GCBHS Newsletter Spring 2026

SPRING 2026

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services

Gala celebrates 20 years!

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services’ (GCBHS) annual fundraiser celebrated a milestone 20th anniversary on April 24th.

To mark the occasion, guests enjoyed a signature mocktail with engraved ice cubes to join GCBHS President and CEO Jeff O’Neil, in a toast.

Hosted by legendary “Married with Microphones” radio personality Janeen Coyle (right), and held at the Summit Hotel, the 2026 Champions of Hope (COH) honored Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus (read more on page 3). This year’s Community Partnership Award was given to the Cincinnati Police Department (learn more on page 2).

One of the evening’s highlights was former GCBHS client and staff member, Tricia Taylor (left), who shared her amazing story of recovery. After hearing Tricia’s deeply personal account of how GCBHS “never gave up on her” and how she was able to

turn her recovery into a lifelong passion for helping others on their road to sobriety; guests opened their hearts and wallets, which along with the assistance of our generous sponsors (page 2), allowed us to break an event fundraising record by grossing over $195,000!

You can view photos from the evening on pages 4 and 5 and see a complete photo gallery on our COH blog post under the news tab at gcbhs.com.

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services Earns Three-Year CARF Re-Accreditation Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) has been awarded re-accreditation by *CARF International for its programs in mental health, addiction services, employment, and opioid treatment.

This recognition represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and shows our organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has gone through a rigorous peer-review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit, its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality. gcbhs.com

#LIFEchanging

THANK YOU to our generous sponsors

PRESENTING SPONSOR

HERO SPONSOR

CHAMPION SPONSOR

HOPE SPONSOR

Cincinnati Police Department Recognized with Partnership Award This year’s Nick Hahn Community Partnership Award (named in memory of the GCBHS Board member/chair and advocate), was presented to the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) to acknowledge the long-term collaboration between our organizations.

RECOV ERY SP O NSO R S

Throughout the years, the CPD has assisted our homeless outreach teams to engage and link people to much-needed services. At our Madison location, the detail officers on duty are a critical component of our daily operations. They have built trust with patients and staff ensuring safety while gaining a deeper understanding of the people who come to us for services.

WELLNESS SPONSORS

EMPOWERMENT SPONSORS

Barnes Dennig

FBT Gibbons

Jerry and Rossana Basch

IKRON Corporation

Evolution Creative Solutions Dr. Larry Graham Gallagher

CARE SPONSORS

Mercy Health Clermont Hospital

Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana St. Elizabeth Healthcare

A new collaboration with CPD was launched in December with support from the Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. The Crisis Receiving Center gives officers an alternative when someone is having a behavioral health crisis. Instead of jail or the hospital, on-duty officers can take a person to the Receiving Center for assessment ensuring he/she is in the right hands to receive the care they need.

In operation a little over six months, the program initially worked with District 1 and the Central Business District but has expanded and now serves all Cincinnati police districts, including the University of Cincinnati.

Hamilton County Commissioner

Denise Driehaus is the 2026 COH Honoree

Commissioner Driehaus, who prefers being addressed simply as Denise, is a long-time resident of Greater Cincinnati and has spent most of her life making our community a better place to live.

She has raised her family here, owned businesses, and served in the Ohio House, which led to her current role as a County Commissioner. Denise also serves as the Executive Chair of the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition (HCARC), a group of specialists in the field of prevention, treatment, public health, and law enforcement who work together to find solutions and create resources for people who struggle with substance use disorder. The work of the Coalition, in collaboration with the community, has greatly reduced the number of overdose deaths in Hamilton County (recently released data shows a 66% decrease since 2017). The Coalition also focuses on education regarding the dangers of illegal drugs and their continuous threats to public health.

Commissioner Driehaus is proud of what HCARC has accomplished. She knows that there is still “work to be done” and is fearless when it comes to tackling the tough issues. She says "I feel so privileged to have been recognized as the 2026 Champions of Hope Honoree. GCBHS continues to be a champion for mental health and addiction services after decades of work striving to improve lives in Hamilton County. They are also a key partner of the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition (HCARC) – together, in partnership with the community, these entities have saved countless lives throughout the region. HCARC’s innovative initiatives such as the recovery pods in the Hamilton County Justice Center, inperson post-overdose outreach by the Quick Response Team, and the Recovery Friendly Workplace commitment demonstrate how HCARC has built infrastructure that saves lives and connects residents to care. The participation of GCBHS has been critical to this work."

