Ohio Advocates Urge State to Invest More in Youth Mental Health
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According to experts, the mental health services available to children in Ohio have consistently needed improvement.
Experts state that various areas across the state still lack sufficient access to these services and require assistance to ensure that children have the resources they need to address mental health issues and prevent them from occurring.
Kim Eckhart, the research manager for the Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio, believes that Ohio has an opportunity to invest in children’s well-being and prevent the occurrence of mental health issues.
Research conducted by the Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio has revealed that Ohio does not have a standardized system of care for behavioral health, despite the fact that clinical intervention can impact a child’s well-being by 20%, according to a 2021 report by the CDF and the Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are among the risks that can impact children and lead to the development of mental health issues requiring intervention. ACEs, as defined by the CDF-Ohio, are strongly linked to a wide range of health problems and can involve exposure to family dysfunction, violence, and financial hardship within the family.
In 2021, Ohio ranked 46th in the nation in terms of children experiencing three or more ACEs, with minorities facing a higher risk.
Although Medicaid covers access to mental health services for children, transportation issues and a lack of providers can create barriers to care.
Robin Harris, the executive director of the Alcohol, Drugs, and Mental Health Board of Gallia, Jackson, and Meigs counties, reports that all Appalachian counties, except for four, are considered "mental health professional shortage areas." Only one "crisis stabilization facility" currently exists in Appalachia, specifically in Gallia County.
Harris mentioned in a statement to the bipartisan Ohio Legislative Children’s Caucus that the establishment of this facility was the result of determined efforts typical of the Appalachian region.
However, most children have to travel two hours or more to reach a mental health facility, and around 14% of Appalachian families do not have access to a vehicle for this purpose.
Stephanie Starcher, the superintendent of the Fort Frye Local School District, understands the challenges associated with mental health, not only in her students but also within her own family.
Starcher’s daughter suffers from severe mental health issues, and her family has had to travel for two hours to seek proper care in Cincinnati or Columbus. Starcher revealed that she, her daughter, and her husband waited for three days in a local emergency room to be transported to a facility.
Whenever telehealth services are not suitable, Starcher and her husband have had to take time off work, while her daughter has missed school, in order to seek the necessary care.
"As an educator, I constantly think to myself, if I have to go through all these hoops to obtain the services my child needs because they aren’t available in Appalachia, what about families who don’t have the education to navigate these challenges?" Starcher expressed.
The Fort Frye district has partnered with local behavioral health providers to have social workers and counselors available for students, with parental permission.
Starcher mentioned that the agencies they collaborated with struggled with recruiting workers to the area. Although there is funding available to support clinical settings in schools, attracting professionals to the region remains a major challenge.
While Appalachia faces its own set of issues, Eckhart points out that this problem is not unique to that particular region.
Eckhart highlighted the fact that in rural counties across the state, there may be only 20 providers available in the entire county.
Advocates are calling for regional investment specifically focused on improving behavioral health, including the allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan to kick-start necessary resources.
Randy Leite, the executive director of the Appalachian Children Coalition, stated that the organization is currently conducting needs assessments in all 32 Appalachian counties.
Eckhart emphasized the importance of utilizing federal ARPA funds to invest in mental health throughout the state. Additionally, she stressed the significance of promoting student wellness and success funds in schools, particularly for social and emotional learning, a priority identified by parents.
The General Assembly approved the funding in House Bill 168. A total of $25 million was allocated to Dayton Children’s Hospital, while ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital in Toledo received $17 million. University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s received $15 million, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center received $10 million, and Akron Children’s Hospital received $7 million.
The Appalachian Children’s Coalition’s Integrated Services for Behavioral Health received a designated amount of $6.45 million, and Hopewell Health Centers, also part of the coalition, received $3.55 million in allocations.
Leite advocated for multiple funding sources to solidify the resources in the state. He estimated that between $20 million and $30 million in one-time funds would be necessary to fully implement the services.
"Given the complexity, it is crucial to consider all available funding sources," Leite stated.
Ohio Capital Journal, a member of the States Newsroom network, is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Ohio Capital Journal maintains its editorial independence. For inquiries, please contact Editor David DeWitt at info@ohiocapitaljournal.com. Follow Ohio Capital Journal on Facebook and Twitter.
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