Governor DeWine Celebrates New Mental Health Treatment Center at Ohio Reformatory for Women

(MARYSVILLE, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith today celebrated the opening of a new 100-bed mental health treatment center at the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) that will provide comprehensive services in an environment specifically designed to support overall health and wellness.

The one-of-a-kind therapeutic facility will provide increased programming and treatment in a space that includes unique features such as specialized lighting and acoustics, enhanced technology, calming outdoor spaces, a garden, and a teaching kitchen. 

“This investment is important because our jails and prisons have become one of our state’s largest default behavioral health providers,” said Governor DeWine. “We must do more to help ensure that those leaving our prisons are both mentally and physically healthy so that they have the best chance of success once released.”

The Ohio Reformatory for Women houses over 2,000 women, with nearly half receiving some type of behavioral health services. 

The new facility is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified and is on track to earn WELL Building Standards certification, which, if achieved, will make this the first correctional-setting building in the world to achieve both certifications. These certifications recognize the structure’s environmental health and well-being benefits for occupants, along with energy efficiency and sustainability features.

“There is no other space like this in any other prison in Ohio, and we are on track to being the only correctional agency in the world to earn specific certifications that acknowledge the wellness and sustainability aspects of the building’s design,” said Director Chambers-Smith. “When our facilities begin to age out, it is important that we are thoughtful in the new building designs so we can make sure our physical structures support our values. I look forward to the healing that our staff will be able to foster in this new space.”

To further support inmates nearing the end of their terms of incarceration, Governor DeWine announced two new workforce initiatives: 

• Ohio’s adult and juvenile correctional institutions now have certified in-house OhioMeansJobs Centers through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The centers will give those within 90 days of their release access to the same job services available to all Ohioans to help them prepare for new careers or secure jobs before they reenter their communities. Each center will help individuals search for jobs, connect with employers, work on resumes and interviewing skills, and find information about training programs and services. The centers also have virtual classrooms that allow training providers to deliver interactive workshops from remote locations. The following ODRC facilities now have certified OhioMeansJobs Centers: Belmont Correctional Institution, Grafton Correctional Institution, Lake Erie Correctional Institution, Lorain Correctional Institution, Marion Correctional Institution, Noble Correctional Institution, Northeast Reintegration Center, Ohio Reformatory for Women, Pickaway Correctional Institution, Trumbull Correctional Institution. The following DYS facilities now have certified OhioMeansJobs Centers: Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility, Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility, Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility.
  
  

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is partnering with the Small Business Association (SBA) on a first-of-its-kind partnership to support inmates interested in starting their own businesses upon release. Individuals who are approximately 3 to 6 months from release can work with the SBA to learn business management skills, financial literacy, analytical and problem-solving skills. The program will launch at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in the fall. Plans are also underway to bring the SBA program to the Noble and Pickaway correctional institutions. This program marks the first time that the SBA has collaborated with a correctional system to provide small business training and support.