Community & Family Resources

The Safer Ohio School Tip Line is a free safety resource available to all Ohio schools. The tip line is an anonymous reporting system that accepts tips via call, text, webform, and mobile app 24 hours-a-day. Anyone can download the Safer Ohio School Tip Line app or use the webform.

This tip line allows students and adults to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety — whether that involves a threatened mass incident or harm to a single student.

https://ohioschoolsafetycenter.ohio.gov/pre-k-12-schools/safer-ohio-school-tip-line

MRSS is a free state-led initiative that contracts with agencies in various counties to form teams of clinicians to provide immediate behavioral health services in the home or a safe location for individuals under the age of 21 experiencing significant behavioral or emotional distress.  Children's Hospital is the agency that provides the MRSS services in Franklin County. 

MRSS operatings 9am-930pm, Monday through Friday, and will respond to an immediate crisis, anywhere in Franklin county, within 60 minutes. This is a free services for families and does not replace any of their current linkage/supports. The quickest way to reach MRSS is by calling the Youth Psychiatric Crisis Line (614)-722-1800 and requesting MRSS.

Important notes about MRSS:

It is best practice for the person calling to request an MRSS response (particularly from school) reaches out to the family to let them know you are doing so.

You cannot request a response to someone else’s home/location—that person would need to be involved in the conversation and agreeable to a MRSS response.

We will NOT privately transport kids to the hospital.

We will NOT provide any hands-on intervention techniques for escalated kids.

We can schedule non-immediate visits within 48 hours in advance.

For more information reach out to Sam Schoeppner, MPH, MSW, LISW-S  (330) 704-9316   samantha.schoeppner@nationwidechildrens.org 

MRSS Brochure - Spanish          MRSS Brochure - English      MRSS Flyer     MRSS Children's Hospital Website

The Ohio Youth Ombudsman Office is a resource established to assist and advocate for young individuals involved in the children's services system, including foster care and juvenile services. The primary role of the Ombudsman is to address concerns and complaints raised by or on behalf of youth regarding their care, placement, or treatment within these systems. The office listens to grievances, investigates complaints, and works to resolve issues, ensuring that the rights and well-being of these young individuals are upheld.  See the website for more information and on how to file a complaint.  

https://youthandfamilyombudsmen.ohio.gov/home

Various CCS departments provide lists of supports, resources, etc. available for students. Below is a link to a webpage with community resources and also a link to counseling resources. For academic resources or other areas you want to know more about, we suggest looking at the department webpage or curriculum webpages to find more resources.

• Community resources: https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/11896

• Counseling resources: https://sites.google.com/columbus.k12.oh.us/resources-hs-students-families/home/social-emotionalcommunity-resources?authuser=0

Sine COVID-19 there has been an increase in absenteeism. The Ohio Dept. Of Education found that more than 30% of students across Ohio were chronically absent in the 21-22 school year. Absenteeism limits not only academic growth, but also the development of social skills. It is important that teachers , as well as parents, are aware of the importance of school attendance, and work together to reduce absenteeism. 

Download, print, and share these fliers created by The Ohio State University based around new research completed by the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research & Policy, and read more on their website at www.crane.osu.edu

Obtaining Information from NCH Child Development Center

New Process for Exchanging Information - Made Easy! 

The Childhood Development Center completes all the autism evaluations at Children's Hospital and stores their reports within their department.  If you have a release signed (CCS release or Children's release) by the parent to allow access to Children's Hospital records then you can email that release (PDF only) to BHVirtualServicesCDC@nationwidechildrens.org   This email is checked by staff and then the information is uploaded into an electronic medical records folder that is shared by all Children's Hospital employees.  Staff can then refer to this folder to find the release after you notify them that the release was sent to the email.  Also, if a family has access to their child’s MyChart (which allows a parent electronic access to their child’s chart) they can view the Child Development Center completed psychological evaluations, which could be downloaded and sent to you.  Below are a couple of additional things to consider regarding the email. 

Links to Forms for Exchange of Information 

Release Form for Routine Disclosure / Exchange of Patient Information - designates communication privileges 

Request for Access to Protected Health Information - use to request records or other health information 

Behavioral Health

Parent's Guide to Psychiatric Crisis Department

School-Based Behavioral Health

'Signs of Suicide'  Program

The Center for Suicide Prevention & Research is partnering with schools to help reach more students in need, and provide teachers and caregivers the tools they need to be an active advocate for their students' mental health! 

For more information, contact the Nationwide Children's Hospital Suicide Prevention team at suicideprevention@nationwidechildrens.org

Mandated Reporting

Mandated Reporter Presentation

Guidelines for Reporting Abuse

Questions for Family Well Being

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Boundless is a family of nonprofit companies with more than forty years of expertise providing person-centered care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges. Supervisor Kelli James has shared three different programs that are Medicaid-funded that could help students aged 14+. 

One program assigns mentors to individuals with disabilities and/or mental health issues and helps those individuals transition into the community.    Another is a girls group that mixes individuals with and without disabilities and places them in social settings in the community.  Finally, the third program allows LQBTQ individuals who have disabilities to virtually once a week.  Attached are the flyers for the three different programs.  Kelli shared that she would be more than happy to speak to anyone on the phone or in person regarding these programs. Her contact information is in the flyers and the email chain below.  Click any image for a full size printable PDF version!

Central Ohio has a variety of counseling agencies that accept Medicaid as payment for counseling services.  Many CCS families have Medicaid or can sign up for Medicaid to receive counseling services.  CCS staff are able to make counseling referrals to community agencies on behalf of the family.  Staff should have a conversation with the family to confirm their interest in accessing counseling resources prior to making the referral.  CCS is not responsible or liable for paying for counseling services and CCS staff are encouraged to assist families in making a referral to an agency that can support the family's needs.  See the link below to view some of the counseling agencies that are available to support students at CCS.  

LINK for Counseling Agencies 

OhioHealth offers a school-based program to assist students in dealing with grief and loss; this can include counseling, education, and crisis response. Check out the flier below for more information and read what CCS staff members had to say about their experiences with this valuable program: