Ohio START Newsletter February 2022

February 2022

Newsletter

Director's Corner

Welcome to February! We are excited to welcome four new counties as part of Cohort 5: Clark, Hancock, Knox, and Sandusky. We are glad you are with us on this journey.

In recognition of Black History Month, I would like to share a bit about our Race, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) work. Ohio START is partnered with The Ohio State University and 8 metro counties to examine REI in Ohio's START model. Each county has agreed to implement at least one strategy targeted at improving REI within the START model. The goal is to provide successful strategies to all START counties later this year.

Finally, enjoy this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr....it seems especially applicable to START:

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Fawn

From the Field:

County Highlights

Brown County

One of Brown County's graduates was offered a job at the treatment center.

Brown, Clinton, Fayette, Lorain, Summit and Warren

Brown, Clinton, Fayette, Lorain, Summit and Warren County START teams successfully closed cases in January.

Seneca County

Seneca County had a family reunified.

Medina County START featured in article

Ohio START was featured in an article in the Meding Gazzette. The article talked about START's collaboration with community partners as well as interviewing the START team and talking about fidelity. You can read it here.

Summit County Success Story

The Summit County START team recently had a special success. They took their first case in September of 2019, a mom whose baby tested positive for substances at birth and was in the NICU. She also had a two-year-old. The START dyad leaped into action, visiting her at the hospital, and have provided her support ever since. The mom has experienced challenges, but took the help she was offered a “ran with it” according to START Caseworker Beth Smyntek.

Fast forward to January 2022 and the mom from that first case was also their first START graduate! The agency held a graduation ceremony for her family that included praise from the START team as well as her behavioral health provider. Family Peer Mentor Erin Mills began her role about the same time the case began and maintained nearly daily contact with the client. The two grew close, with Erin texting her each day and transporting her to appointments.

“I have grown a lot with her,” Erin said.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” said the client.

START supervisor, Colleen Harris expressed her pride in the progress mom has made and cited her positive attitude throughout the case. Congratulations to all involved.

2022 Annual Summit: save the date!

The 2022 Ohio START Summit will be held Wednesday, May 11 at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43210. We look forward to coming together for another day of inspiration, learning and growth. Look for more information soon.

Training

Visit the training calendar below to register

Substance Use Disorders 101

Feb. 16 from 1 - 4:30 p.m.

Motivational Interviewing for Supervisors: Professional Learning Community (PLC)

Feb 23 from 9 -10 a.m.

Trauma and Resilience: identifying children, parents and families at risk.

Feb. 23 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Trauma & Resilience: Identifying children, parents, and families at risk:

Feb. 23 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Training Calendar

Ohio START is a program of PCSAO

Our Mission: We approach Substance Use Disorders with compassion, understanding and hope for recovery. We work as a team, supporting and holding each other accountable. We believe in family, love and redemption.