August 26, 2026 Field Brief

Today's Field Brief shares updates and reminders for service providers reporting data for the State Opioid and Stimulant Response grant (SOS). The grant is funded by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and evaluated by the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center (GRC). Data is collected with SAMHSA’s Unified Performance Reporting Tools (SUPRT) and entered in the DBH iPortal application.

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Quarter 4 will include reporting on the SOR/TOR Instrument for the period of July 1, 2026 to September 29, 2026 and the End of Year Performance Progress Report (PPR) for the period of September 30, 2025, to September 29, 2026.

• A preview email will go out to direct awardees on September 7 with more details.
• If your organization is funded by a local board or another entity that is not DBH, reach out to your project lead for further instructions.
• Quarter 4 reporting will open on September 14 and will close on October 12 at 5:00 PM. Late submissions will not be accepted. 

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What is Program Funding Type

When creating a SUPRT-A baseline assessment in iPortal, an important field to accurately enter is Program Funding Type. This selection identifies the funding source, which could either come from DBH or a local behavior health board. It helps ensure data are reported correctly.

How to Select the Correct Program Funding Type

In iPortal, staff will choose the option that matches the funding source for SOS services. Some providers may have more than one type of program funding.

• Local Board Project: Select when funding is provided through an Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) board.
• Community Organization: Select when the program is funded directly by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).
• Supplemental: Select when services are supported through a separate recovery support award.

Why Accuracy Matters

Program Funding Type is used to categorize and report client data by funding source. Selecting the wrong option can result in inaccurate reporting and make it more difficult to track outcomes associated with specific funding streams.

Remember: Program Funding Type identifies where the funding comes from, not the type of organization. Take time to confirm this selection to help ensure accurate reporting across the SOS program. If you are uncertain, check your program's notice of subaward, or ask DBH or local board to confirm. 

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Reminder! The Gift Card Order Form has replaced the Locator Form in iPortal. Clients remain eligible for a $30 gift card at the SUPRT-C 6-month reassessment and annual assessment timepoints if they are still receiving services. The Gift Card Order Form must be completed by clients on paper, and clients must provide consent to share their contact information with GRC.

After obtaining consent, collectors should enter the client’s contact information and preferred delivery method in iPortal. Gift cards may be delivered by mail, text message, or email. Please verify that all information is accurate before submitting to help ensure successful delivery.

In the iportal, the collector must indicate if the client provided consent when filling out the paper order form. The collector will be prompted to fill out the order form upon completion of entering the SUPRT-C 6-month reassessment and annual assessment. It can be accessed at any time from the Patient Assessment History page in iPortal. 

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GRC has developed the SUPRT Assessment Date Calculator. This tool is intended as a quick and convenient way for data collectors to determine valid 6-month Reassessment and Annual Assessment windows.

To use the calculator, enter the client’s SUPRT-A or GPRA Baseline Assessment Date. The calculator will automatically display the opening and closing dates for the:

• SUPRT-A/C 6-month Reassessment Window
• SUPRT-A/C Annual Assessment Window 

 

These dates help data collectors plan for upcoming assessments and support the accurate and timely collection and entry of SUPRT data into iPortal. The calculator can also be used at baseline to help clients know when their reassessment or annual assessments will be due. Data collectors will continue to receive iPortal prompts on the dashboard when reassessments are within the valid collection and entry window.

Below is a screenshot of what the calculator looks like for a visual reference. 

 

To access the tool: visit and bookmark the SUPRT Assessment Date Calculator page or click the Assessment Window Calculator button on the SOS Evaluation Homepage.

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Check for September Training Dates

September training dates are now available. Please visit the Training Events | Ohio SOS Evaluation website to register.

• All data collectors, data entry staff, and managers who oversee data collection must complete the annual two-part training series: SUPRT Data Collection and SUPRT Data Entry. Because these live trainings are offered separately, staff must register for each session individually.
• The Awardees and Supervisor Training is another option available. The training reviews SOS data collection and reporting requirements, including SUPRT and quarterly reporting, and clarifies evaluation roles and responsibilities. 
   

Coming Soon! New Training Platform: Canvas

The SOS Evaluation Team is expanding training opportunities for SOS grantees to support continued learning and engagement. In addition to accessing the live trainings offered by the GRC team, a series of self-paced learning modules will be available soon on the Canvas platform. Stay tuned for additional details and upcoming announcements about these new training resources and opportunities.

 

Stay in Touch

To stay up to date on implementing the new SUPRT tool, all SOS 4.0 grantees should:

1. Add the SOSEval@osumc.edu email address to your contacts.
2. Bookmark and check the SOS evaluation website: OhioSOSEvaluation.org.
3. Share the sign-up form for the news brief to stay up to date on SOS news.

Please reach out with any data collection questions to SOSEval@osumc.edu.