OhioMHAS announces regional NOVA Community Crisis Response Team trainings

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) announced that it is partnering with the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) to host a series of regional trainings that will help communities better respond to the mental and emotional needs of residents following a disaster.

The NOVA Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) trainings began this month and are scheduled to take place in communities across Ohio through August. Supported by grant funds provided by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the trainings are available for free to any interested Ohioan.

“These trainings will help communities better respond to disasters by linking victims with fellow Ohioans who are specially trained to provide support and coordinate the services they need to recover,” said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn. “People can experience a wide range of emotions when a disaster or traumatic event occurs. It’s important they find healthy ways to cope when these events happen. These trainings aim to teach Ohioans proven ways to help others after a disaster.”

Trainings are largely geared toward mental health professionals, victim advocates, law enforcement personnel and others who confront human crisis in their work, but anyone who is driven to serve others is welcome to participate.

NOVA trainees learn about the effects of trauma, gain valuable crisis intervention, education, and emotional first aid knowledge, and sharpen other skills needed to help communities recover from a disaster.

NOVA trainings help build local and regional capacity to respond more efficiently and effectively when disaster strikes. Given their knowledge of local culture and available community resources, NOVA trainees are uniquely positioned to mobilize rapidly whenever and wherever the need arises.  

Participants who complete the trainings will receive a NOVA certificate and be offered the opportunity to sign up for the Ohio Crisis Response Team (OCRT), a highly-qualified, all-volunteer mobilization group that may be deployed to respond to traumatic events in Ohio and other states.

As a part of its partnership with NOVA, OhioMHAS will offer three training options: Basic Training, Basic Refresher Training and Advanced Training.

• Basic Training consists of a three-day, in-person session. A full Basic Training series must be completed prior to any registration for Advanced Training.

• Basic Refresher Training (for those who have completed the Basic Training series but would like an updated basic review before moving to the Advanced Training course) is conducted in a four-hour, virtual session.

• Advanced Training also consists of a three-day, in-person session.

OhioMHAS is currently scheduling up to 13 Basic and Advanced Trainings. Each will be open to 25 Ohio residents on a first come, first served basis.

The four-hour Basic Refresher Training course will be open for up to 100 attendees per session.

For more information, including training dates, locations, and registration instructions, visit https://mha.ohio.gov/get-help/treatment-services/nova-training-schedule….

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.