Ohio will receive $149 million to help homeowners facing foreclosure as part of the recently-signed Making Home Affordable program.  If you are having trouble making house your payments, check out this website to see if you qualify for aid   http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/   or call 888-995-4673 to speak with a HUD-approved housing counselor for free.  There are also low-rate mortgages available even if you’re not unemployed, but are still having trouble making payments, a second lien modification program, and foreclosure alternatives.

Ohio’s Medicaid Care Coordination Plans (formerly known as Medicaid Managed Care Plans) announced the launch of a new website to help Ohioans with all kinds of health-related information and links.  Check the site out here: http://www.ohiohealthcarehome.com/

If so, the State of Ohio has launched a new website to help connect you with the resources you need. Just CLICK THIS LINK to be taken to the site, which contains all kinds of useful information, resources, and links.

For information about job postings and jop-seeking resources, check out
THIS LINK.

Beginning  Sunday, August 1, Medical Mutual of Ohio will provide online applications and enrollment information for the state of Ohio’s temporary High Risk Pool health insurance program.  Downloadable application forms and all essential enrollment information will be posted online at www.ohiohighriskpool.com. On Monday, August 2, Ohioans may also request an application and information brochure by calling toll free, 1-877-730-1117. (TTY: 800-982-8109).  Hard copy application packets will also be available at the One-Stop and Benefit Bank sites across the state.    
 
Qualified Ohio residents who have been uninsured for six months and have been denied or unable to obtain coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions may apply. Under the High Risk Pool  program, qualified applicants will be eligible to receive a range of benefits including primary and specialty care, hospital care and prescription drug coverage.
There are only sufficient funds to cover approximately 5,500 Ohioans and it is estimated that five times as many people are eligible.   This means that applications will be taken on a first come, first served basis. 
 
Here’s more info:
http://www.ohio.com/news/99607449.html
http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/Documents/07-22-10HighRiskPoolFAQs.pdf

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently unveiled a new online tool which will help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage. Called for by the Affordable Care Act, HealthCare.gov is the first Web site to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool. This site has a central database of health coverage options, combining information about public programs, from Medicare to the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, with information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. As the health care market transforms, so will HealthCare.gov. In October 2010, price estimates for health insurance plans will be available online and, moving forward, new information on preventing disease and illness and improving the quality of health care for all Americans also will be posted.

NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) Ohio is conducting a housing survey designed to identify what factors contribute to and what factors interfere with successful housing outcomes for consumers of mental health services.  The survey will close on August 31, 2010 after which the results will be available at the NAMI Ohio webpage (http://www.namiohio.org/).  To access the electronic version of the survey, please click here.

New regulations passed by the Department of Veterans Affairs will take effect this week, making it easier for thousands of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder to receive disability benefits.  The new regulation, which will cost as much as $5 billion over several years, no longer requires that veterans document specific combat events that may have caused PTSD.  Veterans now must only show that they served in a war zone and in a position consistent with the stressors they say caused their condition.  To read more, click here.

This summer has really been a hot one!  Did you know that excessive heat causes more deaths that all other weather events? To help you beat the heat, click this link to the Red Cross Heat Wave Safety Checklist. 

Also, The state has opened a program that provides money to help needy Ohioans beat the season’s heat. The Summer Crisis Program offers up to $175 for the purchase of an air conditioner or payment of a summer electric bill. You qualify if there’s a family member 60 or older or someone who has proof from a doctor that air conditioning is medically necessary & you meet income guidelines. For more info, call 1-800-282-0880.

We would like to congratulate Erin Armoutliev and Laura Turner-Essel for successfully completing the Psychology Practicum Training Program at Portage Path Behavioral Health.  The Program, which provides real-world training for psychology students, is facilitated by Dr. Phillip Scozzaro and was created in August of 2009.  The Practicum training these students receive at Portage Path has proven to be an excellent adjunct to their formal classwork and clinical work at college counseling centers.

We would also like to welcome Nick Joyce, Karis Fitch, and Adrienne Sampson to the next edition of the program.  They are all master’s level psychology students who are working toward the completion of their doctorate degrees.  Nick and Adrienne attend the University of Akron, while Karis is from Fielding University of California.

Portage Path is asking for your help to recognize the volunteers on our Support Hotline.  We are seeking the donation of gift cards – or financial support to purchase gift cards - that will be given to volunteers as part of our annual recognition event in July.  Hotline volunteers spend thousands of hours every year providing supportive listening to people in crisis.  If you can help, please call 330-253-3100, extension 145.  All donations are tax-deductible.  Thank you for any help you can offer!