2023 ANNUAL REPORT & FALL NEWSLETTER ISSUE Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services
Jamie meets Paul and his support dog Pablo at a local park.
ized for her cently recogn Jamie was re iver of the Year by areg work as a C rities. ha C lic ho Cat
Peer Support Work is a Special Way of Giving Back Jamie Ayre started as a Peer Recovery Supporter at GCBHS in the spring of 2021. She is now a substance use disorder (SUD) care manager on the CARE team which means she works with people who are experiencing homelessness every day. “For me,” she says, “I’ve been in those shoes and I know what it’s like. Many times, they have no family or friends. We are all they have.” She says clients are sometimes shocked because “If we don’t see someone for a week or so…we begin to look for them…hospitals, jails… we drive around to places we know they hang out. We ask other people ‘Have you seen so-and-so?’ They can’t believe that somebody cared enough to worry about them.” So what drives her to do this work? “People walk into St Anthony’s without socks on their feet. No coat…someone has stolen their blankets and shoes…it breaks my heart. People don’t understand how someone can become homeless. Nobody chooses it. Nobody chooses addiction or a mental illness. I help others because it fills my heart to do it. It’s my mission, my purpose.”
How GCBHS Outreach Teams are Changing Lives Jamie met Paul in April of 2021 – right after she started her job as a Peer Recovery Supporter at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS). He began coming to St. Anthony’s Center for breakfast and dinner. St. Anthony’s is a collaborative of organizations that serve the homeless population in Cincinnati. Located in Over-the-Rhine, the building is home to the GCBHS C.A.R.E Team (Collaborations for Addictions, Recovery, & Engagement) as well as Respite Care, (for those coming out of the hospital with no place to go) and Mary Magdalen House which offers showers and clean clothes. The C.A.R.E team engage with people who are struggling with homelessness, mental illness and/or addictions. They build relationships and try to help people get into services and connect to resources such as housing to improve their lives. Jamie is a peer which means she has a lived experience. “For me, I’ve been in those shoes, so I know what it’s like. I wish there were people doing what I do when I was out there. Spreading kindness makes a difference.” Paul had been without a place to live since he lost his job due to the pandemic. He tried living in his car for a while, but when it was impounded, he had no money to get it out, and he lost that as well. That year was a bad one for Paul. He not only lost his mother and a favorite aunt, but
his girlfriend passed away as well. She had helped him overcome an addiction but without her, Paul began to use drugs again, which made his situation worse. Then he met Jamie. “She introduced herself to me. She was new. And she wanted to help.” Jamie explains that Paul did not easily trust. He had been let down before and it was easier not to believe in someone than to be let down again. But Jamie was different. “We started small. He needed things like a blanket or a jacket…. a backpack…he was living under a bridge near Freeman Avenue, so he needed things to keep him warm.” Jamie kept her word with Paul and was always honest. “He might get mad at me from time to time but he would always come back because he knew I wouldn’t lie to him. I told him he had to do his part.” Eventually, Jamie convinced Paul to sign up for services so she could get him the help he needed for his substance use disorder. Once he agreed, she was able to connect him to the GCBHS PATH Team, which helps people who are not housed and need mental health services. With the assistance of PATH, she was able to find him stable housing and he moved into his apartment in August of this year. Soon Paul was asking cont. on page 3 >
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Together to Change Lives Dan was living with his elderly mother who had multiple health issues. When she passed away, he had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. The stress of being his mother’s sole caregiver for 15 years had led Dan to drink excessively. He had also developed PTSD which made finding a new job impossible.
Employment Specialist Tim Dunn (left) meets with "Dan" to discuss how he's doing and if he needs any support.
*Dan didn’t know what else to do, so he lived in his car for three years in a local store parking lot. The car was tiny. There were missing windows on one side and the headlights did not work. Neither did the heater. Dan could only drive it during the day as he had been pulled over multiple times because the police said the vehicle was not safe.
