This report co-authored by the Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-Ohio) and the Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition (MHAC) takes a detailed, systematic look at overlapping systems and unmet needs that impact behavioral health for young Ohioans, from prenatal development, through childhood, and into adulthood across Ohio.
Mind the Gap: Creating a Robust Continuum of Behavioral Health Care for Young Ohioans reflects what communities have accomplished, identifies gaps in available supports and services, and defines the factors that support development of a comprehensive Continuum of Care (CoC), which integrates physical health, health promotion and prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. By establishing a common understanding and shared vocabulary, the report provides tangible information and concrete data to inform decision-making. Local and state policymakers and other stakeholders can take recommended action items to address gaps in the CoC.
The proposed CoC identifies the types of behavioral health services that should be available at each age and stage of development for young Ohioans prenatal up to age 26, along with their caregivers. Defining a universal CoC for Ohio’s 88 counties is a critical first step in delineating what should be available, where capacity exists, and what is needed in terms of services and opportunities for greater investments and focused attention. Using the CoC as a framework, CDF-Ohio and the MHAC surveyed the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, Mental Health and Recovery Services (ADAMHS) Boards throughout Ohio on the availability of behavioral health services by age.
The information provided by the ADAMHS Boards, coupled with data from the Ohio Departments of Medicaid and Mental Health and Addiction Services, provides a roadmap for ensuring young Ohioans and their families can access and receive the behavioral health services and supports they need, when and where they need them.