COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Community Living awarded a $500,000, 5-year grant to The Ohio State University Nisonger Center for an interdisciplinary training initiative to improve services and supports for people with co-occurring intellectual disability/developmental disabilities (IDD) and mental health disabilities (MHD) and the professionals who serve them.

This 5-year project will increase understanding of mental health treatment and supports needs in Ohio and design a training process to ensure improved cross-agency collaboration for adults with IDD and MHD, in partnership with the Ohio Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS), Developmental Disabilities (DODD), and Health (ODH) as well as the Ohio Self-Determination Association (OSDA).

“Through this federally funded training grant, Nisonger Center will work with key stakeholders to identify barriers to treatment for adults with developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions, and MOST importantly, deliver specific training programs to directly address them.” – Andrea Witwer, LEND Co Associate Director, Nisonger Center- UCEDD; Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, The Ohio State University College of Medicine.-

“The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is excited to be partnering with Nisonger Center, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Self-Determination Association, and key stakeholders, on this project to increase the understanding of mental health treatment, improve access to training, cross-system collaboration and support and improve the lives of adults with IDD and MHD.” –Jeff Davis, Director-Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

About The Ohio State University Nisonger Center

The Nisonger Center strives to cultivate an inclusive environment for all individuals, especially those with developmental disabilities. Its mission is to empower and support all people with developmental disabilities and their families through interdisciplinary training, research and service. The Center is designated a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) by the United States Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. www.nisonger.osu.edu

## For more information, please contact Tamara Hager at (614) 685-3196 or tamara.hager@osumc.edu ##