PREVENTION & EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES
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Prevention and Early Intervention Services are components of a comprehensive approach to the behavioral health continuum of care. Prevention strategies are designed to create environments and conditions that support behavioral health and the ability of individuals to withstand challenges. These strategies promote the health and safety of individuals and communities by reducing the likelihood or – or delaying on onset of – behavioral health problems across the life span. This includes strategies related to substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide. MHDAS providers and community coalitions offer a variety of prevention services for use in schools, workplaces, and the general community.  

Our Director of Prevention Services, Cecilia Yelton, was interviewed on Listen Up! Listen to the full interview below! ​

WPKO News · Listen Up! 1-21-24

OUR PROVIDERS

WE SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING SERVICES

Botvin LifeSkills Training 

• Botvin Life Skills is a universal, school-based program that aims to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use and violence by targeting the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors.  
  • Elementary School Program (Grades 3-5)
  • Middle School Program (Grades 6-8)
  • High School Program (Grades 9-10)
  • Transitions Program (Young adults aged 16-20)

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CAST (Coping and Support Training)

• CAST is an evidence-based, selected and indicated program for at-risk or high-risk youth in upper middle or high school. The program consists of twelve, 55-minute sessions facilitated by an adult who works well with at-risk youth and who is trained to implement the CAST program. The 12 CAST sessions are usually offered twice per week in a (middle or high) school setting as a pull-out program, or outside of the school setting by youth-oriented agencies, mental health professionals, and community centers. The CAST Group is comprised of 6 – 8 students, who are INVITED to participate. CAST youth evidenced significant and sustained reduction in suicide risk behaviors; anxiety; depression; drug use; alcohol use; and increases in problem-solving/coping, personal control, and family support.

​40 Developmental Assets 

• 40 Developmental Assets® - Search Institute - Everyone’s an Asset Builder introduces the 40 Developmental Asset framework, research, and the powerful role of individual asset builders in the lives of youth. This workshop will help builders and their own personal strengths and challenges; understand “circles of influence” and identify those circles in which there is potential for asset building; and make and share a personal commitment to asset-building action. This 2–3-hour training highlights the 40 key ingredients to healthy youth development and local youth data on asset levels, risk-taking, and thriving behaviors.

* Alternative options: This training is flexible for a variety of audiences and customizable. We can train parents during kindergarten registration, Parent/Teacher Organization/Assn. meetings, parent forums, faith-based congregations, creative arts groups, 4H leaders, the possibilities are endless. Let us know your timeframe and audience and we can customize to your needs!

​Mental Health First Aid 

• Mental Health First Aid is a 6–8-hour certification course that trains individuals how to help someone encountering a mental challenge or crisis, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance abuse/addictions. It teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people exhibiting signs and/or symptoms of a mental illness and how to find help. This course is eligible to all adults (age 16+) via two curricula: Adult MHFA and Youth MHFA. 

PAX Good Behavior Game 

• PAX Good Behavior Game teaches students self-regulation, self-control, and self-management. A form of classroom management implemented directly by classroom teachers. This program has longitudinal studies indicating that this is currently the prevention program with the greatest return on investment of any prevention programs to date. This program is best implemented in elementary school and expanded. 

PAX Tools 

• PAX Tools is a collection of trauma-informed, evidence-based behavioral strategies for families and communities to intentionally teach children behavior and to promote the development of self-regulation of the children in their lives. PAX Tools draws on decades of science to create strategies that support parents, youth workers, and other caring adults to create a nurturing environment that ultimately helps kids thrive!

Handle With Care 

• Ohio Handle With Care is a trauma-informed, cross-systems, collaborative program aimed at ensuring that children who are exposed to adverse events receive appropriate interventions and have opportunities to build resilience through positive relationships with teachers and first responders. 

SBIRT in Schools 

• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based practice used universally across the age span to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. Organizations can be trained to utilize this screening for high-risk behaviors, provide prevention messages to those identified at risk, and creates an immediate path to treatment for those in need.

VitalClog Suicide Prevention in Workplaces 

• VitalClog is an evidence-based program designed to promote mental health and reduce stigma around mental illness in the workplace. By reducing stigma and discrimination, Working Minds helps organizations create a culture that fosters greater awareness and support for mental health among employees, managers, and employers.

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) 

• QPR—Gatekeeper Training - This is a universal, evidence-based prevention training which enables participants to identify people who may be at risk of depression or suicidal thoughts, provide an appropriate initial response to those identified, assist them on how to get help, and serve as a gatekeeper in the community. Participants learn the QPR technique (Question, Persuade, Refer) to identify risk and encourage help -seeking behaviors and life-saving measures. Gatekeepers are not mental health professionals or doctors. They are responsible adults who spend time with other people who might be vulnerable to depression or suicidal thoughts, ie: teachers, coaches, police officers, EMT’s, eldercare workers, physicians, 4H leaders.

