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Warmline Opens for Holidays

11/23/2020

A partnership between the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services and Recovery & Wellness Centers of Midwest Ohio is launching a temporary "warmline" beginning Monday, November 23.

The number of the Warmline is 937-423-6320. Depending on the caller's location and phone service, long distance charges may apply. Warmline operators will be available Mondays 9AM to Noon, Tuesdays 1PM to 4PM, and Thursdays 4Pm to 7PM. If persons call the warmline outside the established hours, they can leave a voicemail with a callback number. The warmline will not be staffed on holidays.

There is no charge for the warmline service, and only general demographic information will be collected to maintain confidentiality.

"With the holidays approaching and the COVID-19 numbers soaring, we are concerned about people feeling stressed and isolated from family and friends. We are especially concerned about our frontline workers — healthcare workers, first responders, grocery and retail, pharmacy, and other essential workers — facing extraordinary stress as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the holiday season," said Terri Becker, Executive Director of the Tri-County Board.

"We are working with our mental health and substance use treatment providers to find ways to help those most in need," Becker said. "A warmline is a service we are able to stand up when needed to provide someone to talk to about coping strategies, and when indicated, be referred to professional counseling."

A warmline is a telephone service where concerned people can talk to a trained operator about matters that do not rise to the level of a crisis. Persons in crisis should call the 24/7 Tri-County Crisis Hotline toll-free at 800-351-7347. The Crisis Hotline is also operated by RWC under contract with the Tri-County Board.

Tri-County Board, OACBHA Honor Front-Line Heroes

10/5/2020

The Tri-County Board of Recovery & Mental Health Services marked September 20-26 as a Week of Appreciation to recognize workers on the front lines of the pandemic-related mental health and addiction crisis.

Week of Appreciation is a statewide event coordinated by the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, which provided grants to help local behavioral health Boards honor first responders (police, fire and EMT personnel), public safety, public health, educators, hospital staff, crisis services workers, volunteers for Quick Response Teams, and others who have helped save lives and build resiliency amid the ongoing overdose and mental health crisis made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tri-County Board Executive Director Terri Becker said: “So many of our frontline workers have been directly impacted, and we don’t have enough opportunities to thank them. Week of Appreciation is a chance to recognize their hard work and to just give a little bit of encouragement and thanks for all they do to keep our families safe and healthy.”

Board staff logged more than 600 miles delivering appreciation packages to about 150 locations throughout Miami, Darke and Shelby Counties. The packages included a poster personalized for each organization, a copy of the Board’s resolution, and a red plastic bucket of mints imprinted with the message “Thank you for being lifesavers.”
The Board also purchased billboard space on I-75 between Piqua and Sidney. The billboard mirrors the poster design and says “Thank you – law enforcement, fire-EMT, public safety, public health, educators, health care, essential workers.”

Art of Recovery Goes Virtual, Explores Mental Health Amid Pandemic

8/20/2020

The Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services is seeking entries from local artists for its annual Art of Recovery exhibit, this year to be displayed virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Artists who have been affected personally, through a family member or friend, or anyone whose art reflects recovery from mental illness or addiction are invited to participate. Artists display works ranging from painting and drawing to sculpture, mixed media, crafts, photography and poetry. Artists typically reside in Darke, Miami and Shelby counties, although submissions from other counties are welcomed. Many use their art to express personal journeys with recovery from mental illness and addiction, while others have been touched as family members, friends, advocates and service providers. This year’s special theme is “Coping with COVID-19.” Artists are invited to display works that reflect their experiences during the pandemic, but are not required to.

Tri-County Board Executive Director Terri Becker said, “Art of Recovery has been one of our showcase events in recent years, where we get a chance to see how local artists and individuals express their interpretations of mental illness, wellness, and recovery. Unfortunately, the gathering restrictions due to COVID-19 make our traditional gallery exhibit impossible, so we are taking the Art of Recovery exhibit online.”

Artists can find the submission form and additional details at the Tri-County Board’s website, tcbmds.org/art. Artists will upload photos of their work along with descriptions. Tri-County Board staff will then add the photos of the art to an online gallery that will be linked to the Board’s website and social media accounts. The artwork will be displayed online indefinitely.

Art may be in any medium, including but not limited to painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, needlework, crafts, instrumental music, poetry and mixed media. Artists may submit more than one piece for submission, and may elect to remain anonymous at the showcase. There is no fee to enter, and no prizes are awarded. For the gallery exhibit, three certificates will be awarded. Best in Show will be determined by the judges based on artistic merit, People’s Choice will be awarded based on popular vote, and the Director’s Choice will be selected by Tri-County Board staff for the piece that best exemplifies wellness and recovery.

