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Teresa Sanders, YWCA Dayton interim CEO
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Lesley Brose, Eastway president and CEO
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Rowan Hetzer – Dayton Business Journal Oct 10, 2025
One of the largest nonprofits in Dayton – a mental health organization – has entered a partnership with a downtown emergency shelter to further support families and youth affected by domestic violence.
Eastway Behavioral Healthcare announced a partnership with the YWCA of Dayton to provide counseling for families in its domestic violence shelter, specifically focused on youth affected by trauma.
“Eastway stood out as a strong organization with a rich history of providing essential services to children who have suffered trauma,” said Teresa Sanders, YWCA Dayton interim CEO. “Doing preventative and therapeutic work that is trauma-informed is the important service that
Eastway will provide.”
This will be conducted through Eastway’s Webster Street program, which involves using therapeutic intervention and engaging academics to support greater Dayton-area students in grades fifth through eighth who need greater support recovery following trauma than their schools can provide.
Eastway and the YWCA are utilizing a ‘collective impact model,’ in which non-profit organizations work together to ensure that the clients they serve can access adequate recovery services. The initiative is set
to expand Eastway’s child and adolescent service offerings across Montgomery County.
“Eastway is very focused on building partnerships in communities where there are gaps in client services, especially for children,” said Lesley Brose,
Eastway president and CEO. “As a leading organization supporting Ohioans struggling with mental illness, addiction and trauma, we can share our mental health expertise with the YWCA population. By working together, we can better serve vulnerable groups and address community needs.”
The program will provide families with a full-time, on-site case manager to assess client needs and connect them with community resources.
Additionally, a licensed therapist will be available as needed for diagnostics and individual treatment. Both of these roles will receive support from the Webster Street program director.
Sanders highlighted emotional safety as the most critical benefit of this partnership, leading to children's success in school and healthy socialemotional development.
“Early intervention for children who have experienced trauma is essential to positive outcomes,” Brose added. “By working together we’re offering preventative support that can help reduce the risk of more serious mental health challenges in the future.”
The partnership is funded through a grant from Fifth Third Bank’s Rapid Response Fund, created by the foundation office of the bank to quickly distribute grants to nonprofits in southwest Ohio, as waves of funding cuts continue to impact nonprofits across the country.
The program was created in August of this year.
“One of the challenges I have seen as I work with the YWCA and community leaders across the country is an absence of intentional programming for children,” Sanders said. “With that in mind, we wrote a grant request to support a partnership specifically devoted to those in our domestic violence shelter, specifically children, who urgently need specialized services.”
This partnership comes on the heels of a major series of federal funding – valued at nearly $650,000 – provided to ten local emergency shelters to bolster vital services to victims of family, domestic and dating violence. This funding was announced in September.
For more than 150 years, the Dayton YWCA Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter has combined programming and advocacy to generate institutional change in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, the empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and their health and safety. This nonprofit organization operates 365 days a year, providing vital programming and advocacy that annually benefits more than 10,000 women, girls, and families.
Incorporated in 1957, Eastway Behavioral Healthcare is a nonprofit based in Dayton that provides services to those with mental illness, addiction, emotional disturbance and trauma. It provides a range of opportunities for behavioral healthcare, rehabilitation and housing assistance, as well as advocacy on behalf of individuals with special needs.
Eastway and the YWCA are utilizing a ‘collective impact model’ whereby non-profit organizations work together to ensure that the clients they serve – In this case, especially children – can access services that support recovery following trauma.
The goal is to ensure that every client has access to all the services necessary to promote healing
“One of the challenges I have seen as I work with the YWCA and community leaders across the country is an absence of intentional programming for children,” said Teresa Sanders, YWCA Dayton interim CEO. “With that in mind, we wrote a grant request to support a partnership specifically devoted to those in our domestic violence, shelter, specifically children, who urgently need specialized services. Eastway stood out as a strong organization with a rich history of providing essential services to children who have suffered trauma. Doing preventative and therapeutic work that is trauma-informed is the important service that Eastway will provide.”
The Dayton YWCA Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter serves Montgomery County, providing hotline support and secure housing for individuals seeking safety from domestic abuse. The shelter welcomes all experiencing partner violence and offers a safe environment to consider their next steps.
