At its regular meeting September 23, the Miami County Heroin Coalition passed a resolution to endorse the Tri-County Mental Health & Recovery levy which will be on the ballot in Shelby, Darke and Miami Counties November 8.

The Tri-County Mental Health & Recovery levy is a 0.6 mill, 5-year renewal to provide ongoing funding for counseling and supportive services to children and adults through the operation of alcohol and drug addiction programs and mental health programs. Levy funds are administered by the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services.

The Miami County Heroin Coalition is made up of agencies, organizations, public officials, businesses, churches, and concerned citizens working together to address the impact of heroin on Miami County, Ohio. It is the Coalition's position that only by working together and maintaining open channels of communication among all affected groups can the challenges of heroin use in Miami County effectively be met. Members recognize the importance of the Tri-County Mental Health and Recovery Levy in supporting these community-based efforts.

For more information about the Miami County Heroin Coalition, contact Coalition chair J. Steven Justice at [email protected].

At its regular meeting September 22, the Shelby County Drug Free Coalition passed a resolution to endorse the Tri-County Mental Health & Recovery levy which will be on the ballot in Shelby, Darke and Miami Counties November 8.

The Tri-County Mental Health & Recovery levy is a 0.6 mill, 5-year renewal to provide ongoing funding for counseling and supportive services to children and adults through the operation of alcohol and drug addiction programs and mental health programs. Levy funds are administered by the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services.

The Shelby County Drug Free Coalition is made up of agencies, organizations, public officials, businesses and concerned citizens working together to make Shelby County, Ohio, a safe place to live and work. The Coalition's mission is advocacy, networking and collaboration to prevent harmful alcohol and other drug use in Shelby County by focusing on preventing youth consumption.

The Coalition meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 10:30am at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sidney. Information about the Coalition, including upcoming meetings, can be found online at drugfreeshelbycounty.weebly.com.

FOA (Families of Addicts) is changing the location of its Miami County meetings. Beginning October 4, the group will meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 7 to 8:30PM at Grace Family Worship, 725 Lincoln Avenue, Troy.

FOA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and encouraging advocacy for families, friends and individuals touched by addiction.

For more information, call Paula at 937-301-9747 or email [email protected], or go online at FOAfamilies.org.

Mental Health First Aid classes in October, November and December are now available for registration. The classes are offered by the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services.

The general Mental Health First Aid courses are: October 13 in Troy; November 8 in Greenville; and December 5 in Sidney. A Youth Mental Health First Aid course which is designed for adults who work with young people ages 12-18, will be offered November 2 in Sidney.

Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care.

Anyone can take the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course — first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens.

Pre-registration is required. Cost of each class is $25 which includes the required manual. For details and to register online, go to the Tri-County Board’s website at www.tcbmds.org/mhfa, or call 937-335-7727, ext 216.

FOA Families of Addicts embraces "families, friends and individuals struggling with addiction in order to promote recovery, provide support and encourage advocacy."

The group has scheduled a new meeting time beginning June 7 - Tuesday evenings, 7:30 to 9:00 at Fusion, 421 Broadway Street in Piqua.

For more information, call Paula at 937-301-9747 or email [email protected].

More about FOA can be found on the national website, FOAfamilies.org, or on facebook at FOA Families of Addicts.

Mental Health First Aid classes to be offered in early March are now available for registration. The classes are offered by the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services, and will take place in Sidney March 4 and March 5.

The March 4 class is Youth Mental Health First Aid, which presents the 8-hour curriculum with a special focus on young people aged 12-18. The course is designed for people who are not mental health professionals but who may work with young people, such as teachers, coaches, pastors, and parents.

The March 5 class is the general Mental Health First Aid, which looks at mental health concerns for persons of all ages.

Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care.

Anyone can take the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course — first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens.

Pre-registration is required. Cost of each class is $25 which includes the required manual. For details and to register online, go to the Tri-County Board’s website at www.tcbmds.org/mhfa, or call 937-335-7727, ext 216. Additional courses are planned in Shelby, Miami and Darke Counties over the coming months.

The following information is provided by SafeHaven Inc regarding upcoming Christmas Celebrations schedule:

Dec. 16
Wednesday, December 16 is our large, annual three-county SafeHaven Christmas celebration!  Any adult in need of mental health support from Darke, Miami, or Shelby Counties is welcome to join us for a free meal, gifts for everyone, fun and games, and to share in the festive spirit of the season.  This event is free for any adult in need of mental health support, and transportation is provided from each county to our Miami County location in Piqua at 633 N. Wayne St.  This SafeHaven location will be open from 10-5 for this event.
 
Dec. 18
Darke County SafeHaven will host its own additional Christmas celebration on Friday, December 18th for adults in need of mental health support in Darke County at our 322 Fair St. location in Greenville.  Normal hours apply.
 
Dec. 22
Shelby County SafeHaven will host its own additional Christmas celebration on Tuesday, December 22 for adults in need of mental health support in Shelby County at our 1101 N. Vandemark location in Sidney.  Normal hours apply.
 
Dec. 23
Miami County SafeHaven will also host an additional Christmas celebration on Wednesday, December 23rd for adults in need of mental health support in Miami County at our 633 N. Wayne St. location in Piqua.  Normal hours apply.
 
Dec. 24
Staff will specially open the Miami County SafeHaven site on the Christmas Eve holiday on December 24th from 12pm-3pm.  Members from all three SafeHaven sites are welcome, specifically for those who may not have family and their own events on the holidays.
 
NEW WEBSITE CALENDAR
While the new SafeHaven website is under construction, a new calendar for all three counties featuring daily class and support group schedules, schedule changes, special events, field trips, and more can be found and shared at: 
 
http://www.safehaveninc.com/calendar.html (Must be viewed with Firefox or Google Chrome)

Residents of Miami, Darke and Shelby Counties who have lost a child or other loved one to suicide, drug overdose or other unexpected loss are invited to attend a Healing from Unexpected Loss program 9am to noon Saturday November 21 at the Upper Valley Career Center Hartzell Lecture Hall, Piqua.

The program is being sponsored by the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services in partnership with the Miami County Chapter of The Compassionate Friends, and in conjunction with International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, a program of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

"Those who have lost a loved one to suicide or drug overdose often feel a stigma," said Mark McDaniel, Executive Director of the Tri-County Board, "and especially if that loved one was a child, there's a layer of guilt. Meeting others in our local community who have experienced similar loss may lessen the feelings of guilt and stigma and help the healing process."

The Compassionate Friends is a national organization with local chapters that support families after a child dies. The Miami County Chapter meets at Nashville Church, 4540 West State Route 571, West Milton, the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00pm.

The program will be designed with the special needs of survivors of suicide, drug overdose or unexpected loss in mind. The program includes the viewing "Family Journeys: Healing and Hope After a Suicide," a video for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. A panel discussion will feature survivors of loss, parents, and grief counselors and the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. There will also be a healing activity and a remembrance/healing ceremony.

While not required, those interested are encouraged to pre-register at www.survivorday.org/event/troy-oh. By registering families have the opportunity to upload a photo of their loved one along with a message for inclusion in a virtual memorial quilt.

There is no cost to attend. For more information, email Brad Reed, [email protected].

It is well established that spending time in natural surroundings promotes mental wellness. The Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services will be at the Darke County Parks Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center Saturday October 24 from noon to 2pm. The Nature Center is located at 4267 OH-502, Greenville, OH 45331.

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