Dr. Shepler is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervising Counselor designation and is the external project lead for the Ohio Department of Mental Health’s Intensive Home-Based Treatment initiative, for which he facilitated a team of statewide experts in the development of the state’s first Intensive Home-Based Treatment rule.
Dr. Shepler is also the co-developer of the Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment (ICT) model, one of the first treatment models designed specifically for youth with the co-occurring disorders of substance abuse and mental illness. The ICT program has received the SAMHSA’s Science and Service award and the NIATx iAward while also being included in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) "Blueprint for Change: A Comprehensive Model for the Identification and Treatment of Youth with Mental Health Needs in Contact with the Juvenile Justice Network".
In partnership with youth and families, Rick co-led the Ohio Department of Mental Health’s Resiliency Leadership Ohio initiative and was awarded the Resiliency Leadership Award for his work. In partnership with youth and families, he has developed mental health promotional videos on resiliency and children’s mental health, youth and family stories of resiliency, and resiliency and suicide prevention, which can be found at ResiliencyOhio.org.
Q: Why is your work at the Begun Center important to you, to our community, and to the world? Supporting the implementation of best practices is a critical aspect of impacting youth and families with complex needs and challenges.
Q: What is a cause about which you are particularly passionate? Children’s mental health.
Presentations
Selected Presentations
“The Integrated Co-Occuring Treatment Model: An Innovative Approach to Treating Youth with Co-Occuting Disorders.” Tampa, FL at Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference.
“Integrated Co-Occuring Treatment.” Tampa, FL at Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference.
“Financing Workforce Development.” Gaithersburg, MD at Academy of Effective Financing Strategies for Youth with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Challenges and Their Families.
“Facilitating Resiliency for Youth with Significant Behavioral Challenges.” Athens, OH at Ohio Promoting Wellness and Education Conference.
“Resiliency and Suicide Prevention Key Note Presentation.” Canton, OH at Stark County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
“Criminogenic Risk and Behavioral Health Need.” Tampa, FL at the Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference.