OhioRISE offers help at Red Ribbon Walk
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OhioRISE lent support to families battling addiction and its effects during the Red Ribbon Week Community Walk Oct. 25 at Jim Woods Park.
Care coordinator Kayla Randazzo knows the needs of her areas of operation. She was on hand to greet attendees and the service providers.
"It's a great way to bring families together, people together, just to know what the resources are, what we offer, what's available to them. I think the kiddos in our area really need behavioral and mental health services and it's a nice way for families to see what their options are, because they don't always know, when they're in the trenches."
Jefferson County Educational Service Center (JCESC) OhioRISE is a Medicaid managed care program for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs in Jefferson, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Monroe, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties and operated by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center. OhioRISE was formed to coordinate resources and put families in touch with what is available.
Randazzo noted addiction impacts the entire family, and OhioRISE is has a network of extra support.
"The most important thing for people to realize is we provide wraparound services for the whole family, so we can support the kiddos and the parents together and individually, so we can let the kids know if they're feeling that secondhand consequence or emotions, we are able to support them and connect them to services."
Randazzo said many are not aware of all their options.
"We just come in and provide them with opportunities, events or a list of places they can go to find the resources that they need. They're just so overwhelmed with daily life that it's nice to have someone come in and assist you, assessing what you need and being able to provide you the resources you don't have to look for them individually."
Afterward, she said OhioRISE's station proved popular.
"It was a great turnout. I connected with a lot of families about what we offer and how we can assist. Some more for grandkids than kids, which is always nice to see multigenerational activity within our group."
She also took the opportunity to network with agencies and the court system. OhioRISE has built good working relationships since inception in 2022.
Drug Court coordinator Laura Trifonoff, organizing the Walk as part of the Jefferson County Phoenix Program, said OhioRISE is exceptional. She recalled one client family OhioRISE has helped during the past year. Several children with disabilities are involved.
"They've helped with all kind of things with their education, getting them reacclimated into the school systems here, with transportation, services, all of those things. It's been a really wonderful program to work with," she said.
"They've educated me as well. There's services in our county that I wasn't aware we had. We really value our partnership with them."
Trifonoff said children with OhioRISE are seeing progress.
"They really helped us get them reintegrated into the community and the school system," she said. She added there is a significant improvement in behavior this school year. "That is a huge milestone for both the family and for us helping them."
Dan Obertance, associate director of the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, said their work dovetails with OhioRISE.
"It's a complement to what we do and it makes our system of response for any crisis more robust,” he said. "It's operating in the background, and we know it's part of our system that's very important and vital."
Alicia Maragos, COO with Lighthouse Counseling and Mediation Services, is another long-time partner.
"It's been a good collaboration. We are able to provide mental health counseling and meet the needs of the children that are at OhioRISE, and they coordinate care and it's been great for the children to learn different skills, to be able to cope with their behavioral disorders."
She said the flex funding OhioRISE provides has been helpful in accessing services and extracurricular activities for children.
"The children are definitely making progress in different ways."
Jefferson County Juvenile Court Administrator Joe Colabella has seen the program's value.
"Jefferson County Juvenile Court has nothing but good things to say about OhioRISE. They do a good job in the community and help out when kids and families are in need, and we appreciate that they're a part of the community," he said.
"When they're called in on a case-by-case basis they do a good job finding the family resources," he said. "They do a good job of piecing that all together."
Jennifer Adams, outreach coordinator with CAIRN Recovery Resources, was happy to have OhioRISE.
"We're very grateful for OhioRISE. They do a really good job of connecting families and individuals with the care that they need," she said. "We are connected with them and I see them out in the community a lot, at events like this."
Coleman Health Services Reentry support specialist and court liaison Sean Young, who works with the juvenile court and the mobile response and stabilization services program, said the mobile team often collaborates with OhioRISE. He added OhioRISE coordinates with multiple providers including Coleman.
"It's a really good program. The state seems really committed to that program too," he said.
"OhioRISE is very helpful because they help coordinate everything for the whole family, so it's a good wraparound service option," he said. "There's funding available through OhioRISE to provide some necessary things in the home for families."
Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons said OhioRISE was a valued part of the service family.
"All these partnerships working together, that's what's it's all about," he said. "Anything that helps the young kids, it's much needed. I appreciate what they do in the area."
To learn more about OhioRISE, call 740-792-4011, email ohiorise.info@jcesc.org or visit OhioRISE online at https://www.jcesc.k12.oh.us/CareManagementEntity.aspx.