MARYSVILLE, Ohio — Ohio officials celebrated the opening of a mental health treatment center at the Ohio Reformatory for Women on Tuesday. They also announced two initiatives to better support inmates who are preparing to reenter communities.
The 100-bed treatment center will provide increased programming and treatment for those who need it. It also includes specific features to promote overall health and wellbeing in the environment for the women. The features include specialized lighting and acoustics, calming outdoor spaces, a teaching kitchen, a garden and enhanced technology, according to Gov. Mike DeWine.
"This investment is important because our jails and prisons have become one of our state's largest default behavioral health providers," said DeWine in a press release. "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."
More than 2,000 women are at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, and nearly half of them are receiving a type of behavioral health service, DeWine said.
DeWine said the new center is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. Officials hope to gain WELL Building Standards certification, which would make it the first correctional-setting building to achieve both certifications in the world, DeWine said.
“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 Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith in a press release. “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.”
In addition, DeWine announced two workforce initiatives Tuesday aimed to support inmates who are nearing the end of their incarceration.
The first is Ohio adult and juvenile correctional institutions now have certified OhioMeansJobs Centers. These centers help prepare inmates for new careers or help them get jobs before reentering the community. They help inmates search for jobs, make connections, work on resumes and interviewing skills.
The second initiative includes a partnership between the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and the Small Business Administration. This partnership aims to help inmates who are interesting in starting their own business once their incarceration terms end. Inmates must be three to six months away from their release and can work with the SBA to improve business management skills, problem-solving skills and learn financial literacy. It's the first time the SBA has collaborated with a correctional system.