“The staff at GCBHS has changed my life. I was lost and full of hopelessness. But now I have direction and confidence. Tim told me I was in good hands, and he was right. I love not having to worry anymore.”
During the day to stay warm and dry, Dan would spend time at the local library. It was at the Clermont County library that Dan found information on Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) and our PATH Team. PATH stands for Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness. It is an outreach program that assists people who are struggling with homelessness, in both Hamilton and Clermont counties.
- DAN
Dan contacted the Clermont PATH team who met with him in a park. From there, the team did what GCBHS does best. They set up a diagnostic evaluation and allowed different teams/services to wrap around Dan and address his trauma as quickly as possible. This included counseling for his PTSD and depression and care management which assisted with housing and basic needs. Dan was also introduced to the Clermont GCBHS program, Work Initiative Network or WIN and to an employment specialist named Tim.
Says Tim, “When we develop a plan for the client, we always want to address what the barriers are going to be. One of those barriers was that Dan struggled with making decisions. This was due to his mental health diagnosis and the amount of time he spent living in his car. He didn’t get much sleep because he knew there was always the risk he could be robbed and assaulted – especially with the missing windows on one side. We also knew we had to find him a job close enough to where he would be living because his vehicle was unsafe to drive.” There was also the problem of getting Dan a new driver’s license/I.D. because he did not have an address. Employment ended up being the main obstacle in getting Dan housed. To qualify he needed a steady income, which meant Tim needed to move fast. Dan hadn’t
2023 Awards GCBHS was honored with the following awards in 2023. 2
“worked” for almost 8 years. He had no resume or computer, and he didn’t have the clothes necessary to interview. So, Tim worked with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). Many times, OOD will assist employment clients with temporary funding to purchase clothing, shoes, a haircut, and fuel cards to get back and forth to work until paychecks start coming in. “It was a big deal,” says Tim. “It definitely made him feel more confident.” Before long, the perfect job came along. Dan elaborates, “I get to be out in the community driving and delivering. I like being outside. It’s different every day and I enjoy the freedom. It’s a perfect fit.” And Tim says he’s been the perfect employee, “He’s only missed one day in three years and that was for a doctor's appointment. His manager says he’s the most reliable employee they have.” Dan says he is grateful, “The staff at GCBHS has changed my life. I was lost and full of hopelessness. But now I have direction and confidence. Tim told me I was in good hands, and he was right. I love not having to worry anymore.” *The client’s name in this story has been altered to protect his privacy.
SINCE 2010
Dr. Tracey Skale Best Psychiatrist & Dr. Katie Schmidt Best Addiction Psychiatrist
Best Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder Education & Prevention
2022 20 0222 202 2020 2021 2 2 2019 1 2018 1 2017 01 2016 01 2015 01 2014 01 2013 01 2012 01 2011 01 2010 01
Voted Top Work Places for 14 consecutive years
Jeff O'Neil, President and CEO, awarded 2023 Ohio 500
How We Are Funded
cont. from page 1 her, “Why didn’t we do this two years ago?” Jamie laughs when Paul shares this part of his story. “He also neglected to tell me he was a veteran which opened up additional resources. Now I am in contact with his support worker at the VA and we are all on the same page.”
Paul is working with Justin, a GCBHS employment specialist (above) to help him find a job.
