OhioMHAS Convenes Competency Restoration & Diversion Work Group

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) convened the first meeting of a new Competency Restoration and Diversion Workgroup in April, intended to address the increasing number of criminal justice-involved (forensic) patients being treated at Ohio’s six regional psychiatric hospitals.

The Work Group on Competency Restoration and Diversion’s goal is to issue a report by Summer 2024 that will:

• Ensure adequate access to state psychiatric hospital beds for those experiencing a crisis who are not criminal justice involved.
• Develop recommendations to enhance Ohio’s outpatient competency restoration program.
• Develop best practices and strategies for expanding jail diversion programs for those with mental health and substance use disorders.
• Develop strategies to expand access to jail-based competency restoration and treatment.

The Competency Restoration workgroup is Co-Chaired by OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn and Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Denny Adkins; and is made up of representatives from Ohio’s criminal courts and penal systems, the Governor’s office, OhioMHAS, Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the Ohio Department of Medicaid, RecoveryOhio, behavioral health provider agencies, advocacy groups, local stakeholders, and Ohioans with lived experience.

Meetings will be held from April through at least July.