Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Deaf Behavioral Health Collaborative (DBHC)

Building a More Accessible Behavioral Health System for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals

What is the Deaf Behavioral Health Collaborative?

The Deaf Behavioral Health Collaborative (DBHC) is a statewide initiative of the Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (CCDHH) at Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC).

Through funding provided by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, DBHC works to improve access to culturally responsive behavioral health care for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals across Ohio by providing professional training, community education, consultation, and resource development.

By increasing knowledge of Deaf culture, communication access, and clinical best practices, DBHC helps behavioral health professionals deliver more equitable and effective care to Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients.

Why This Work Matters?

Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals often face significant barriers when seeking behavioral health services. Communication challenges and a shortage of accessible services can all impact treatment outcomes.

Many clinicians receive little to no formal training on Deaf culture, communication access, or working effectively with sign language interpreters during their professional education. As a result, providers may feel underprepared to serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients with confidence.

DBHC was created to help close this gap.

By equipping providers with practical knowledge and culturally responsive strategies, we can help ensure that Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals have greater access to quality behavioral health care throughout Ohio.

Professional Training

DBHC offers free statewide training opportunities for behavioral health professionals seeking to strengthen their competency in serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. All trainings offer practical strategies participants can apply right away. Select sessions also provide the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Training topics include:

  • Deaf culture and the Deaf experience
  • Communication access and accommodations
  • Working effectively with ASL interpreters
  • Clinical modifications and treatment considerations
  • Case studies and real-world applications
  • Behavioral health equity and accessibility

Our trainings are guided by a team of experienced clinicians and specialists, each bringing unique expertise in mental health, deafness, speech-language pathology, audiology, and communication access. Their combined knowledge ensures that participants gain both evidence-based strategies and real-world insights.

Meet the professionals leading these trainings:

Previous Training Sessions

Part 1 Training Dates

Part 2 Training Dates

Upcoming session dates will be announced soon - follow us on social media to be the first to know!. All Sessions are virtual via Zoom 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. ASL interpreters and Zoom captioning will be provided.

DBHC & CCDHH

The Deaf Behavioral Health Collaborative is housed within the Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (CCDHH), a program of Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center.

For decades, CCDHH has worked to strengthen communication access, community connection, and advocacy for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals throughout Northeast Ohio. DBHC extends this mission statewide by helping behavioral health providers develop the skills and understanding necessary to better serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.

Together, CCDHH and DBHC are working to create a behavioral health system where communication barriers are reduced, cultural understanding is increased, and quality care is accessible to all.