Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The following resources have been carefully curated by OACBHA's Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council to help explain the importance of racial and ethnic inclusivity. Please use and share the resources below as you think about the ways that communities of color interact with the behavioral health system and the disparities that still exist in your own communities, professions, and structural systems.

OACBHA's Declaration: Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Questions about OACBHA's Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council?
Please contact Elijah Jones, Director of Health Equity & Clinical Resources at ejones@oacbha.org or (614)224-1111.

Click here to read the Year in Review report.

Click here to read the toolkit and accompanying workbook.

OACBHA Health Equity related Behavioral Health One-Pagers

• Youth in Crisis: Suicide Rates Trend Up for Balck Youth (August 2022)
  
• Supporting Mental Health of Refugee and Asylum Seekers (July 2022) 
• Addressing Behavioral Health Disparities in the Black Community (February 2022)
• Building Capacity to Enhance Behavioral Health Equity (July 2021)
• Dismantling Racism and Advancing Health Policy (February 2021)
• Poverty's Impact on Mental Wellness and the Role of Culturally Competent Services (July 2020)
• Addressing Barriers to Care for Ohio's Service Members, Veterans, and Families (March 2020)
• Eliminating Stigma (October 2019)
• Promoting Health Equity Through Understanding Disparities (May 2019)
• Moving ROSC Forward (December 2018)
• Promoting Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services (February 2018)
• ROSC: An Overview of Individual Wellness and Needs (January 2018)
• Connecting Older Adults with Behavioral Healthcare (July 2017)
• Navigating Change with a ROSC (May 2017)

Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council Members 

• Chair, Helen Jones-Kelley, Executive Director, Montgomery County ADAMHS
• John Aller, Executive Director, Stark County MHAR
• Malaika Brewer, Health Equity & Cultural Competency Administrator, OhioMHAS
• Jamie Carmichael, Chief Health Opportunity Advisor, Ohio Department of Health
• Alisa Clark, Assistant Director, OhioMHAS
• Erika Clark Jones, Executive Director, The ADAMH Board of Franklin County
• Tony Coder, Executive Director, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
• Tammie Colon, Executive Director, MHRSB of Allen, Auglaize & Hardin Counties
• Misty Cromwell, Executive Director, Muskingum Area Board of MHRS
• Tracy Maxwell Heard, Executive Director, Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence
• Joseph Hill, Bureau Chief, OhioMHAS
• State Rep. Dontavius J. Jarrells (D-Columbus), District 25, Ohio House of Representatives
• Karen Scherra, Executive Director, Clermont County MHRB
• Scott Sylak, Executive Director, MHRSB of Lucas County
• Marti Taylor, President and CEO, OneFifteen
• Kate Tullio, Director, Health Equity, CareSource
• Aimee Wade, Executive Director, County of Summit ADM Board
• Juliet Dorris-Williams, Executive Director, The Peer Center
• Deanna Vietz, Executive Director, Brown County Board of MHAS

Equity Grounded Leadership Fellows Program

Through support from the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, in collaboration with the College of Behavioral Health Leadership, members of OACBHA have been able to participate in the first cohort of this new program that shifts the focus of cross-sector behavioral health leaders to intersectionality, equity, and anti-racism for behavioral health systems transformation. Click here to meet the fellows and learn more about the program.