child's IQ, according to a new study led by researchers from the universities of Bristol and Oxford using data from over 4,000 mothers and their children in the Children of the 90s study (ALSPAC) and published November 14 in PLOS ONE. , click here.