We think you will agree that this award was much deserved and we are all the better for having someone like Denise “champion” the fight to assist the most vulnerable in our community.

"I feel so privileged to have been recognized as the 2026 Champions of Hope Honoree.

GCBHS continues to be a champion for mental health and addiction services after decades of work striving to improve lives in Hamilton County.”

- DENISE DRIEHAUS

An Evening of Inspiration and Impact 2 0 2 6 P H OTO R E C A P

Millstone supports

Hamilton County Behavorial Health Urgent Care with 3-year Grant We are grateful to Millstone Fund for their support of our Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) in Hamilton County,” says GCBHS President & CEO Jeff O’Neil. “This grant will allow us to expand immediate care for those in crisis and connect more rapidly with those who have severe behavioral health needs; connecting with them before the need for hospitalization or the involvement of law enforcement is needed.”

The $800,000 grant assists in funding part of a three-year plan for growth to address the growing community need for crisis services. By connecting to individuals more efficiently, we are better able to stabilize, treat and link them to ongoing services.

To achieve this, the BHUC will develop “pathways to care” to allow for intervention earlier than traditional crisis models. Currently, people often enter the system after a crisis has escalated to an emergency room visit, incarceration, or hospitalization. By collaborating with the criminal justice system and organizations working with people experiencing homelessness, we will be better able to identify predictable moments of vulnerability such as a jail release or shelter discharge, and guide individuals with mental illness directly to the BHUC for early intervention. These individuals will then have access to a team who can “wrap around them” to assess and secure medications, address basic needs such as housing support, which then reduces the likelihood of relapse, re-arrest, and/or hospitalization.

According to Nikki Bisig (left), GCBHS Chief Clinical Officer and Senior VP of Hamilton County Behavioral Health Services, “Many of the patients we see don’t always recognize when they need help early on, so by the time they come to us, things have often already escalated. We’re working with community partners to create a direct line to care so people can connect to support sooner, in ways that feel natural and accessible.”

Millstone Fund’s gift will assist the Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) in becoming a centralized, community-wide stabilization hub, ensuring providers are clear on where someone should go when experiencing a behavioral health crisis. By increasing this level of coordinated care, that currently does not exist in the Greater Cincinnati area, we can improve the patient experience thereby increasing positive outcomes.

Millstone Fund prioritizes local work that strengthens mental and behavioral health across the life course, supporting strong and innovative approaches that address the persistent challenge of mental health conditions in our community.

The expansion of the GCBHS behavioral health urgent care is a critical step toward better support for people experiencing acute behavioral health needs—and importantly, it establishes a care continuum with embedded pathways that connect patients to a behavioral health home, ensuring treatment continues beyond stabilization.

We are excited to see this work develop and strengthen our local crisis response system."

—TED FOLGER, PHD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MILLSTONE FUND

Ohio Valley Foundation Helps Supports Behavioral Health Urgent Care Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) would like to thank The Ohio Valley Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Agent, for their support of our Hamilton County Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC). The Foundation recently awarded the program with a $25,000 grant which will assist our organization in beginning Phase 1 of a multi-year expansion.

Jade Snyder is a nurse and has been with the BHUC since its launch, “I have witnessed firsthand how these services truly impact our clients. People in a mental health crisis deserve a safe place to seek urgent help where they can work with staff who are specifically trained to treat behavioral health matters. This funding will open our clients up to having their immediate psychiatric needs met promptly while simultaneously preventing hospitalization. It will also provide a space where clients are met exactly where they are at in their mental health journey and allow them to leave feeling respected and supported.

The Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) allows patients access to treatment much faster than in previous care models. Another huge benefit is that because the community has an additional resource, we can also relieve the stress on other emergency systems such as police and hospital emergency rooms who may already be stretched thin.

It's a Bird...it's a Plane...

No! It’s a GCBHS Employment Services Superhero!

Some people are born to do a job.

Finding people jobs is Dashawn Johnson’s superpower.

Insert caption here

According to Kelly Palmer, Associate Director of Employment Services at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS), Dashawn has an amazing ability to place people in jobs. “Dashawn,” she says, “is an exceptional Employment Specialist who gets amazing results.” And it’s not just finding people jobs, says Kelly. “It’s finding people jobs that they are successful in.

Alex is just one example (pictured right).

