Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring (OSAM) Regional Epidemiologist Athens Region FY25

MISSION & GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The mission of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is to provide statewide leadership of a high-quality mental health and addiction prevention, treatment and recovery system that is effective and valued by all Ohioans. OhioMHAS strives to be a national leader in implementing a comprehensive, accessible, and quality-focused system of addiction and mental health care and wellness for all Ohio citizens. PURPOSE
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring (OSAM) Regional Epidemiologist – Athens region (primarily Athens County with coverage of surrounding areas).  BACKGROUND
Under the direction of the Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring (OSAM) team of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS): acts and conducts as a data collector for one assigned OSAM region, assisting in the identification and establishment of a network of diverse individuals who have intimate knowledge of drug abuse trends in regional communities. Those eligible for network inclusion consist of, but are not limited to, the following: people actively engaged in drug use and/or drug recovery activities, alcohol, and other drug (AOD) addiction treatment/prevention providers, law enforcement and probation officers, crime lab professionals, emergency room physicians and school counselors. Data are collected through focus group and individual interviews for the purpose of providing accurate epidemiological descriptions of substance abuse trends and emerging problems in Ohio’s major metropolitan and rural areas every six months. Data will be utilized to respond to media inquiries, to aid local Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Boards in grant-writing efforts, to provide training to community professionals, to address and respond to important needs of state legislature, and to assist OhioMHAS in the prioritization of resources based on emerging drug trends.  SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES
Recruit network informants; obtain participant informed consent; administer brief survey of participant characteristics; interview individual informants and conduct focus groups following scripted protocols; produce audio recordings of all interview proceedings; submit interview documentation and summary data slides twice yearly in December and May (participant consent forms, brief surveys, interview collection forms and audio recordings); submit monthly data collection forms; attend biannual core scientific meetings with other regional epidemiologists and OSAM team members (meetings held in Columbus); attend meetings and trainings as assigned. This position has varied hours, which may include evenings and weekends. Estimated 100 hours of project-related work per data collection cycle. A minimum of 40 interviews of people actively engaged in drug use and/or drug recovery activities and a minimum of 10 interviews of community professionals who have intimate knowledge of regional drug abuse is required for a combined minimum total of 50 participants per each cycle. This position requires travel; must utilize personal vehicle. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTOR
Master’s degree in social sciences (public health, psychology, social work, counseling, anthropology, or sociology) with relevant research experience in qualitative data collection, or licensure in counseling/social work with extensive knowledge of AOD addiction and 24 mos. experience in delivering AOD treatment/prevention services; Preference given to applicants with university academic research experience. Major worker characteristics include knowledge of epidemiology and ethnographic research methods used in field data collection, ability to follow research protocols, collect data, thematically organize data, draw valid conclusions, and prepare meaningful, concise and accurate reports. Contractor shall not be subject to an “unresolved” finding for recovery under Section 9.24 of Ohio Revised Code.