An OhioRISE-participating provider serving Central Ohio
OhioRISE Provider in Columbus, Ohio
If someone recently told you your child qualifies for OhioRISE, you probably left that conversation with a new acronym and not much explanation. Serving Youth Ohio works with OhioRISE-enrolled youth every week, and this page is written to answer the questions families actually ask in the first phone call.
Families, schools, and caseworkers can all start the same way: call (614) 706-6545 or send the referral form. We answer OhioRISE inquiries first.
What OhioRISE is, in plain language
OhioRISE stands for Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence. It is a specialized Ohio Medicaid program for young people whose behavioral health needs are significant enough that ordinary outpatient care alone has not been enough — often youth who are involved with schools, juvenile court, child welfare, or a hospital at the same time.
Practically speaking, qualifying does two things. It unlocks a broader set of services than a standard Medicaid behavioral health benefit, and it assigns your family a care coordinator whose job is to keep every one of those systems pointed in the same direction. Being told your child qualifies is not a judgment about your parenting; it is the state acknowledging the situation is complicated and paying for help that matches it.
Who is eligible and how enrollment happens
- Youth under age 21 who are enrolled in Ohio Medicaid
- A CANS assessment indicating significant behavioral health needs, or an inpatient/residential stay that triggers eligibility
- Referrals can come from a family member, school, physician, hospital, caseworker, or the managed care plan
- Enrollment is handled by the state and the OhioRISE plan; families do not apply through us
- Once enrolled, the family is assigned to a Care Management Entity in their region
How we work with your care coordinator and CME
Your OhioRISE care coordinator and Care Management Entity own the child and family centered care plan. We are one of the providers delivering services inside that plan, and we treat the coordinator as the hub rather than working around them.
In practice that means we attend child and family team meetings, share progress and treatment plan updates on the schedule the CME asks for, flag safety concerns the same day rather than at the next review, and coordinate directly with schools and prescribers so the family is not left relaying clinical information between adults.
For referring professionals
Care coordinators, school counselors, hospital discharge planners, and caseworkers can refer directly. Send the referral with the youth's Medicaid ID, current CANS status if available, and the name of the assigned CME. We acknowledge referrals within one business day and schedule intake within five business days, prioritizing step-downs from inpatient or residential care.
Reach the intake line at (614) 706-6545 or email admin@servingyouthohio.org. Buckeye Health Plan questions related to OhioRISE are welcome on the same line.
Buckeye Health Plan coverage details →How to start with us
- Call (614) 706-6545 or submit the referral form; families and professionals use the same line.
- We confirm OhioRISE enrollment and identify the assigned Care Management Entity.
- A licensed clinician completes an intake assessment and coordinates with your care coordinator.
- Services begin, with progress reported back into the child and family centered care plan.
Frequently asked questions.
No. Your child keeps their existing managed care plan for physical health while OhioRISE takes over the specialized behavioral health benefit. Two cards, one child, and we bill each side correctly so you do not have to think about it.
Yes, and it works better that way. Your care coordinator handles the overall plan across systems; we deliver the clinical services inside it and report progress back to them.
We acknowledge OhioRISE referrals within one business day and aim to complete an intake assessment within five business days, sooner when a youth is stepping down from a hospital or residential setting.
Get Started