Who We Are

The Mental Health and Recovery Board (MHRB) consists of 12 citizen volunteers from diverse backgrounds who collectively represent the community of Ashland County. County boards are responsible to determine local needs, develop a community plan, set priorities, direct resources, and monitor services in their district.

While the MHRB does not provide direct clinical services, we are proud to create integrated systems of care that are the most responsive to the needs and desires of local citizens. We receive state and federal funding available to Ashland County for mental health and addiction services and are authorized by the Ohio Revised Code to leverage a property tax (with the approval of the county commissioners and Ashland County voters) in order to provide local revenue for services.

Meet Staff

Meet Board

Mission Statement

The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County, through a network of providers, ensures the availability and accessibility of quality services that support recovery for individuals with trauma, mental health challenges and/or substance use.

Vision Statement

To create an environment that brings hope and improves the quality of life for persons affected by trauma, mental health challenges and/or substance use.

Values

Everyone is entitled to live a quality life in our community. Services will incorporate our three-pronged framework emphasizing trauma-informed care, recovery, and medication optimization. These principles will be used in prioritizing, developing, funding and evaluating programs to meet the needs of the community.

Three Legs of the Stool Philosophy

The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County has adopted a framework by which programs are prioritized, developed, funded, and evaluated. The three fundamental principles and values we’ve identified as our “Three Legs of the Stool” are Trauma-Informed Care, Recovery & Resilience, and Medication Optimization.

The three legs inform our approach to supporting and promoting helpful attitudes about and services for mental and emotional suffering and addiction recovery. Without any one of these legs, our organization cannot stand. We are not satisfied with the status quo of community mental health care and seek opportunities to influence policy and practice to better align with the Three-Legs philosophy.

This framework has been updated and named “Our Human Community: Mental Health and Addiction Recovery in Ashland County, Ohio.”

Our Human Community Full Version

Our Human Community Executive Summary

Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-Informed Care seeks to recognize, understand, and empathize with the effects of trauma in a person’s life. Through this posture, we can improve and impact patient engagement and recovery outcomes.

Recovery & Resilience

Recovery and Resilience is the belief that it is possible for individuals who struggle with mental health challenges to improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.

Medication Optimization

Medication Optimization is a collaborative and nuanced approach to using medications to treat mental health and substance use. The goal of medication optimization is to identify the most effective road to recovery for each individual.

Board’s Notice of Privacy Practices

Board’s Authorization for Disclosure

Board Client Rights and Grievance Procedure in Ohio Administrative Code

Board’s Bi-Annual Community Plan

Annual Report

Board Minutes

Board’s Client Rights Officer: Ashley Ackerman, MS, LPC, NCC

aackerman@ashlandmhrb.org