Our strong partnerships enhance our capacity to improve alignment across child welfare and behavioral health systems. Our partnerships shape our research questions, methodological decisions, and plans for translating our research for community impact in Ohio and beyond.
Public Children Services Association of Ohio
PCSAO is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization who seeks to advocate for and promote child protection program excellence and sound public policy for safe children, stable families, and supportive communities. PCSAO represents the 85 county-based child welfare agencies in Ohio.
Ohio START is a statewide initiative led by PCSAO to improve outcomes for families involved in the child welfare system due to parental substance use issues.
Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities
The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA) represents Ohio’s Mental Health, Alcohol, and Drug Addiction Boards at the state level. Among other responsibilities, OACHBA is responsible for coordinating and financing regional behavioral health and recovery supports.
The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services Providers is a statewide association representing over 150 private alcohol and other drug addiction, mental health, and family services organizations.
Children and Family Futures (CFF) strives to prevent child abuse and neglect while improving safety, permanency, well-being and recovery outcomes with equity for all children, parents and families affected by trauma, substance use and mental health disorders. CFF is the national home for the training and technical assistance program of the START Model.
The Ohio START Evaluation Team at Ohio State University’s College of Social Work
Since 2017, researchers at OSU’s College of Social Work and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University have been evaluating the Ohio START initiative (Principal Investigator: Dr. Bridget Freisthler).