CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Three projects serving Ross County have been awarded a combined $442,466 through the OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s second Regional Grant Cycle, bringing opioid settlement funding to local programs focused on crisis services, youth mental health and substance-use prevention.
The grants are part of nearly $1.97 million awarded to 14 projects across OneOhio Region 9, which includes Adams, Brown, Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike, Ross and Scioto counties.
The funding comes from Ohio’s opioid settlement dollars and is intended to support locally driven programs addressing substance use disorder, co-occurring mental health conditions, prevention, treatment and recovery.
For Ross County, the three funded projects include a new crisis stabilization service in Chillicothe, mental health treatment for youth at the Ross County Juvenile Detention Center and expanded mentoring for Ross County teenagers.
Chillicothe Crisis Stabilization Unit Receives $250,000
Coleman Professional Services, Inc. was awarded $250,000 for its Fostering SUD Recovery with Crisis Stabilization and Treatment in Paint Valley project.
The funding will support a new 24/7 crisis stabilization unit in Chillicothe, including walk-in services and a 23-hour crisis receiving unit.
The project is designed to make emergency behavioral health evaluations more accessible and provide an alternative for people experiencing a behavioral health or substance-use crisis.
The crisis stabilization services are intended to help connect people with appropriate treatment and recovery resources while reducing barriers to receiving care.
Juvenile Detention Center to Receive Youth Mental Health Services
The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board received $63,466 for Youth Mental Health Treatment Access in the Juvenile Detention Center.
The program will provide mental health treatment to youth housed at the Ross County Juvenile Detention Center.
According to the grant description, the program will focus on helping young people develop coping skills and improve impulse control while addressing behavioral health needs that could contribute to future involvement with the criminal justice system.
The goal is to provide intervention while youth are in detention and help reduce the risk of future incarceration.
Mentoring Program Expanding for Ross County Teens
The Paper City Mentoring Project, Inc. was awarded $128,500 for Reducing Risk Through Relationships: Expanding Mentoring as a Proven Prevention Strategy for Ross County Teens.
The project will expand one-on-one community mentoring for at-risk high school students in Ross County.
The program will focus on helping teenagers build confidence, strengthen positive relationships and develop healthy strategies that can reduce their risk of substance use.
The mentoring effort is part of the region’s broader strategy of using early intervention and positive relationships to prevent substance-use problems before they develop.
Nearly $2 Million Awarded Across Region 9
Together, the three Ross County projects account for $442,466 of the $1.97 million awarded through the regional grant cycle.
Other projects receiving funding across Region 9 include programs supporting kinship families, jail reentry, recovery housing, youth in crisis, homelessness services, drug treatment and family reunification.
OneOhio Recovery Foundation Executive Director Alisha Nelson said the grants are intended to put opioid settlement funds into the hands of organizations working directly with Ohio communities.
“These grants will help local organizations expand the prevention, treatment and recovery services that people and families rely on,” Nelson said. “We are proud to support work that will reach more residents, strengthen communities, and help more Ohioans build healthier futures.”
Tonya Sturgill, chair of the OneOhio Region 9 Board, said local organizations understand the needs of their communities and are often working with limited resources, particularly in rural areas.
“These investments will strengthen support for children and families, improve crisis and reentry services, and help connect people to the treatment, housing, and recovery resources they need,” Sturgill said.
Funding Comes From Ohio Opioid Settlements
OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s Regional Grant Cycle 2 makes up to $45.7 million available statewide for projects addressing substance use disorder and related impacts.
The grants are part of the state’s broader effort to direct opioid settlement funds toward prevention, treatment, recovery and support services.
All awards were approved by the OneOhio Board of Directors following a multi-step review process that included regional review committees, Foundation staff and the Grant Oversight Committee.
Grant recipients are required to submit biannual programmatic and financial reports, with the Foundation also able to request additional information or conduct site visits.
The latest grants build on OneOhio’s first grant cycle, which awarded more than $45 million to 245 projects statewide.
For Ross County, the latest funding will put more resources toward three areas directly affecting local residents: crisis stabilization, youth mental health and substance-use prevention.
