Grounded and Growing: OneEighty’s Year in Review

Behind every statistic is a person. This year, OneEighty has walked alongside thousands of individuals as they fought for stability, sobriety, and hope. The past year was marked by meaningful progress and sobering reminders of just how fragile access to care can be. But through every challenge, our team has remained focused on meeting people where they are and offering addiction recovery services and residential treatment programs that change lives.

Executive Director Bobbi Douglas describes OneEighty’s current approach as “putting down roots instead of branches.” That phrase reflects our deliberate strategy to stay grounded, stabilize, and focus on doing more of what works rather than stretching resources too thin.

“We just want to keep doing what we do, and doing it well,” Bobbi says. Our team also finalized a new strategic plan this year, which underscores the importance of staying focused and delivering core services effectively. Simply put? “We’re not trying to add shiny new programs, we’re trying to do what we already do exceptionally well.”

How Policy Decisions Shape Lives

More than 75% of OneEighty’s funding is tied to federal dollars, with half coming from grants and contracts, and another quarter from Medicaid. And that means federal and state policy changes hit close to home. Bobbi explains, “If you care about addiction recovery services, you have to care about Medicaid. You have to care about grant funding. Because that’s what allows us to do this work.”

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) raised fears that states like Ohio would no longer support expanded Medicaid if the federal match dropped below 90%. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. But the bill still introduced serious new hurdles for people who rely on Medicaid:

• Redetermination of eligibility is now required twice a year.
• Enrollees must meet work requirements (with exemptions for those in mental health or substance use treatment).
• A new $35 co-pay was introduced for some services, creating additional barriers.

These hurdles will have consequences. Bobbi predicts that “People are going to fall through the cracks; not because they’re ineligible, but because they can’t keep up with the paperwork, the process, or the cost.” OneEighty is not waiting for those cracks to widen. Our team is proactively educating clients on the necessary steps to maintain their Medicaid coverage, training staff to provide assistance, and ensuring that support is readily available. “Sometimes people need to be hand-held. Think about applying for a passport or Social Security. It’s hard. This is no different. If anything, maybe harder.”

Clients can reach out to any staff member, but intake specialists are best equipped to help with Medicaid-related questions. Job and Family Services also remains the official resource for applications and renewals.

Expanding Services to Meet Rising Demand

In response to growing needs, this year OneEighty has expanded our core services in order to serve more people. A fourth Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) group was added, allowing sessions to run four times a day, three days a week. “We had 17 people on a waiting list. Adding a new IOP group meant we could respond faster and better,” Bobbi explains. “These are labor-intensive jobs. Not everyone is willing, or able, to work three evenings a week. But we found someone, and we made it happen.”

Rising Costs, Rising to the Challenge

The business of care doesn’t come cheap. Over the last decade, OneEighty’s health insurance costs have increased by 252%, with another 25% hike expected this year. Recruiting and retaining qualified behavioral health professionals has also required significant investment. Bobbi shares, “We’re looking at every possible way to cut expenses without cutting the quality of our programs. That’s very challenging.”

Even as funding tightens, OneEighty continues to prioritize community collaboration over competition. We recently streamlined housing services to reduce duplication and make things easier for clients. In Bobbi’s words: “We’re not empire-building. We want to make it easier for people to get the help they need, without bouncing around multiple locations.”

Eyes Forward and Feet on the Ground

Looking to the future, there remains considerable uncertainty. Additional grant reductions, like the recent 30% cut to the Drug-Free Communities grant, could impact programs that focus on prevention, advocacy, and peer support. Bobbi notes, “We haven’t received word yet on how this will affect us, but it’s coming. It always trickles down.”

OneEighty is preparing. Strategic planning is underway. Outreach is increasing. Staff are being trained. And the focus remains where it belongs: on the people we serve.

Whether you’ve benefited from OneEighty’s services or simply believe in our mission, your support can make all the difference. As our local addiction treatment organization continues to fight for access and expand care, your donations, advocacy, and partnership ensure that addiction recovery services and residential treatment programs remain available to those who need them most. This year we are working to raise an additional $100,000 for vital prevention, education and safety net programs.