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For Immediate Release:
May 16, 2025
OhioMHAS Announces Recipients of
Trauma-Informed Care Innovation Grants
Nine Projects Receive Funding to Increase Knowledge, Awareness & Impact
(COLUMBUS, OH) - Today, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) announced nearly $114,000 in regional grants to provide trauma-informed care (TIC) services statewide and in each of Ohio's six TIC collaborative regions.
Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from "what's wrong with you?" to "what happened to you?" and seeks to understand an individual's life experiences to deliver effective care. The aim of the grants is to reach families, organizations, and communities with new innovative approaches, best practices, and prevention and intervention programs. The investment will support nine regional entities around Ohio working to incorporate and expand TIC services in their areas.
"When services, practices, and professional development are presented through the lens of trauma-informed care, it can lead to more supportive and responsive environments that are crucial for recovery, healing, and building resilience," said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn. "The selected projects reflect the department's support of local and regional organizations that are utilizing innovative practices to improve mental health and build resilient communities."
The grants will be used to support and enhance work in clinical, organizational, and recovery spaces. As the work is developed, implemented, and evaluated at the local and community levels, these projects and funding aim to scale TIC work to regional and multi-county levels to increase impact, awareness, and knowledge.
Funded projects include:
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Southeast Trauma-Informed Care Collaboration (SETICC) $2,600 (Southeast Region)
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Increase the number of behavioral health providers who are certified in the Nurtured Heart Approach - a strengths-based, relationship-focused methodology. This project will reach 50 professionals in the 21-county SETICC region.
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Focus on Youth $10,000 (Southwest Region)
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Provide comprehensive training, resources, and support for foster families, adoptive caregivers, and behavioral health professionals.
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Create partnership between experts and behavioral health professionals to implement Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) model that addresses the complex needs and promotes healing in children who have experienced trauma or adversity.
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Train 100 professionals and build at least five long-term partnerships.
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Tri-County ESC $7,467 (Lower Northeast Region)
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Support schools, families, and communities by providing Youth Mental Health First Aid and Restorative Practices to 16 school districts with evidence-based interventions aligned with school needs, particularly in reducing suspensions and improving access to mental health support.
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Cover training costs and materials for first year implementation.
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Children's Resource Center $9,360 (Northwest Region)
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Provide 200 early childhood professionals with Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation - an evidenced-based program that supports healthy development of children. These funds will help fill the gap of the three remaining counties in the region not served with IECMHC.
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Ohio Domestic Violence Network $10,000 (Central Region)
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Engage at least 200 service providers across domestic violence programs, healthcare, behavioral health, the justice system, crime victim services, and disability support agencies and increase awareness and knowledge of the trauma-brain injury connection and offer tools for better responses.
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The plan includes training and technical assistance, conference presentations, public education events, and dissemination of best practices.
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Hancock County ADAMHS $10,000 (Northwest Region)
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Provide training, books, and associated resources for the Northwest region's annual trauma-informed care conference in partnership with the University of Findlay. Approximately 200 professionals will be trained by Dr. Catherine Pittman based on her book, Rewiring the Anxious Brain.
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Education Service Center of NE Ohio & ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County $10,000 (Northeast Region)
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These funds will be used to establish a training plan for improved awareness, capacity, and workforce development for the provision of trauma-informed prevention services for youth-serving organizations.
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Love You to Life $9,990 (Southwest Ohio Region)
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This money will help train 50 faith leaders across various denominations in trauma-informed skill building for congregations, along with follow-up technical assistance.
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Trauma-Informed Care Regional Collaboratives $44,400 (Statewide)
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Silver Linings International, LLC will provide "Cultivating Emotional Intelligence" training for 300 leaders across the state.
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Participants will receive four, two-hour group training sessions. This approach links staff well-being to improved client care, recognizing when leaders support their team through emotional intelligence, they reduce burnout and turnover, leading to more consistent, high-quality services.
Another way OhioMHAS is growing awareness and implementation of TIC practices is through sponsorship of the 12th Annual Trauma-Informed Care Summit, which will take place May 21-22, 2025, at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris. OhioMHAS will serve as co-host, along with the Ohio Children's Alliance. The Ohio Departments of Children and Youth, Developmental Disabilities and Health are also supporters of the event. The summit will spotlight expert speakers who will share knowledge, strategies and experience to provide a comprehensive understanding of trauma-informed care and its applications in the workplace.
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Media Contact:
Eric Wandersleben, Director of Media Relations and Outreach
[email protected] | 614.359.6754
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