OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss recently announced the convening a diverse stakeholder workgroup to review and develop proposed recommendation to improve Chapter 340. In convening the workgroup, Director Criss shared that, as Ohio’s behavioral health authority, OhioMHAS has been charged with providing statewide leadership of our state’s publicly funded mental health and addiction system. This requires full and equitable engagement of hundreds of organizations, including behavioral health providers and alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services (ADAMHS) boards. It also requires the engagement of other systems, including education, criminal justice, faith and community-based organizations, and health care systems. It also involves listening to the needs of Ohioans living with and recovering from mental illness and addiction and their family members. The health and wellness of these Ohioans relies on the embodiment of our combined experiences to strengthen the foundation of our system of care.

Chapter 340 of the Ohio Revised Code affirms the duties and responsibilities of OhioMHAS as the cabinet-level state agency providing oversight and guidance to the boards and also governs the organization, operations, duties, and services provided by Ohio’s single and joint district ADAMHS boards.

OhioMHAS recognizes that the realities and practices of today’s behavioral health care system have created challenges within the current governing structure and appreciates the recommendations they have received to date from various stakeholders to address these challenges. Members of the workgroup have been selected by OhioMHAS to reflect a diverse representation of Ohio’s behavioral health stakeholders and the Ohioans who receive these services.

This workgroup will identify code sections in need of review, define specific challenges, explore recommended solutions, and produce a summary report by the end of this year of challenges, recommended updates and improvements, and future policy considerations for consideration and discussion by the administration and General Assembly.

An initial meeting has been scheduled for Friday, March 4, from 3 to 5 p.m. to convene the group and set a meeting schedule and agenda. All meetings of the workgroup will be open to the public via in-person or virtual participation. Discussions will be driven by the workgroup members, but a time for public input will be included at the end of each meeting.

It is the intent of OhioMHAS to hold a series of meetings approximately every six weeks between March and June 2022 followed by a series of regional meetings in the fall. These regional meetings will include listening sessions to provide opportunity for additional engagement by local stakeholders and interested parties, including elected officials, community leaders, and Ohioans with lived experiences.