Sessions

Sessions A

Monday: October 1st - 10:15 am

Residential Facility Business Planning, Budgeting and Best Practices for Operations Part 1	Have you recently opened and residential facility, or perhaps are wanting to do so? This session is geared toward those who are just beginning in the industry. Topics will include business planning, assessing needs in your local communities, identifying funding sources, and how adult care facilities fit into the larger mental health system. This session will also include an introduction to the Ohio Adult Care Facilities Association (OACFA) and information about what they offer to home operators.



Recovery Housing Basics	What makes a house a recovery home? This session will provide an overview of what recovery housing is, the essential elements of a good recovery house, and some basic strategies that operators can use to implement the social model of recovery in their homes.


Permanent Supportive Housing 101: Where to Begin?	What is Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and who benefits most from this model? Join us in this introductory session to explore where PSH fits in the continuum of supportive housing options. We will explore the elements that make up the PSH model and how it is designed to best meet the special needs of residents.


Recovery Housing Capital Tools, from Financing to Building Codes	This session is an opportunity for attendees to learn about funding opportunities that can help with the development and sustainability of recovery housing. Presenters will share experiences and lessons learned in regard to Ohio Building Codes, or challenges in obtaining Certificates of Occupancy. Attendees will also learn about tools to assist them in both short- and long-term financial management.



Authentic Engagement: Best Practices for Making Meaningful Connections	In this session, providers will learn how to engage residents in supportive housing environments through strategies and techniques that foster relationship, build community, and connect residents to supports unique to their housing environment and within the community. Presenters will share successes and lessons learned from wide-ranging efforts, highlighting efforts to integrate resident input into service programs, provide more relevant services and activities, and engage residents more genuinely to increase the likelihood they will remain stably housed over time.




Bridges Out of Poverty	Bridges Out of Poverty provides useful tools and strategies for a community to prevent, reduce, and alleviate poverty. This workshop highlights this comprehensive approach, helping attendees understand the dynamics that cause and maintain poverty at the individual to the systematic level, while increasing awareness of the differences in economic cultures and how those differences affect opportunities for success.

Sessions B

Monday: October 1st - 2:00 pm

Residential Facility Class 2 Business Planning and Best Practices for Operations Part 2	As a residential facility, you are in the business of empowering people to improve their lives. It is important to develop business practices that both keep your doors open and strengthen the well-being of your residents. Topics in this session include how to best plan for surveys, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of your housing program, and developing a working budget. Featured speakers will include experienced home operators and will offer tips for planning for current and future operations, expanding your business, and sustainability.


Understanding the Law: How State and Federal Laws Apply to Recovery Housing	This session provides a basic overview of state and federal laws that apply to recovery housing – including Fair Housing, ADA and Landlord-Tenant Law. Attendees will also hear from a Recovery Housing provider regarding state and federal law program implementation.


Permanent Supportive Housing 101: Now What?	This introductory session will explore how to design a business strategy that supports the development and operation of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Speakers will provide examples and case studies on topics such as identifying partners and collaborators, building a business model, budget considerations, and more.


Unlocking Growth by Attracting and Soliciting the Right Kinds of Funding, a Conversation with Funders	This session is for non-profit and executive leaders considering the best long-term fundraising path for their organizations, whether that is choosing to stay small or trying to grow. Speakers will share strategies for finding the right match from a wide variety of funding sources (government, service fees, corporate giving, foundations and individual giving campaigns); tips for securing large-scale and multi-year commitments; and keeping existing funders engaged over the long term.



Telling Your Story: Media and Public Discourse about Supportive Housing	The ways in which the media present stories about affordable and supportive housing can create opportunities for change, or impede progress for those seeking to build greater public will for increased housing resources. In this session, providers will learn how to filter and amplify the message about affordable and supportive housing programs through story-telling, personal narrative, and communicating the broader impacts of housing.


Maintenance for Managers – Quick Fixes and Handy Tools	Have you ever called your maintenance technician for a problem and after watching them fix the problem, realized that it was a quick fix that you could have completed yourself? In this session Jonathan Miller, Maintenance Supervisor with Community Properties of Ohio, will demonstrate some easy quick fixes that will benefit housing providers. Miller will also introduce and demonstrate some handy tools you may want to keep in stock. This session is interactive and hands-on! Come prepared and ready to engage! Your maintenance technician will thank you for attending this session!

Sessions C

Tuesday: October 2nd - 10:15 pm

Residential Facility Class 2 and Recovery Housing Insurance 101 - Attorney	In this session, attendees will hear from experts about the broad areas of insurance coverage operators of Residential Facilities and Recovery Homes should obtain to mitigate business risk. Speakers will also discuss ways to secure comprehensive and competitively-priced packages for your business.


Connecting Residents to Benefits and Resources	Attendees will learn about the importance of connecting residents to local resources, including public benefits, local mental health and addiction services, and how to build useful local resource directories.


Physical Asset Tracking Tool	OhioMHAS and OCCH have developed a long-range capital needs planning tool to assist partners and operators in tracking assets and budgeting for future operations. This session will provide instruction on how to use the tool, how to interpret the information within the tool, and how it all relates to the successful operation of your property. All attendees, including operators of Recovery Housing, Adult Care Facilities and Permanent Supportive Housing, are encouraged to attend.


Marketing and Media Relations	What's In and What's Out in Today's Marketing World? This session will cover what's working and what's not in social media, digital media, Google grants, billboards, print and radio advertisements and websites. Bring samples of what you are currently doing for honest feedback and suggestions for improvement.



Social Enterprises	Many housing providers are looking for new and innovative ways to help build their residents' skills and training so that they may enter or re-enter the workforce. Social enterprises are small businesses designed to employ residents in a supportive, skill-building environment and unlock new opportunities for residents to build self-esteem and empowerment while earning income. In addition to learning about social enterprises, attendees will hear how several housing providers are incorporating the social enterprise business model to enhance their organizational missions.

Sessions D

Tuesday: October 2nd - 1:15 pm

Overview of Residential Facility Rules	Residential Facilities are businesses that need policies and procedures to run smoothly and set clear expectations. In this session OhioMHAS Licensure and Certification staff will provide an overview of the policies and procedures homes are required to meet licensing standards and answer questions regarding how to operationalize guidance.


Recovery Housing Policy, Procedures and Forms	In this interactive workshop, attendees will come away with knowledge and skills to assist with the development of appropriate policies, procedures and organizational documents and forms.

Working Together: Guide to Blended Management	Permanent Supportive Housing operators are responsible for managing real estate and meeting all funder requirements while service providers are focused on improving stability for residents. At times, the work of managers and service providers may be at odds. Join us as we explore how property managers and service providers can better delineate roles and meaningfully collaborate to successfully serve residents and best maintain the real estate.



Growing from Grassroots	Attendees will learn about common operational considerations that recovery housing operators need to address as they grow from small grassroots organizations. These topics include developing a basic understanding of being an employer, providing appropriate training for your board of directors, and developing plans for continuous quality improvement.



Communication/Safety	Please join Dan Elliot from Cooperative Communications to learn about increasing interpersonal safety for housing providers. You will learn to increase skills in recognizing potentially threatening or dangerous situations. Learn how to maintain productive and safe interaction with residents and also increase choices in dealing with challenging situations.



Marketing and Media Relations	Want to know how to get the word out about what you have to offer? Want to win more grants and funding? This session will cover communications basics for your small businesses and non-profit organizations. This will be a hands-on workshop to help you develop effective outreach materials. Please bring copies of your current marketing materials for review and discussion. We also will go through a step-by-step process to write a compelling Case Statement for writing and winning grants.