Revenue FY 23 56.8% Medicaid/Medicare 13.3% County Boards 14.2% Grants and Contributions 9.6% Contracts/Sales 1.0% United Way 1.7% Client and Third Party Fees
TOTAL: $48,620,017
1.1% Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities 1.7% Other Public Support 0.3% Fundraising Revenue 0.4% Other Revenue
Paul credits Jamie and GCBHS with helping him get back on his feet. “Jamie’s been an advocate for me. She helped me with housing and getting settled. She helped me make connections to resources. Life is a lot easier when you’re indoors. You can focus on things that need to get done.” One of the things Paul began focusing on was finding a job. So, Jamie introduced him to Justin, an Employment Specialist at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS). Says Justin, “We’ve been working together for a couple of months. Paul is great at maintaining contact and showing up for appointments. He’s also focused and engaged when we meet and he’s doing some job searching on his own. He’ll hear of things or find them online and let me know he’s interested. And he knows what he wants to do. He has experience on the docks and he’s really determined to return to a career that he enjoyed.” Like Jamie, Justin considers himself a peer, “I’m four years sober so I particularly enjoy working with our clients who have a substance use disorder (SUD), because I feel I can relate to them and it makes for strong working relationships.” As for Paul, as of our deadline, he was still looking for the right job but he has a lot of hope. “Jamie and the other GCBHS staff have done so much for me. She even helped me get Pablo, my emotional support dog. It’s nice to have a support system.” 3
2023 Outreach Program Outcomes/Numbers
1,139 clients
PATH and Gen513 served 1,139 clients:
40 372 60
were vets were chronically homeless were youth (under 25)
Both teams had 221 successful move-ins through the CoC (Continuum of Care) and 74 were connected to local shelters. Gen513 connected 44 clients to PATH and PATH connected 321 people to MH services. Both teams connected 39 to SUD programs and 76 were connected to employment and various other services/programs. Hamilton County SUD Services completed 1,153 linkages to community resources (i.e. foodbanks, St. Vincent de Paul, PATH, MH Services, ER/ Primary Care Services) which included 46 to SUD inpatient services and 15 to sober living/recovery housing. Additionally, 9 were linked to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services for methadone treatment and 181 were linked to mental health services. Outreach teams trained 809 community members to use Narcan. 4
DEAR FRIENDS: In this edition, we wanted to highlight our outreach services such as the PATH program (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness), which serves both Hamilton and Clermont counties by assisting people who have a mental illness and are experiencing homelessness. Both of our featured stories include clients who were helped by PATH. In Hamilton County, we also have the CARE team (Collaborations for Addictions, Recovery, & Engagement) who work out of St. Anthony’s Center. Many times, they work with PATH and other outreach teams to serve individuals who struggle with chronic homelessness, mental illness, and/or substance use disorder. Another outreach service is our Quick Response Team (QRT) in Clermont County. The team reaches out to people who have had contact with law enforcement or EMS due to an overdose or drug incident. They offer support and services to the individual as well as their families. It was the first QRT team in the state to be led by peers when they started in 2017. Many of our outreach staff are considered “peers.” It means they have a lived experience with substance use disorder, mental illness, and/ or homelessness. They are a valuable part of our team because they can build one-on-one relationships that are so important to breaking down barriers and getting people the help they need. Peer service models are nationally recognized and required by some funders. We are also highlighting some of the outreach staff who have very personal reasons for why they do what they do, as well as information on a new pilot program we have launched with our friends at the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC). Another bright spot in our year was that we were selected as one of the Enquirer’s Top Workplaces in Cincinnati for the 14th year in a row. Only two other organizations have been named Top Workplace since the award was given out starting in 2010. This means our employees really like working here! See a full list of awards for the year on page 2. We hope you enjoy the stories we have shared about our outreach teams, their clients, and their work. What they do is so different from our other services, yet it plays an important part in helping people who have difficulty seeking treatment or services. Their compassion and ability to meet people where they are, is making a difference in our community. As GCBHS Peer Jamie Ayre points out, “Engaging with people is important. I like to see them get housed, get sober, get their birth certificate…all those things coming together.” On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, and the people we serve, we thank you for your commitment to Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services. Your continued support and advocacy are important to our mission. With gratitude,
JEFF O’NEIL President & CEO
FRED HEYSE Board Chair
The Millstone Fund is one of the many funders who helped GCBHS this past year. Their support of our GCB Connects program allows us to serve more people who are struggling with mental illness and/ or substance use disorder. Members of the Millstone Board are pictured with the GCB Connects staff.
