COLUMBUS, OH -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on April 29th, signed Executive Order 2022-08D to provide $4.5 million to increase staff and reopen beds in licensed  youth residential treatment facilities.

 “When treatment facilities have a hard time filling positions, they in turn serve fewer children,” said Governor DeWine. “This one-time funding will allow facilities to increase capacity and allow more young Ohioans with complex needs receive the treatment and support they need.”

This executive order authorizes an emergency administrative rule to allow the Ohio Department of Medicaid to quickly and efficiently distribute relief funds to Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services licensed residential treatment providers to maintain capacity.

“We are grateful to the Governor, the Controlling Board, Department of Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director Lori Criss, and Department of Job and Family Services Director Matt Damschroder for taking this action to impact our placement crisis for youth with complex behavioral health needs,” said Angela Sausser, Executive Director, Public Children Services Association of Ohio. “We are hopeful that this relief will increase capacity at children’s residential facilities so the acute behavioral health needs of youth can get appropriately addressed, and county agencies can receive some relief from this placement crisis.”