Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board

MHRS Board Goals

• Create community understanding that supports prevention, services, and recovery of persons affected by mental illness or substance abuse.
• Enhance opportunities for youth with mental health or substance abuse problems to experience positive growth and inclusion in the community.
• Maximize the ability of adults with serious and persistent mental illness or substance abuse to recover and to direct the services they receive.
• Ensure effective and efficient Board operations and system accountability for tax dollars.
• Establish and implement research-based, best practice approaches to providing mental health and substance services.
• Evaluate and plan for mental health and substance abuse services and supports to individuals ages 65 and older.
  
                      Strategic Challenges:

• Service demands have increased while public resources have decreased.
• Additional options for crisis response are needed.
• Multiple providers of in-county services affect service continuity, quality, and resources.
• An increase in substance abuse and dependence affects the entire community and service system.
• Problems in accessing services in the areas of psychiatry, counseling, detox, and home-based continue.
• Providers have difficulty attracting qualified mental health and substance abuse professionals, particularly in psychiatry and home-based.
• There has been an Increase in the suicide completion rate in the county.
• Stigma continues to be a problem particularly for persons who abuse substances.
• Collaboration with other systems will need to be increased to meet growing service demands.
• Mandated funding of out-of-county Medicaid services continues to impact local resources and planning.
• More children are being identified as needing mental health and substance abuse services at an earlier age and to a more significant degree.
• Evidence-based practices and outcomes need to be strengthened throughout the system.
• The demand for all levels of drug and alcohol treatment has increased with no additional resources.
• There is a lack of capacity to treat all who could benefit from substance abuse treatment.