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Swisher joined the Board as the Associate Director in September of 2017, and is an independently licensed social worker with a supervisory designation.

“I want to thank Penny Dehner for her leadership at the ADAMH Board and also the Board for its confidence in me as I step into this role," said Swisher. "I have been privileged to work with a great staff at the ADAMH Board for over five years. We will continue to work hard to ensure our residents receive the best continuum of care possible.”



Swisher is a native of Dillonvale, Ohio and currently resides in Wellston, Ohio, with her husband of 24 years and her youngest of two children.

The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board has been awarded a three-year Culture of Quality (COQ) Certification. 

The COQ program developed by the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA) and its 50 ADAMH Boards to improve the quality of the statutorily mandated functions of county boards administering local alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services for Ohioans. The Culture of Quality is designed to promote community confidence and boards' public support through increased accountability. The survey lasting two days involves an intensive evaluation of the Board’s operations in comparison to over 144 standards developed as a part of the COQ.

“I am thrilled with the results of this survey,” said ADAMH Executive Director Penny Dehner. “It really does highlight the knowledgeable, caring and dedicated staff working to meet the needs of our communities. This is the 5^th consecutive 3 year COQ Certification our staff has received since our first certification in 2007.”

The Peer Certification findings noted no areas for improvement and highlights some of the board’s strengths:

• Clear strengths for this board include their ability to serve all five counties within their board district. They are active on numerous coalitions; they have built relationships with key stakeholders in each county; and they demonstrated relationships with the many providers serving their residents. In doing this, one clear strength is in their efforts to educate the community on the Board's role and behavioral health resources using their Communication Plan as their guide.

• Additionally, staff were recognized throughout the COQ review for their expertise, involvement in the community, and relationship development. Having a team that is knowledgeable and works well amongst themselves and with others can be invaluable and can contribute significantly to the overall success of the organization and that seems to be the case for the Paint Valley ADAMH Board.

• A well-thought our 3-year Communication Plan, that encompasses brand recognition, visibility, awareness campaigns, promotion of services & resources to businesses, and activities that support drug abuse prevention & suicide prevention coalitions.

• Throughout the surveyors' review, the Board’s Strategic Plan has guided the focus and efforts of the board, including- mental health first aid training, recovery events, plans to build out the crisis continuum, and PAX good behavior in half of their school districts.

Culture of Quality transforms Ohio's behavioral health system by promoting a more efficient, effective, consistent, and accountable county Board system. 



Highland County commissioners issued a proclamation in recognition of Highland County Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, accepted by members of the Highland County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Pictured (l-r) are commissioners David Daniels and Brad Roades; Cathy Faulconer and Leslie Rosselot of Highland District Hospital; Erin Mustard of the Highland County Health Department; Melanie Swisher of Paint Valley ADAMH; and commissioner Terry Britton. (HCP Photo/Caitlin Forsha)

The Highland County Suicide Coalition has initiated multiple outreach programs related to suicide prevention and awareness. On January 19, 2023, the coalition sponsored a QPR Gatekeeper training session which was open to members of the community. QPR training teaches individuals to recognize the warning signs of suicide, learn how to offer hope, and know how to get help and save a life.

Pictured Left to Right: Pickaway County Sheriff Hafey, Corporal Levi Freeman, Penny Dehner - Executive Director ADAMH Board and Melanie Swisher - Associate Director ADAMH Board

One of the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office cruisers has some new decals as part of an initiative to provide information on mental health resources in the community. Corporal Levi Freeman, a deputy with the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office and School Resource Officer at Teays Valley, is the one with the keys to this particular cruiser and was behind the idea to include the resources.

During the months of January and February, the Paint Valley ADAMH Board sponsored a series of Crisis De-escalation trainings. The training was conducted by Dr. Brian L. Bethel, LPCC-S, LCDC III, RPT-S, and a total of 86 healthcare providers from local residential treatment facilities attended. Crisis De-escalation training equips healthcare providers with de-escalation techniques to utilize when an individual is experiencing a mental health crisis. These techniques assist in maintaining a level of calm in a stressful situation and reduce the likelihood of violence or harm.

Do you know that suicide rates increase in the spring? In the month of April, the Paint Valley ADAMH and local QPR trainers are holding a QPR A Thon. If you or your organization is interested in being trained in suicide prevention, please reach out to contactus@pvadamh.org.

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