This February, Integrated Services For Behavioral Health was selected as one of 20 regional providers to serve children with intense behavioral health needs.

ISBH was selected by Aetna Better Health of Ohio to serve as a Care Management Entity (CME) to build local systems of care for OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) in 19 Ohio counties.

OhioRISE is the state’s first highly integrated care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multi-system needs.

“As a regional provider, ISBH will help children and families access much-needed mental health care coordinated locally and navigate complex systems right in their hometown,” said Samantha Shafer, LISW-S, CEO of ISBH. “We will serve as a trusted point of contact for families and provide resources for managing day-to-day behavioral health and family support services as they work towards better health and well-being.”

The state is granting ISBH with two grants to assist with startup costs.

$1 million for Athens, Fayette, Gallia, Jackson, Highland, Hocking, Meigs, Pickaway, Pike, Ross
and Vinton counties. $930,000 for Coshocton, Fairfield, Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry and Washington counties.

CME grants ensure each region statewide is prepared to serve children on day one when OhioRISE launches later this year. Grants will be used to expand workforce capacity and to develop a highly connected IT infrastructure.

OhioRISE will be available to youth under age 21 who are Medicaid-eligible. Youth must meet OhioRISE eligibility criteria using an Ohio version of the nationally adopted Child and Adolescent Needs and Strength (CANS) assessment, or be admitted to behavioral health inpatient care or a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility.

The OhioRISE program was jointly developed and will be governed by the Ohio Department of
Medicaid (ODM), the Governor’s Office of Children’s Initiatives, and the Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council.

For more information, visit the OhioRISE webpage.