Celebrating Progress, Advancing Hope: Ohio Observes National Deflection Week
July 20–26, 2025 marks National Deflection Week, a time to celebrate the growth of deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs nationwide. Ohio continues to lead the way, as home to some of the earliest teams, including Colerain Township’s Quick Response Team (QRT) and Lucas County’s Drug Abuse Response Team (DART). Today, Ohio has a growing statewide network committed to connecting individuals to treatment, recovery and community resources instead of jail.
Deflection is a public health and public safety strategy that empowers first responders to offer help at the point of contact, linking people to care, not custody. This year, National Day of Deflection, known in Ohio as Bridge Day, returns on July 23, with counties encouraged to host events that day. The goal: 24 hours of deflection with participation in all 88 counties. The Substance Use Deflection Initiative proudly supports this movement through training, technical assistance and coordination with teams across the state.
How can you take action for #NationalDeflectionWeek2025?
- Sign up for Deflection ECHO - First responders, people with lived experience, public health, and behavioral health professionals are invited to join this virtual learning community
- Stay informed by joining the Substance Use Deflection Initiative Email List
- Check out the latest Ohio Deflection Association Newsletter
- Host or attend an Operation BRIDGE event
- Complete the Police, Treatment and Community Collaborative’s First Responder Deflection e course
- Access tools and resources through Police Assisted and Recovery Initiative’s Deflection Week Toolkit
- Share your activities and impact using the hashtag #NationalDeflectionWeek2025
Every act of deflection is a step toward hope. We celebrate the people and programs creating real alternatives and lasting change.
- submitted by Lucky Tisch, Department of Psychiatry