Partners in Our Mission The following individuals, corporations, businesses and foundations gave financial contributions to GCBHS between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. We offer our sincere thanks for their generosity in support of our mission. Every attempt has been made to list donor names correctly. We apologize for any omissions or errors. Please call us at 513-354-7054 for corrections.
DISTINGUISHED ($10,000.00+)
P. L. Marketing
Mr. and Mrs. Steve R. Harlamert
Board of County Commissioner, Hamilton County, Ohio
PNC Bank
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Heintz
SC Johnson & Son, Inc.
Ms. Elizabeth Jukic
Western & Southern Financial Group
Katzen International, Inc.
William P. Anderson Foundation
Klosterman Baking Co.
Mr. Edward O. Carrier Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heyse Interact For Health The James Wasserman Memorial Fund Kimberly-Clark Louise Taft Semple Foundation Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation Millstone Fund Mr. and Mrs. R. Steven Reichert Mrs. Marilyn C. Stoeckle The Sutphin Family Foundation The James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation The Spaulding Foundation The Yung Family Foundation
LEADERSHIP ($1,000 TO $4,999) 3CDC Howard Ammons and Diane Wright Barnes Dennig & Company Mr. Jerry Basch Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas E. Basch The Benevity Community Impact Fund Mr. Scott Boone Mr. Richard Boydston Cintech Construction Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board Mr. and Mrs. Bill S. Culp
Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation
Everfi
CHAMPIONS ($5,000 TO $9,999)
Fifth Third Bank
Genoa Healthcare
Genesis Mechanical Services
Mr. Nick Hahn The Harlamert Family Fund/Dayton Foundation Henkel Corporation Justin R. Niklas Family Foundation
The Everingham Family Fund Fresh Encounter, Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Larry Graham Ms. Christy Greenway Ms. Olivia Greer Mr. Eric Grothaus
Kroger Community Rewards The Lindholz Donor Advised Fund Ms. Stacy Lynch The Mars Agency MCF Advisors Mercy Health Mr. and Mrs. David Moeggenberg Monster Energy Company Mr. Herbert Murphy Myriad Genetics, Inc. Nehemiah Manufacturing Co. Mr. and Mrs. Jeff O'Neil Shared Services, LLC Dr. Tracey G. Skale Mrs. Barbara Wagner Mr. and Mrs. David S. Warren The Woodruff Fund Mr. George E. Wright Xavier University BENEFACTORS ($500 TO $999) A.O. Smith Foundation Mr. Thomas P Atkins 5
Ms. Angela Barber-Joiner
Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Dr. Douglas Lehrer
Mr. Ron Cropper
Mr. Joce Arvisais
Ms. Constance R. Lucas
Gordian Design & Construction, Inc.
Ms. Sarah Baldridge
Dr. Diana McIntosh
Mr. Lance Hahn
Ms. Melissa Balser
Ms. Jennifer Moler
Mr. and Mrs. Grant V. Hesser
Ms. Becky Bill
Mr. Kouhyar Mostashfi
Magnified Giving
Block Watch Association of Silverton
Mr. Tom Myrick
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin McMurray
Mr. Bill Bomkamp
Mr. Joshua Oglehart
Ms. Dawn Michaels
Ms. Rebecca Bomkamp
Mrs. Phyllis B. Overmann
Ms. Penny J. Middaugh
Ms. Julie Bourne
Ms. Glenda Peters
Mr. Zeeshan Pasha
Ms. Barbara Brown
Mr. James L. Peters
Ms. Laurie L. Roessler
Mrs. Betsy Buck
Pledgeling Foundation
Dr. James Thomas
Ms. Tiffany Bush
Ms. Robbin P. Quallen
United Way of Northeast Florida
Ms. Susan S. Caldwell
Mr. Michael Randall
Ms. Gloria Walker
Ms. Julie Carlson
Mr. Stanley Roberts
Ms. Karen Weber
Ms. Jodi Chaney
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Sarra
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Ms. Melissa Schulte
Ms. Heather Cokl
Ms. Janeen Sharpshair
Ms. Anne Combs
Ms. Cassidy Siler-Smith
Mrs. Susan Cranley
Ms. Ashley Silvati
