‍County Community Focus AND Overdose Data

‍As part of our Agency Service Plan, Staff Orientation and Training we are providing a description of the Characteristics of the Population served at Healing Hearts Counseling Center; and, how we seek to align with priorities as identified by the State of Ohio and County Mental Health Boards.

In May, 2020 a survey was conducted of our current clients and below you will find characteristics of those we serve.

Healing Hearts is a for-profit substance use and mental health disorder agency that serves clients primarily in Richland County, but also in Franklin County. Almost three-fourths of the clients are between the ages of 31 and 50 and over half (60%) are female. About half (45%) have had legal issues within the last six months. Approximately 90% of the clients rely on Medicaid for their physical and behavioral health services. While 80% of our clients believe their housing is stable, 62% rely on government assistance and only 59% are responsible for taking care of their dependents. Although almost 90% have a high school diploma or GED, 32% of the clients don’t work and less than 10% have jobs in a trade or skilled job.

In addition, the Boards of both Franklin and Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services have provided a Community Plan which identifies priorities for each county. The priorities are also identified as priorities for Recovery Ohio.

Our goals are to align with the following priorities of the State and Board Community Plans listed below:

From Priority 1: Access and capacity changes for mental health and addiction services for adults (we do not provide services to children)

From Priority 2: Health equity concerns for racial and ethnic minorities (we do not provide services for those living in Appalachia, but may serve some in rural Ohio)

From Priority 3: Challenges for those involved in criminal justice-involved Ohioans (we do not provide for youth or focus on family)

From Priority 4: Prevention and/or decrease of opiate overdoses and/or deaths

From Priority 5: Suicide prevention.

While we can not be all things to all people, we acknowledge the importance of the State and Board priority; however, we do not provide services to children, or youth and do not specialize in family care or those living in Appalachia.

A News Release dated 2/21/20 from the Ohio Department of Health reports the County Breakdown of 2018 Overdose Deaths. Details are as follows: Illicit fentanyl was involved in the majority of overdose deaths among all county groupings, ranging from 78.8% in large central metro counties to 53.4% in non-core counties; and, the combination of fentanyl and cocaine was involved in the highest percentage of deaths for all county groupings

Large Central Metro Area (Franklin County): Highest number of unintentional drug overdose deaths

Small Metro Area (Richland County): Highest rate of unintentional drug overdose deaths (based on percent of 100,000)

‍Updated August 2020

Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed for email, text, or cell phone messages. Response times may vary, and calls are usually returned within 24 hours. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. Richland County Crisis Hotline: 419-522-4357.

Other Center Information