Behavioral Health Urgent Care: Innovations and Impact in Ohio

This Lunch & Learn session provided an overview of behavioral health urgent care, including the existing infrastructure, opportunities, and challenges. Speakers delved into developments and impactful practices that are transforming the continuum of care for individuals with behavioral health needs throughout Ohio.

Session Objectives:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of behavioral health urgent care
Discover real-life examples of successful behavioral health urgent care models in Ohio
Explore developments and innovations, including policies and funding mechanisms that support behavioral health urgent care, and what changes may be on the horizon

Speakers

Jeffrey Allen, MSSA, LISW-S, LICDC-CS | Vice President of Behavioral Health Specialized Services, The Centers

Mr. Allen has thirty-three years of experience in the Behavioral Health field, beginning as a Crisis Hotline volunteer. Mr. Allen has a broad array of experience providing direct Behavioral Health services, instructing human services classes, leading performance, and quality improvement initiatives, and overseeing organizational growth. He has had opportunities to serve in various leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including C-Suite positions. He has led, co-led, and initiated the design, implementation, and evaluation phases of numerous organizational and county-wide services. One such program was the county-wide MRSS in Stark County, Ohio in collaboration with StarkMHAR and law enforcement agencies that received recognition from the Ohio Attorney General. Mr. Allen subsequently served as a state-wide MRSS Consultant for the Center for Innovative Practices at CWRU and OhioMHAS. Mr. Allen joined The Centers as the Director, Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) in February 2022 and recently transitioned into the VP of Behavioral Health Specialized Services role. BHUC was the first of its kind in Northeast Ohio and opened to the community in July 2022. Over 4,400 individuals have been served since its soft launch in February 2022. BHUC received the NAMI Greater Cleveland’s Eugene Brudno Memorial Organization Award in May 2024.

Dr. Kathryn St. James | President & CEO, Behavioral Health Partners of Central Ohio, Inc. (BHP)

Kate joined BHP as President and CEO in 2016. For the past 20 years she has held leadership positions in the behavioral health field focused on mental health and addiction services. In addition, she has worked as a lobbyist advocating for mental health and addiction providers, clients, and healthy mental health systems. Kate joined BHP as President and CEO in 2016. For the past 20 years she has held leadership positions in the behavioral health field focused on mental health and addiction services. In addition, she has worked as a lobbyist advocating for mental health and addiction providers, clients, and healthy mental health systems.