The Art of Recovery showcase aims to increase public awareness of mental illness and addiction issues in an effort to fight the stigma that so often accompanies these diseases.

For more information, contact Brad Reed, Director of Community Resource Development, at ReedB@tcbmds.org or 937-335-7727 ext 209.

SafeHaven Reopening Plan

6/9/2020

Since March 18th, SafeHaven had not been able to open for attendance due to COVID-19 regulations in Ohio, but we have been blessed to have the opportunity to deliver meals and offer virtual support groups and technology wellness check-ins for many of our members. NOW, we have exciting news. SafeHaven will be re-opening under the Responsible RestartOhio regulations on Wednesday, June 10th, 2020! SafeHaven is ready and excited to welcome all of our members back, and we’re ready to do so in a safe manner to protect one another, following mandatory practices set by Ohio government.

Our SafeHaven locations in Darke, Miami, and Shelby Counties have our buildings designed to meet and exceed the health safety requirements, including social distancing seating arrangements, one-way hallways/pathways, verbal health screenings before entry, increased cleaning procedures, added hand sanitation stations, provided masks for employees and members, and more. During this phase of social distanced-opening, our transportation will not be available for riders. But, SafeHaven will be open for attendance with our structured day of support groups, educational classes, meals, social activities, and more three (3) days per week at each site, and will continue cooking/packaging/delivering meals and providing virtual support four (four) days per week at each site.

Miami County’s site will re-open with special regulations on Wednesday, June 10th from 11am to 4pm, and will continue each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until further restrictions are eased. Meal deliveries and virtual support will continue to be available each Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Call 937.615.0126 or email safehavendouglas@woh.rr.com for more information.

Darke County’s site will re-open with special regulations on Thursday, June 11th from 11am to 4pm, and will continue each Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday until further restrictions are eased. Meal deliveries and virtual support will continue to be available each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Call 937.548.7233 or email safehavendouglas@woh.rr.com for more information.

Shelby County’s site will re-open with special regulations on Friday, June 12th from 11am to 4pm, and will continue each Monday, Tuesday, and Friday until further restrictions are eased. Meal deliveries and virtual support will continue to be available each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Call 937.658.6930 or email safehavendouglas@woh.rr.com for more information.

See www.safehaveninc.com for more information about all of the services we offer to adults in need of mental health support across Darke, Miami, and Shelby Counties. SafeHaven would like to thank our funders: Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services, Shelby County United Way, United Way of Miami County, Darke County United Way, Troy Foundation, Community Foundation of Shelby County, Miami County Foundation, and Piqua Foundation.

Tri-County Board Launches Warmline for Frontline Workers

4/16/2020

A partnership between the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services and Recovery & Wellness Centers of Midwest Ohio is launching a temporary "warmline" for frontline workers beginning Monday, April 20.

The number of the Frontline Warmline is 937-423-6320. Depending on the caller's location and phone service, long distance charges may apply. Warmline operators will be available Mondays and Tuesdays from 9AM to 7PM, Wednesdays 9AM to 6PM, and Thursdays and Fridays 9AM to 5PM.

There is no charge for the warmline service, and only general demographic information will be collected to maintain confidentiality.

"We are hearing many stories about our frontline workers — healthcare workers, first responders, grocery and retail, pharmacy, and other essential workers — facing extraordinary stress as a result of the coronavirus pandemic," said Terri Becker, Executive Director of the Tri-County Board.

"We are working with our mental health and substance use treatment providers to find ways to help those most in need," Becker said. "A warmline is a service we have been able to get going quickly, to respond to the needs of frontline workers feeling stressed, to provide someone to talk to about some coping strategies, and when indicated, be referred to professional counseling."

Board staff will be reaching out to stores, businesses, first responder departments, hospitals and others in the coming days to promote the use of the warmline. Printable posters are available for download on the Tri-County Board's website at www.tcbmds.org/frontline.

A warmline is a telephone service where concerned people can talk to a trained operator about matters that do not rise to the level of a crisis. Persons in crisis should call the 24/7 Tri-County Crisis Hotline toll-free at 800-351-7347. The Crisis Hotline is also operated by RWC under contract with the Tri-County Board.

The Mental Health HOPE Line, 855-276-HOPE (4673), is a general warmline operated by SafeHaven Inc. Hours are Monday-Friday 4PM to 11PM, and Saturdays and Sundays 4PM to 8PM.

Mental Health Coping Tips

3/24/2020

The Centers for Disease Control offers the following tips for coping during the COVID-19 outbreak:

People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with treatment plans during an emergency and monitor for any new symptoms.
Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage of COVID-19.
Take care of your body.
Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate.
Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs.
Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly.
Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your normal life.
Connect with others.
Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships.
Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking.
Call your health care provider if stress reactions interfere with your daily activities for several days in a row.

Mental health providers are open and are able to serve existing and new clients via telephone and telehealth. See here for a roundup of local providers and their contact information. If you or someone close to you is in crisis, call the 24/7 Tri-County Crisis Hotline at 937-351-7347; reach the national Crisis Text Line by texting "4hope" to 741741; or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255).

Temporary Limited Office Hours

3/23/2020

The Tri-County Board offices, including Miami County Family and Children First Council, NAMI Darke, Miami, Shelby Counties, and Community Housing of Darke, Miami and Shelby Counties, are operating on severely curtailed hours during the stay-at-home order. WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS but staff are largely working from home. We strongly discourage anyone from coming to the office unless you have been specifically instructed to do so by one of our staff.

Our phone lines remain open 937-335-7727 for the Tri-County Board or 937-332-0021 for Community Housing) and staff have access to email. Whenever possible please direct your call directly to a staff person (press 7 from the main menu for a staff directory). Please allow extra time for a response. For mental health crisis please call 800-251-7347. For medical emergencies call 911.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we all do our parts to minimize the impact of the coronavirus epidemic.

Tri-County Board adjusts to coronavirus response

3/23/2020

The Tri-County Board is committed to ensuring continuity of mental health and addictions services in Darke, Miami and Shelby Counties, while complying with guidance on safe practices during the COVID-19 corona virus pandemic.

To protect behavioral health workers and their families, we are postponing training programs and canceling non-essential meetings. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but ask for your understanding.

The Board will continue to meet as necessary to keep core operations functioning. In the background we are exploring options for alternative meeting methods that comply with the Secretary of State’s guidance on Ohio Open Meetings laws.

The Board office will be curtailing staff coverage to those functions that must be performed in the office and transitioning other staff duties to a work-from-home model during the ordered stay-at-home period.

Our phone lines remain open. Whenever possible please direct your call directly to a staff person (press 7 from the main menu for a staff directory). If you leave a message on the general message line, please allow extra time for a response.

We encourage everyone to practice physical distancing according to the guidance from our public health officials, but to also use every means available to avoid social isolation, including phone calls, video chats and online gaming. Staying connected is an important part of reducing anxiety during times of crisis. Know the facts. For more information about managing your mental health during this pandemic, please refer to our Coronavirus Resource Page.

--Terri Becker, Executive Director

Accessing mental health services during the coronavirus pandemic

3/19/2020

By adapting their businesses to rapidly changing condition, the area's mental health and addictions provider agencies have been able to meet the needs of clients and an anxious public during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mental health crisis services are available, within the limits imposed on admission to public places such as jails and hospitals. Persons experiencing a mental health crisis, generally defined as severe, debilitating symptoms of anxiety or depression, loss of reality, or suicidal thoughts, should call the 24\7 Tri-County Crisis Hotline at 800-351-7347.

Persons who may be experiencing a crisis but can't don't want to talk may use the national Crisis Text Line by texting "4hope" to 741741.

Persons concerned about suicidal thoughts may also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). Talking about suicide is often the best way to prevent a suicide attempt.

Persons who are anxious but not in crisis may call the HOPE Line operated by SaveHaven Inc. The warm line - as opposed to a hotline for emergencies - allows people to talk about their concerns with a trained operator. The HOPE Line can be reached at 937-451-3232 or toll free at 855-276-HOPE (4673). Hours are Monday through Friday 4-11PM, and Saturday and Sunday 4-8PM.

Recovery and Wellness Centers of Midwest Ohio in Tipp City and Greenville asks that new or existing clients not come to the facility unless requested to do so, but rather call the central scheduling number, 937-423-6356, and to check the website, recoveryandwellnessohio.org for updates and information.

RWC Executive Director Cynthia Wion said their transition to alternative methods of meeting clients has gone relatively smoothly given the suddenness of the pandemic restrictions. "We can start clients with a phone call, email them the consent forms and other documents, and get them started without having to meet face to face." She added that many of RWC's professional staff are able to work from home.

Miami County Recovery Council in Troy requests that new and existing clients call the main number, 937-335-4543 ext 155, before coming to the office. More information and updates can be found at mcrcinc.org.

MCRC Executive Director Thom Grim said, "We are still here for people. We are being careful for staff who are on the front lines, but we are still providing services for those who need them." Grim said MCRC is mostly providing telephone and telehealth services when possible for the safety of clients and staff. He added that group therapy, which has been temporarily suspended due to restrictions on the size of gatherings, will soon resume through an online format.

