Butler County Mental Health Board

5963 Boymel Drive
Fairfield, OH
45014-5541
513-558-6501

Project Title
Butler County Treatment Alternative Court Demonstration
Grant Description
To implement the Treatment Alternative Court (TAC), a pretrial diversion program that will serve persons with severe mental illness in Butler County
Focus Area
Joint Substance Abuse/Severe Mental Illness\Criminal Justice
Region Served
Butler County, OH
Award Amount
$272,554
Year Awarded
2001
Grant Duration
30 months
Results The project is based out of the Fairfield Municipal Court with Judge Joyce A. Campbell presiding and officially began January 2, 2002. TAC is a mental health court diversion program serving non-violent, mentally ill misdemeanants by offering court-supervised community-based treatment in lieu of incarceration. It has a case load capacity of 25 clients, serving an estimated 30 to 35 people a year. Brian Harrison, J.D., who facilitated the planning process, will assist the mental health board in administering the grant, offering technical assistance to project staff, and overseeing the successful implementation of the program.

Members of the planning task force are excited not only from the standpoint of being able to serve mentally ill defendants with effective treatment alternatives but in implementing what they believe to be an innovative prototype for future court-based projects.

What distinguishes TAC from other diversion programs is its comprehensive screening and assessment, active family outreach and participation in the legal and treatment processes, and the intensive case management services using flexible funding and wrap-around services tailored to meet the individual needs of mentally ill defendants. The project will also involve the development of an integrated mental health/criminal justice information and tracking system.

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Project Title
The Hamilton-Fairfield Police Mental Health Planning Initiative
Grant Description
To develop and formalize collaboration between first responders in mental health and criminal justice in the cities of Hamilton and Fairfield
Focus Area
Joint Substance Abuse/Severe Mental Illness\Criminal Justice
Region Served
Butler County, OH
Award Amount
$41,000
Year Awarded
2004
Grant Duration
6 months

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Project Title
Improving Mental Health Services for School-Aged Children
Grant Description
To develop a coordinated system of mental health services for school-age children throughout Butler County
Focus Area
School-Based Child Health Interventions
Region Served
Butler County, OH
Award Amount
$170,746
Year Awarded
2001
Grant Duration
12 months
Results The primary objective of the first year was to perform a system analysis of the Butler County mental health services for school-age children. The Butler County Assessment of Mental Health Needs in School-Age Children presents a comprehensive review of the conditions of the community and includes a demographic profile, literature review, results from 28 focus groups, key informant interviews, and a review of service usage patterns.

The objectives for the second year of activities include:

  • furthering the system analysis by conducting a county-wide survey for 5th through 12th grade students regarding their mental health needs,
  • continuing to expand the capacity of mental health services for school-age children while improving system coordination,
  • developing cross-system training opportunities and joint initiatives for the purpose of making the mental health system more responsive to the needs of children,
  • identifying funding streams and increasing revenue for mental health services for children, and
  • expanding and developing collaborative initiatives for the purpose of enhancing multi-system and multi-disciplinary approach for children and families.

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Project Title
Mental Health Diversion Court Planning
Grant Description
To divert misdemeanants who are mentally ill from jail to appropriate community-based mental health programs
Focus Area
Joint Substance Abuse/Severe Mental Illness\Criminal Justice
Region Served
Butler County, OH
Award Amount
$75,000
Year Awarded
2000
Grant Duration
12 months
Results Our Mental Health Court Planning Task Force was convened in February 2001, chaired by Judge Joyce A. Campbell of the Fairfield Municipal Court and consisting of members representing law enforcement, courts, treatment providers, consumer advocacy groups, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders. The Butler County Mental Health Board hired former assistant prosecutor Brain Harrison as chief planner for the project to provide staff support for the Task Force. Cincinnati attorney Paul Spaite was hired as assistant planner to develop a family education and advocacy component that will enlighten and empower family members of mentally ill individuals who become involved in the criminal justice system as a result of their illnesses.

The Task Force continues to gather and exchange data with similar projects in Florida, California and Akron, Ohio. Networking with other groups on a local, state and national basis adds invaluable insight to our own planning process while affording an opportunity to have a wide-ranging impact on the development of the mental health court concept.

The Fairfield Municipal Court will serve as the implementation pilot for the program, which will then be adapted for implementation in municipal courts serving Middletown and Hamilton.

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Project Title
Ohio Medication Algorithm Project
Grant Description
To expand the use of atypical antipsychotic medication as the first line of treatment of schizophrenia in ten sites in Southwest Ohio
Focus Area
Severe Mental Illness
Region Served
Butler, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Warren, and Hamilton Counties, OH
Award Amount
$229,150
Year Awarded
2001
Grant Duration
24 months
Results The Ohio Medication Algorithm Project (OMAP) is a quality improvement and recovery initiative that has implemented the Texas Medication Algorithms for the treatment of the seriously mentally ill in southwest Ohio. Its major objective is to translate the best therapeutic practices into practical suggestions for optimal care. To date, over 100 psychiatrists and 20 psychiatric residents have been trained in algorithm use in 13 sites throughout the state.