​Suicide Prevention Coalition of Logan and Champaign Counties 

• The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Logan and Champaign Counties started in 2005 and continues with the important work of local suicide prevention. The Coalition is devoted to raising awareness around the important topic of suicide prevention, the impact suicide has on our community, as well as supporting families that have been touched by suicide. Our mission is to instill hope, support healing, provide education, and preserve life. The Coalition’s work towards Prevention and Awareness includes: • Monthly Coalition meetings, 1st Tuesday of every month 3- 4:30 pm at the West Liberty office of TCN Behavioral Health; The promotion and coordination for mental health screenings in local schools;  Awareness campaigns thru community events and media campaigns;  Collaboration with local stakeholders, including local churches, schools, law enforcement and community organizations and businesses for prevention and awareness efforts; and Provide speakers and trainings to any interested groups or organizations. 

Our Coalition is also deeply committed to Suicide Postvention, supporting those families touched by suicide. Our community was the first in Ohio to offer a LOSS Team response, which is a trained group of volunteers that can respond to a family at the time of their loss to offer immediate support, resources and information as well as connect families to other local survivors. This response is done in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies and Coroners offices. The Coalition’s work towards suicide Postvention includes: LOSS Team Responses for family and loved one’s; The Survivor of Suicide Support Group (SOS) meets monthly at the West Liberty office of TCN Behavioral Health, 1521 North Detroit Street, on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 6:30-8:30 pm; and SOS Memory Walk and 5K, Ohio Caverns (September).

​Signs of Suicide 

• The SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program (SOS) is a universal, school-based depression awareness and suicide prevention program designed for middle-school (ages 11–13) or high-school (ages 13–17) students. The goals are to 1) decrease suicide and suicide attempts by increasing student knowledge and adaptive attitudes about depression, 2) encourage personal help seeking and/or help-seeking on behalf of a friend, 3) reduce the stigma of mental illness and acknowledge the importance of seeking help or treatment, 4) engage parents and school staff as partners in prevention through “gatekeeper” education, and 5) encourage schools to develop community-based partnerships to support student mental health. Both the middle and high school programs provide age appropriate, educational DVDs for school staff to play for students. The middle school video (Time to ACT) and the high school video (Friends for Life) inform students how to ACT® (Acknowledge, Care and Tell), demonstrate the right and wrong ways to help, and show a student talking with a school counselor. The program includes an optional student screening that assesses depression and suicide risk and identifies students to refer for professional help as indicated. The program also includes a video, Training Trusted Adults, to engage staff, parents, or community members in the program’s objectives and prevention efforts. This program includes an education session and passive permission brief screening following the education.

​Community CORE 

• Logan County CORE
  • Community CORE is a community coalition that, through collective partnerships, focuses on prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery efforts to reduce substance misuse and abuse among the citizens of Logan County.

Please contact Cecilia Yelton to learn more about Logan County CORE and how to get involved.

• Champaign County CORE
  • Community CORE is a community coalition that, through collective partnerships, focuses on prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery efforts to reduce substance misuse and abuse among the citizens of Logan County.

Please contact Adam Sorensen to learn more about Champaign County CORE and how to get involved.

Please contact Cecilia Yelton OCPS, ICPS, Director of School and Community-Based Prevention of the MHDAS Board of Logan and Champaign Counties, to inquire about prevention programming and how to schedule services.
Email: [email protected] Phone: 937-465-1045 

MEDICATION DROP BOX LOCATIONS

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

Urbana Police Department -- 937-652-4350
205 S. Main St., Urbana, OH  43078

Champaign Co. Sheriff's Department -- 937-652-1311
200 N. Main St., Urbana, OH  43078

St. Paris Police Department -- 937-663-4329
135 W. Main St., St. Paris, OH  43072

Mechanicsburg Police Department -- 937-834-3303
18 N. Main St., Mechanicsburg, OH  43044

Mercy Hospital -- 937-653-5231
904 Scioto St., Urbana, OH  43078

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LOGAN COUNTY​

​Russells Point Municipal Court Building -- 937-843-2245
433 State Route 708, Russells Point, OH  43348

Logan County Sheriff's Office -- 937-599-3333
284 County Road 32 S., Bellefontaine, OH  43311

Mary Rutan Hospital -- 937-592-4015
205 Palme Avenue, Bellefontaine, OH  43311
1134 N. Main Street, (next to Urgent Care) Bellefontaine, OH 43311

Community Market (Hyland Hills Plaza) -- 937-593-9559
878 E. Sandusky Ave., Bellefontaine, OH  43311

CVS Pharmacy -- 937-593-1040
143 E. Sandusky Ave., Bellefontaine, OH  43311