Thriving Together: Leveraging Community Strengths for Health
The Voinovich School is committed to partnering with state and local government agencies and community-based organizations to improve physical and behavioral health outcomes. To achieve these goals, we work together to enhance local capacity for data collection and utilization, needs assessment, planning and implementation of evidence-based models, performance evaluation, and impact measurement.
Our teams of professional staff members and faculty have collaborated with partners on a multitude of health and wellbeing initiatives, including Children of Incarcerated Parents, Community of Practice – Rural Community Opioid Response Program, Ohio Adult Allies, Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion, Ohio Healthy Youth Environments Survey (OHYES!), Ohio Medicaid Assessment research, and the Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success Communities of Practice in Southeast Ohio.
In addition, Voinovich School professional staff are well-versed in conducting community health needs assessments (including the 2022 State Health Assessment), developing strategic plans (including the 2023-28 State Health Improvement Plan), and evaluating programs such as Overdose Data to Action (OD2A), Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP), Sobriety Treatment and Reducing Trauma (START), and Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP).
Our Programs at Work in the Community
Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion
The center is a central access point for information and resources to support and connect the broader prevention community across the state of Ohio. It is funded by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and administered by Ohio University’s Voinovich School, in partnership with the Pacific Institute of Research and Evaluation (PIRE).
Team Lead: Holly Raffle
Ohio Adult Allies
The Ohio Adult Allies is a diverse network of adults who are committed to facilitating and advancing the work of youth-led programs. Adult allies work alongside young people and guide them through a planning process to create and implement a strategic plan to create community-level change and build healthier communities. The Voinovich School works with the Ohio Adult Allies to strengthen their ability to implement evidence-based strategies.
OHYES! Survey
The Ohio Healthy Youth Environments Survey (OHYES!) asks questions about substance use, social climate, and other behaviors and experiences that pose a risk to youth wellness, and those that help to protect it. The goal is to empower high-impact change by uncovering student needs at the local level. Using these insights, we can learn where Ohio students are thriving and build on what works. This data can also enable schools to track changes in student health and safety over time. The Voinovich School supports the State of Ohio's efforts to implement and analyze this survey.
Ohio Children of Incarcerated Parents
This initiative partners with community organizations working with families impacted by incarceration. We support these groups to implement the Creating Lasting Family Connection curriculum, build administrative and facilitation skills, and expand organizational capacity.
Community Health Assessments
We assist the State of Ohio and local health departments to collect and analyze health data and public feedback. This information is used to identify what is going well, prioritize community health needs, and plan for the future.
Overdose Data to Action Evaluation
This project focuses on better utilizing overdose data to ensure prevention and intervention efforts are targeting the most pressing local issues. The Voinovich School is serving as external evaluator, helping those implementing OD2A to better understand what is working well and areas that require additional work.
How We Can Help You
Discover the Services We Provide and Meet Our Team Members
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Preventing Substance Use Disorder and Promoting Mental Health
We partner with organizations to enhance behavioral health capacity in Ohio. The Partnership for Community-Based Prevention offers intensive leadership development, training, technical assistance, and evaluation to bolster substance use prevention and mental health promotion efforts.
Team Lead: Holly Raffle
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Assessment, Planning and Evaluation
For more than 20 years, we have been assisting government agencies and nonprofits to understand their current environment and prepare for the future. Our services include program evaluation, needs assessment, strategic planning, technical assistance, and data analysis.
Team Leads: Margaret Hutzel and Jacob White
Applied Learning
As part of our educational mission, the Voinovich School engages MPA students and Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholars to work closely with faculty and staff on these projects.
Experiences vary, but opportunities include conducting and analyzing surveys, focus groups, and interviews; learning to use specialized statistical software; assisting with community workshop facilitation; and developing public reports, presentations and infographics.
In the News
Voinovich Partnership Recognized for Children of Incarcerated Parents Initiative
CIP gets Initiative Excellence Award in recognition of the training and support provided to communities and families impacted by incarceration.
School Funds Children’s Health Dashboard for Appalachian Counties
Appalachian Children Coalition spearheads dashboard development in conjunction with software development firm Conduent.
Ohio Adult Allies Celebrates 10 Years of Workforce Development
Voinovich School partnered with state mental health agency and non-profit to form Ohio Adult Allies.