He has a severe and persistent mental health diagnosis, but it was his physical health that made it difficult to maintain and sometimes even be offered a position. He has a balance issue which makes walking difficult.

Sometimes he needs to balance himself by grabbing a wall or a chair to keep from falling. Prospective employers were worried he would not be able to do the job.

Dashawn knows that the key to finding people jobs is to network. He reached out to one of his connections, which led to a position for Alex selling concessions. They gave him a chance and through Dashawn’s advocacy, allowed Alex to sit when necessary.

It didn’t take long for the staff to fall in love with him.

Through his concessions job, Alex gained confidence and some marketable skills.

Although he still works concessions on the weekends, he now works at Kroger which is closer to his home, so he doesn’t have to worry about transportation. He says, “The team at GCBHS gave me the attention I needed when it counted the most. Their help was invaluable and thanks to them, I know I can keep working and work on myself.”

Dashawn was also able to help DeUndrae, who hadn’t been employed in 20 years.

With help from the expungement clinic, he was ready for a fresh start. Dashawn

I have a whole team of people who have been there, so they know and can help me when I need it.”

- DASHAWN

accompanied him to court to address the 120+ felonies and misdemeanors on his record that was hindering his job search.

But DeUndrae also owed the court over $6,000 in fines and court costs. The judge told DeUndrae that he would need to pay his fines if he ever wanted his record expunged.

It became a vicious cycle. DeUndrae needed a job to pay his court fines, but he couldn’t get a job because of his record.

Dashawn requested to speak privately with the judge. He explained the situation that DeUndrae was in and how much work he had done to move toward a better life.

Dashawn's belief in DeUndrae convinced the judge to give him a chance. The judge not only granted the expungement of ALL charges but also waived the $6,000 fees.

These days, DeUndrae is employed as a team lead at a company downtown. He has a car and a driver’s license, and he is excited about his future.

GCBHS Employment Specialists like Dashawn know that our clients need someone to advocate and assist them in addressing barriers as they come up. They

help clients with their job search, their resume, the interview and teach them how be successful in the workplace. Being on the employment team means helping clients believe in themselves and their ability to find and maintain a job.

Dashawn says that no matter what position a client is working, “We need to make sure they know they are in charge. We can support them, but they need to decide what they want to do, whether it’s fast food or computer science. I’ve worked with clients who have microbiology and pharmaceutical backgrounds. They just want to know that if they fall back, we’ll be there to catch them and help them move forward.”

Dashawn also appreciates his co-workers who he says are the best he’s ever worked with. “I have a whole team of people who have been there, so they know and can help me when I need it.”

“Working in employment services is nothing like what people think it is,” says Dashawn.

“Each client is different and they all have their own story. I love helping ensure that story has a happy ending.”

15 01 M a d i s o n R o a d C i n c i n n a t i,O H 4 52 0 6

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Congratulations!

Congratulations!

In partnership In partnership with TopWorkplaces.com, with TopWorkplaces.com, In partne GreaterGreater Cincinnati Cincinnati Behavioral Behavioral Health Health Greate Services Services is a 2026 is aCulture 2026 Culture Excellence Excellence & & Service GCBHS Named TopIndustry Workplace for the 16th Year!

Industry AwardsAwards winner! winner!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

For the 16th year Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) has been awarded the Top Workplaces 2026 honor by The Enquirer Media. We are extremely proud of this because the list is based solely on feedback from our employees (through an anonymous survey conducted by Energage LLC). The confidential survey they fill out delves into many aspects of the daily work environment, including work/life balance, leadership, and growth opportunities, to name a few. Says one staffer about working at GCBHS, “Not only do you feel as if you are making a positive impact in the community, but the staff support here is phenomenal.”

nrship partnership with In partnership TopWorkplaces.com, with TopWorkplaces.com, with TopWorkplaces.com, rGreater Cincinnati Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Cincinnati Behavioral Health Behavioral Health Health ervices is a 2026 Services is Culture a 2026 is Culture aExcellence 2026 Culture Excellence & Excellence & & ndustryIndustry AwardsIndustry Awards winner! winner!

According to JeffAwards O’Neil, Presidentwinner! & CEO, the accolade means a great deal to him personally. “The entire team

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has the ability to answer the survey honestly – from direct service staff to administrative. We ask for their honest comments to be able to best serve our clients and assure that we are also taking care of the people who are doing that work on a daily basis.”

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