PEP Celebrates 2nd Anniversary of OhioRISE

On September 4, Positive Education Program threw a birthday party in honor of the second anniversary of OhioRISE. The program, which is part of Ohio Medicaid, aims to help young people with significant behavioral health issues succeed in their schools, homes and communities. PEP is the Care Management Entity – the agency that does the care coordination – for central Cuyahoga County.

Like the launch of any large state program, getting OhioRISE off the ground and running smoothly has required a tremendous amount of effort. Throughout this time, PEP has been grateful for the many champions – internal and external – who helped ensure the program’s success. In recognition of its first two years and in celebration of how far the program has come, PEP invited dozens of these supporters and staff to an OhioRISE birthday party, complete with an ice cream truck and party hats.

Family Stories

Care coordinators and care coordinator supervisors from PEP staffed two tables to share stories of how OhioRISE is making a difference with attendees.

“I had one six-year-old client who was constantly getting suspended from her kindergarten. One of her challenges was hyperactivity. I knew she needed to get involved in some regulating activities,” explained Alison Nowack, an OhioRISE care coordinator. “I coordinated several interventions for her including swimming lessons. It’s not something she would have been able to access without OhioRISE. The programming really helped her. She has done much better in school and is no longer getting suspended.”

Senatorial Citation

Among the many supporters who came to celebrate with PEP were two state senators, Nickie Antonio and Matt Dolan. They each took a moment to speak about their appreciation for and connection to PEP. Senator Antonio shared with the crowd that her first teaching job was with PEP at one of their Day Treatment Centers. Senator Dolan shared that his cousin through marriage was PEP’s founder, Rico Pallotta.

“I was at [PEP] West Bridge [Day Treatment Center] over on the west side of Cleveland,” said Antonio of her first job. “It was an amazing education for me. It taught me everything I need to know to be a legislator. And you know, everybody who’s working with the kids you work with and the families you’re working with know what I’m talking about.”

After Habeebah Rasheed Grimes, PEP’s CEO, thanked the senators for their support that helped make OhioRISE a reality, Dolan said, “I’d like to publicly disagree with your CEO. Senator Antonio and I, we aren’t necessary. We complement what YOU do and if you didn’t step up and provide the services; if you weren’t so worthwhile a story to tell, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Following their remarks, the Senator Antonio presented PEP with a senatorial citation acknowledging the second anniversary of OhioRISE. It states:

I am pleased to recognize such an outstanding and inspiring program. OhioRISE’s dedication to supporting our youth with complex behavioral health needs has had a profound impact on our community. The work you do with both children and their families truly saves lives. This anniversary celebrates two years of passionate care and outstanding service toward those who need it most.