Ms. Cathy G Cryder
Ms. Kim Skelding
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony C. Dattilo
Ms. Lisa Smith
Mr. and Mrs. David Dohan
Ms. Kelly Smith-Trondle
Ms. Carole Donnellon
Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Sonenshein
Mr. Steve Donnellon
Mr. and Mrs. Jane and Keith Stock
Ms. Carol Dorne
Ms. Teresa Terry
Duke Energy Foundation
Ms. Kim Toole
Ms. Dorothy Elsbrock
Ms. Julie Viltrakis
Ms. Alicia Fine
SMs. tephanie Viltrakis
Ms. Linda Gallagher
Ms. Charissa Watson
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ganim
Ms. Beth Weaver
Ms. LaNora Godfrey
Ms. Joyce Weddle
Mr. Ronald Hallgath
Ms. Jennifer Weiler
Ms. Mary Heisler
Ms. Jan Weis
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hogeback
Ms. Anne G. Wilker
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Honkomp
Dr. John Wirick
PATRONS $250 TO $499 Ms. Sandra J Anderson Ms. Nichole Bisig Ms. Agnes M. Brockman Ms. Ashley Caldwell Cincinnati Marathon, Inc. Mr. Julian Davenport Evolution Creative Solutions, Inc. Ms. Megan Fischer Grants Plus Fund/Cleveland Foundation Mr. Edward Hudson Ms. Jolene Joseph Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Kirschner Mr. and Mrs. Mike Leyritz Ms. Teri Nau The P. J. and Gwen Arling Family Fund Mr. David Painter Mr. Chris Pedoto Mr. and Mrs. Roger Rosenberger Mr. and Mrs. Raymond E. Schafer Mr. and Mrs. William Scherer Dr. Katherine Schmidt Ms. Rusty Sheehan Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stern Steve Hunt Family Foundation The Teran Family Foundation Mr. Christopher Uihlein Mr. and Mrs. John Woesner FRIENDS ($1 TO $249) Mrs. Mary Frances Acito The Anonymous Fund of the
Mr. Tyler Hood Ms. Jamie S. Hopkins Mr. and Mrs. David C. Horn Mr. David House II Ms. Patti L. Jacobs Ms. Hannah James Mr. Brad Jones Dr. and Mrs. Logan Jones Jr. Ms. Peggy Kersker KJ Robinson Giving Fund Ms. Martha J. Knabb Mrs. Maria Kreppel Ms. Kim Kuykendall
IN-KIND GIFTS Accent on Cincinnati Arthur's Mr. Jerry Basch Behringer-Crawford Museum Mr. Matt Bierkan Bircus Brewing Company Bonbonerie Mr. Jim Bower Boyle Jewelers, Inc. Buckhead Mountain Grill Mr. Edward Carrier
Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter Cincinnati Museum Center Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Country Fresh Farm Market Ms. Debbie DeMarcus Dewey's Pizza Don Hudepohl Jewelers Dream Dinners FC Cincinnati Frisch's Mr. Joseph Gastenveld Mr. Rick Gray Mr. Nick Hahn Mr. and Mrs. Fred & Sherrie Heyse Challis Hodge Jeff and John Winkle Studio Keeneland Association, Inc. Kendra Scott Kentucky Horse Park Kings Island Mr. and Mrs. David & Bev Moeggenberg One Stop Shop Liquors & Tobacco Party Town Perfect North Slopes Rising Star Casino & Resort Mr. David Sprouse Taste of Belgium The Plastic Surgery Group The Summit, A Dolce Hotel
In Honor Of Jeff O'Neil Ms. Mary A. Rostock In Honor Of Sam Cheek Ms. Kim Skelding In Honor Of Tracey Skale Dr. Ellen Feld In Memory Of Amy Back Mr. and Mrs. Mark Imwalle Mr. Allen J. Zobay Glendale Monday Class Ms. Lesly Briedis Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Kruczyski In Memory Of Barbara Hahn Mrs. Sandra Lee Boesing Snyder Giving Fund In Memory Of Joe Flanigan Ms. Marlene Quarles Plumbers, Pipefitters and Mechanical Equipment Services, Local Union 392 In Memory Of Patrick Joseph Hennekes Ms. Janice Wiles In Memory Of Paul Nemann Mr. Richard Boydston In Memory Of Rick Imfeld Ms. Barbara Fogus In Memory Of Rick Wagner Mrs. Barbara Wagner
Tri-State Running Company TRIBUTE GIFTS The following donors gave Tribute/Memorial gifts to GCBHS between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. We offer our sincere thanks for their generosity in support of our mission.
In Honor Of Beth Helmick Ms. Barbara Reed In Honor Of Diane Wright and Howard Ammons Mr. and Mrs. William Gregory Knickel In Honor Of Fred Heyse Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E. Keefe Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Heintz In Honor Of Gary R. Lewis Ms. Jean Marie Baines
VISION GCBHS is a national leader in improving the mental and physical health of people throughout our ever-expanding community.
MISSION To ensure people with mental illness, addictions, and related challenges lead healthy and productive lives.
first team ve) is the nson (abo boration between h Jo yd lo F a a new coll member in 3CDC. d n a GCBHS
Partnering with 3CDC to Help the Chronically Homeless This fall, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services, along with our friends at Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), launched a pilot program downtown to work specifically with chronically homeless individuals. The program is also funded in part by the Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. Joe Rudemiller is the 3CDC VP of Marketing & Communications. “Based on our experience working with GCBHS on the GeneroCity 513 initiative, and analysis of the data we have collected since the program began in 2018, the addition of the Critical Intervention Team is vital to the future success of the program. This team will focus on providing case management services to our most vulnerable clients, allowing the other Outreach Workers in the program to expand their focus and better serve the broader population.” Floyd Johnson, a GCBHS staffer for over eight years, is the first team member to be hired for the program. “I’m able to spend more time to develop a relationship and build trust. These are the people where all other attempts to get them connected to services have failed. We are hoping to move them forward, away from homelessness and to a more safe and secure environment.” What drew Floyd to this new program? He says, “I was looking for something that was different. This satisfied my need to help others and be able to give back.”
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Fred Heyse Board Chair
Jeff O'Neil President and Chief Executive Officer
Susan Scherer Vice Chair Stacy Lynch Secretary Elizabeth Jukic Treasurer Janeen Sharpshair Member at Large Patti Jacobs Member at Large
Angela Barber-Joiner Richard Boydston Olivia Greer Nick Hahn Steve Harlamert Grant Hesser Colleen Lindholz Zeeshan Pasha, MD Jamie Ramsey Laurie Roessler Dr. James Thomas Gloria Walker Chris Wilks George Wright
Jeff Kirschner Chief Operations Officer Tracey Skale Chief Medical Officer Nikki Bisig Senior VP of Hamilton County Behavioral Health Services Michael R. Lyons VP of Health Information Services
Alicia Fine Senior VP of Clermont County Behavioral Health Services Joce Arvisais Chief Financial Officer John Sarra VP of Human Resources and Facilities Diane Wright VP of Quality Management and Compliance
Penny Middaugh VP of Child & Family Services
ACCREDITATIONS: National accreditation through CARF; Licensed, certified, and funded by Ohio Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services; Licensed by Commonwealth of Ky. Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Funded by Hamilton and Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Services Boards; Campbell County Fiscal Court; Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission; Hamilton County Dept. of Job and Family Services; City of Cincinnati; United Way of Greater Cincinnati; Ohio Dept. of Rehabilitation and Correction; Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disabilities