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Mid-Ohio Counseling Center was established in 1989 by Dr. Stephanie Miller, Bradley Hedges, Dean Bachelor, Suzanne Wing, and Greg Szafranski. Each of the original staff worked full-time at the Southeastern Correctional Institution and were seeking a professional balance to their professional lives. Mid-Ohio Counseling Center was initially established as a private practice with the intention of providing quality services to the general population of the Fairfield County community. Mid-Ohio Counseling Center was originally located above the Banc One Building at 123 South Broad Street in Lancaster, Ohio. Shortly after the agency began, Fairfield County Juvenile Court and Fairfield County Children Services became aware of the level of forensic expertise which was present within this private practice and began providing a substantial referral base for the agency. In 1991, the Fairfield County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and the Fairfield County Juvenile Court encouraged Dr. Hedges and Dr. Miller to open a community mental health agency. In 1992, Mid-Ohio Psychological Services (MOPS) was incorporated as a non-profit community mental health agency and was certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) to provide counseling and diagnostic assessment services. Shortly prior to being certified by ODMH, Mid-Ohio Psychological Services and Mid-Ohio Counseling Center moved to 624 East Main Street where MOPS is currently located. Upon being certified as a community mental health agency, the primary focus of services was on providing quality diagnostic evaluations, individual counseling to delinquent/unruly youth and sex offender treatment services. A significant portion of the client population serviced by MOPS were youth who were placed through foster care agencies. By 1995, demand for services through MOPS had increased, resulting in a need for additional space. The 624 East Main Street building was doubled in size. By 1996, the staff was comprised of three psychologists and four psychology assistants. In 1997, MOPS petitioned ODMH to certify MOPS for providing medication/somatic services. Dr. Sheridan Smith was hired as the first psychiatrist for MOPS and provided services approximately one-half day per week. By 1999, the need for case management services became apparent and MOPS became certified through ODMH to provide these services. In 2000, it became apparent that many of the clients served by this agency experienced both chemical dependency, as well as mental health concerns. MOPS pursued and was granted certification by the Ohio Department of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Services. From 1996 through 2002, MOPS experienced an average of 50 percent annual growth. Because of a change in the political and economic environment in 1998, it became possible for MOPS to provide services to residents from anywhere in Ohio. As a result, a significant quantity of services began to be provided to residents from Central and Southern Ohio. Currently, approximately 40 to 50 percent of the client population serviced are from outside of the Fairfield County area. In 2003, MOPS expanded into a second building to accommodate an increase in staff due an increase in the demand for services. The second building is adjacent to the 624 building, at the address of 630 E. Main Street. In 2004, MOPS expanded by opening a clinic location in Franklin County at Eastland Executive Square, 2246 Hamilton Road, Suite 202. This Clinic initially focused on adolescent clients and sexual offenders counseling for adolescents. Additional services have been made available as client needs dictate. In 2005, MOPS again expanded by opening administrative offices at 632 East Main Street and doubled the size of the offices in the Franklin County Office. In 2007, MOPS expanded services in Fairfield County by adding staff on-site at Fairfield County Job and Family Services and Fairfield County Municipal Court. Services were also expanded in Franklin County with additional staff to provide psychological evaluations, testing, and medication services. Expanding beyond our original client population of sex offenders and persons referred by Children Services, MOPS now provides a full continuum of mental health services for residents of Central and Southern Ohio. MOPS also provides diagnostic assessment and treatment services on location at Children Services in Scioto County. MOPS also provides an extensive array of forensic mental health services including a mental health court liaison for the adult court system in Fairfield County. MOPS provides a full-time case manager for severely mentally ill individuals who are involved with the adult criminal justice system. MOPS provides a number of alternative sentencing programs including sexual offender groups for adult sex offenders, mentally retarded sex offenders, adolescent sex offenders, adolescent mentally retarded offenders, and sexually aggressive youth. MOPS also provides forensic evaluation services, including assessments for not guilty by reason of insanity, competency to stand trial, guardianship assessment, custody evaluation, and evaluations to aid the Court in determining the necessity for permanent custody for individuals involved with the Child Protective Services system. MOPS provides substance abuse treatment services in the form of substance abuse assessment and individual counseling services to address substance abuse issues. MOPS currently employs approximately 55 individuals, including one psychiatrist, six psychologists, and various other masters and bachelor level clinicians. MOPS utilizes a somewhat unique approach to community mental health in terms of the management philosophy, as well as clinical philosophy. MOPS utilizes a “psychology model” clinical approach as opposed to a more traditional social work or medical model. Utilizing a psychological model, staff attempt to ensure that a clear diagnostic picture and clinical formulation are established prior to initiating treatment services. As a result, clients typically participate in more aggressive assessment using formalized instruments and a thorough psychosocial history prior to initiating services. MOPS is operated in a community group practice structure in which clinicians are held accountable for services rendered to a particular client. As a result, typically the same clinician will conduct the diagnostic assessment and provide ongoing treatment services. A number of management techniques are utilized to ensure accountability between the clinician and the client. To support the services provided by MOPS, a state-of-the-art computer system has been developed to aid in managing clinical information, as well as billing information. This system allows clinicians to focus on the provision of services, rather than being distracted by bureaucratic demands. The staff of MOPS continue to strive to provide quality mental health services in a fashion which is responsive to both clients and systemic needs. In addition to the specialized services identified above, MOPS continues to provide general mental health counseling services. Misc/MOPS History |
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