A primary goal of the project is to reduce unnecessary variation in these prescribing patterns. The cost of psychotropic medications has become a major behavioral health care issue. OMAP is providing feedback to agencies on the cost and complexity of prescribing patterns based on the medication algorithms. OMAP has increased continuity of care by enabling all behavioral health organizations in southwest Ohio to utilize the same documentation forms. This benefits the consumer and psychiatrist, as consumer treatment information is now transferred from one facility (and psychiatrist) to another in a manner that is timely, uniform, and accurate.

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Project Title
Southwest Ohio Regional Forum: Mental Health Courts and the Mentally Ill Offender
Grant Description
To partially support the Southwest Ohio Regional Forum: Mental Health Courts & the Mentally Ill Offender
Focus Area
Severe Mental Illness
Region Served
Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren Counties, OH
Award Amount
$10,000
Year Awarded
1999
Grant Duration
3 months
Results The Forum was held on November 9, 1999, in Hamilton, Ohio. Over 200 participants attended. Speakers included representatives from mental health courts in Broward County, Florida, and King County, Washington. Staff from U.S. Congressman Ted Strickland’s office and Senator Mike DeWine’s office also made presentations regarding pending federal legislation to fund start-ups of mental health courts across the country.

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Project Title
Year Three: Improving Mental Health Services for School-Age Children
Grant Description
To improve access to mental health services for school-aged children in Butler County
Focus Area
School-Based Child Health Interventions
Region Served
Butler County, OH
Award Amount
$96,500
Year Awarded
2002
Grant Duration
12 months
Results BCMHB completed the analysis of the student survey that was conducted during the second year of the initiative. The findings were outlined in the document, The Need for Behavioral Health Services for School-Age Children: A Survey of Students in Southwestern Ohio.

The document was widely disseminated throughout Butler County and the state of Ohio. All county and state child-serving agencies, the Govenor's office, Butler County registered voters, and Butler County Schools received copies of the findings from the student survey.

Due to several levy failures, most of the non-essential programs funded by BCMHB were cut. BCMHB continued to provide the medicaid match; therefore, a few programs that can operate on Medicaid billings are surviving. Additional grant funds also allowed for the expansion of the TeenScreen Program, a suicide prevention program that BCMHB piloted in Middletown Schools. BCMHB expanded TeenScreen to an additional school in Middletown and in Fairfield School District. BCMHB also developed a strategic plan to implement prevention and treatment programs to meet the needs of Butler County's school-aged children. The implementation of this plan is dependent upon county levy funds.

BCMHB collaborated with Butler County Family and Children First Council, the Butler County Educational Service Center, and the Butler County Commissioners to provide training opportunities for the purpose of making the mental health system more responsive to the needs of school-age children. The county commissioners host an annual forum and have selected children's mental health needs as the topic for the past two years. The week-long forum provided training and information for school personnel, direct service providers, consumers, and family members about mental health issues. The following were some of the session titles: Mental Health 101, Classroom Behavior Management, Advanced Mental Health, and Teens Leading Teens.

One objective was not accomplished, due to the ongoing failure of BCMHB levy, BCMHB could not increase revenue or identify funding streams for school-aged children. BCMHB continues to look for outside funding to implement new programming or to sustain existing programs.

BCMHB expanded collaborative initiatives that enhanced multi-system and multi-disciplinary approaches for children and families. They accomplished through their participation in the Shared Agenda Initiative. The Initiative is a national movement to improve the mental health of children through collaboration between the mental health and educational systems. Butler County hosted a regional forum to help shape Ohio's Agenda. BCMHB also participated in the statewide legislative forum that lead to the outlining of guiding principles, goals, and objectives for Ohio's effort. A result of the legislative forum was the development and passage of Ohio Senate Bill 2, which requires Ohio educators to obtain professional development credits that "address the crucial link between academic achievement and mental health."

Collaboration was the biggest facilitator of this effort. Strong relationships among several child-serving systems allowed BCMHB to conduct the needs assessment, implement the training program, and increase the community's awareness of the mental health needs of Butler County's children and how it influences school performance. Unfortunately BCMHB's tax levy continued to fail, which limits the county ability to provide needed services. Since the county systems work well together, several programs have continued, but not at the same level as with county levy funds.

BCMHB plays an important role in Shared Agenda Initiative. The state Shared Agenda team continues to push the issue at the state level.

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