At Family Resource Centers of Northwest Ohio's Sidney office, clinical services via telephone and video will be available soon, according to a notice posted to the organization's website by CEO John Bindas. Persons seeking services should call first at the Sidney office number, 937-710-4616, or FRC's hotline 888-936-7116. Additional information can be found at frcohio.com.

At Safehaven's three locations in Piqua, Greenville and Sidney, staff is available by phone and online, but on-site activities have been curtailed. Executive Director Doug Metcalfe, in statement circulated Wednesday, stated that while SafeHaven is unable to open to members, they are adapting services to provide meals to current members along with activities and online group meetings. Online support sessions will take place at 11:30AM, 1:00PM and 2:30PM, and will be site-specific.

SafeHaven staff is making daily outreach and wellness calls to members, and welcomes incoming calls for peer support in addition to the HOPE Line services. Payeeship services continue, except that appointments will be by phone only. For a complete rundown of services available to SafeHaven members, go to safehaveninc.com.

The Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services has been closely monitoring updates from the Governor's office and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to help provide guidance to local providers of services.

For example, existing Medicaid rules do not allow agencies to bill for counseling services by telephone. However, once the scope of the pandemic became apparent, the Governor's office and OhioMHAS expressed a strong inclination toward services by phone. Tri-County Board Executive Director Terri Becker communicated to the provider agencies that, pending changes in Medicaid billing rules, the Board would use local mental health levy dollars within existing contracts to enable agencies to start providing services by phone as soon as they are ready to do so.

Tri-County Board staff are transitioning to work from home as much as possible. The Board office remains open for business but no members of the public are permitted into the office, in compliance with a directive from Miami County officials. Persons wishing to contact the Board office are requested to call 937-335-7727 and press 7 for a staff directory. More resources and information can be found at the Board's website www.tcbmds.org.

SafeHaven Temporary Change of Services

3/17/2020

In response to state and federal mandates and guidelines regarding COVID-19, SafeHaven will TEMPORARILY alter its delivery of services to those in need of mental health support. Beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, SafeHaven sites in Darke, Miami, and Shelby Counties will not be open for members or other individuals in need of mental health support to attend. Instead, in our mission to still provide caring services in this time of caution, SafeHaven and our committed staff will offer the following for each county until further notice:

SafeHaven will cook and deliver meals to each current member requesting lunch each open day. Delivered meals will also include worksheets from our library of evidence-based wellness groups (for discussion via phone and online group), an activity, and a quote of hope.
SafeHaven will make daily outreach and wellness calls to our membership. SafeHaven staff will also welcome incoming calls offering peer support and caring in addition to regular HOPE-Line hours and services.
SafeHaven will go Live from each county site multiple times daily with private Facebook groups and/or Zoom support meetings that feature evidence-based classes, support groups, and virtual social time.
Organizational Payeeship services will continue with no changes to the security of all bills being paid. The only adjustments will be that all appointments will be via telephone, and all checks will be mailed.
HOPE-Line services will continue with no changes.

Further Details:

Free Lunch requests will work in the same fashion as members previously calling for transportation. Members should call by 9am each morning to be included in the daily meal delivery.
- Meals will be placed at the door of the requesting member residence between approximately 11:15am and 1:00pm, depending on the number of meals per county. Delivery drivers will call shortly in advance of dropoff for more exact times. (No face-to face delivery.)
- For Darke County members: 937.548.7233. For Miami County members: 937.615.0126. For Shelby County members: 937.658.6930.
- A few additional lunches may be available daily for delivery to adult individuals in Darke, Miami, or Shelby Counties that are not yet SafeHaven members, with confirmation required that those individuals receive clinical mental health services.
- Lunches will be basic part of this week until we receive required delivery supplies to keep meals hot and fresh.
Confidential Facebook Live groups and Zoom meetings, for members with available technology, will be set up by controlled technological invitation only. Interested current members may request invitation, or other interested adults receiving clinical services may request invitation and orientation by calling each site via the numbers listed above. SafeHaven will be calling current membership to walk them through, if interested. While building staff comprehension of using this technology, these live/online groups and meetings will slowly roll out Thursday, March 19th and expand for full utilization Monday, March 23rd.

Please call our administrative line at 937.615.9534 with any questions during this TEMPORARY change. Thank you for your understanding and support in this challenging time, and may God bless you and yours with health and peace.

Douglas Metcalfe
Executive Director: SafeHaven, Inc.

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