The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and OhioMHAS are conducting a survey of OhioMHAS-certified mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities about tobacco-related services provided by facilities and details about their smoke- or tobacco-free policies. ODH and OhioMHAS are attempting to understand the reasons facilities may or may not offer tobacco screening and/or have a tobacco-free policy, whether they have any plans to offer tobacco screening and/or adopt a tobacco-free policy, and any challenges or barriers facilities have experienced or believe they will experience in implementing these protocols or policies. 

Starting in mid-December, Strategic Research Group, the contractor administering the survey, sent letters, postcards, and emails to behavioral health facilities requesting participation. After three months, only about 35% of facilities have completed the survey. ODH and OhioMHAS would appreciate it if members of The Ohio Council could please check to make sure that their facilities have received and completed this survey. If you do not know if your agency received the survey or who in your agency received it, or if you have questions or concerns that are preventing your agency from completing the survey, please contact Strategic Research Group’s project director Kristen Heimdal via email at [email protected].