Brose and Sanders agree the new program will make a meaningful difference. “Early intervention for children who have experienced trauma is essential to positive outcomes,” noted Brose. “By working together we’re offering preventative support that can help reduce the risk of more serious mental health challenges in the future.”
Sanders added, “The most significant outcome is that children will experience emotional safety. This is critical. It will result in children who are successful in school, and who lead healthy social and emotional lives.”
About Eastway Behavioral Healthcare
Incorporated in 1957, Eastway’s mission is to advance the overall health and security of individuals and the community by providing excellent behavioral healthcare, rehabilitation and housing services and to advocate on behalf of individuals with special needs.
Eastway, YWCA bring mental health trauma care to emergency shelter
Oct 14, 2025
The YWCA of Dayton and Eastway Behavioral Healthcare’s Webster Street program have partnered to provide counseling to children affected by trauma.
The program, which assists families who utilize the emergency shelter, includes a full-time, on-site case manager to assess clients and connect families with community resources, and a licensed therapist available as needed for diagnostics and individual treatment.
If you are in a crisis related to domestic violence or sexual violence, call the hotline at 937-222-SAFE (7233).
Eastway Behavioral Healthcare names new leader as longtime president/CEO retires
Dayton Business Journal
Apr 3, 2025
A nonprofit mental health organization is saying goodbye to its president and CEO after nearly 25 years with the group, naming a long time employee as his successor. Here's the organization's newest C-suite executive.
Eastway Plans to Open New Dayton Foodbank
Dayton Daily News
July 8, 2024
Dayton-based Eastway Behavioral Healthcare on Wednesday intends to open a new local foodbank. One of Ohio’s largest mental health care agencies serving some 2,000 clients daily, Eastway leaders have seen a critical need for food in the area.
Montgomery County Grants $2 Million to Local Opioid Addiction Agencies
Dayton Business Journal
July 2, 2024
Over $2 million has been given to local agencies handling opioid addictions as part of a state settlement. The Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners has announced recipients of the Direct Opioid Settlement Funding Opportunity. The settlement fund was established to address and mitigate the impact of the opioid crisis in the community.
Dayton Daily News
February 2, 2024
Organizations in Montgomery County that help people experiencing homelessness are set to receive more than $14 million in federal grant awards, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced this week.
“I was scared at first. Scared for her. But once I realized where she was at, I relaxed a little bit. And then when I first came to see Hannah, I knew she was in a good place, a safe place. These staff members really do care about these kids and their well-being.”
The statistics alone are impressive. 423 young women, from 64 Ohio counties and 4 different states. That’s how many girls have been treated at The Ranch of Opportunity since it opened its doors on December 6, 2013. And, behind each of those Ranch graduates is a team of professionals committed to positively impacting every young woman’s life who stays at the Ranch.
The Heritage of Hannah Neil: The Journey Continues
Six years ago, Eastway Behavioral Healthcare embarked on a journey. As one of the state’s most comprehensive not-for-profit organizations helping Ohio residents struggling with mental illness, they knew all too well the critical need for services aimed at youth and their families.
Dayton-area police using special teams on mental health calls
Dayton Daily News
February 24, 2021
Five local law enforcement agencies hope to reduce repeat 911 calls and jail admissions involving people with mental illness by embedding mental health professionals with police officers.
Local Law Enforcement increase use of mental health services for call response
Dayton 24/7 Now
November 16, 2020
The pandemic has led to an increased need for local mental health services. Now thanks to a new program, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office has hired specialists from Eastway Behavioral Health to work alongside them and help meet the community’s growing mental health needs.
First Financial Opens New Location in North Dayton
Dayton Daily News
December 9, 2020
First Financial Bank has opened a new banking location in North Dayton as part of what is says is an effort to provide more banking options in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. As part of the opening, the bank made donations to Eastway Behavioral Healthcare.
Community Spotlight Oregon District
Dayton Business Journal
January 22, 2020
The Oregon District may be best known for its restaurants and nightlife, but many other business-to-business services are nestled within the busy district. From publishing services and consulting firms to a nonprofit specializing in behavioral health, many Oregon District businesses expect to see growth in 2020.
Coping With Stress, A Growing Focus for Schools
Dayton Daily News
October 6, 2019
More Miami Valley children are coming to school without the social and emotional skills necessary to deal with stress or adversity. Eastway and other agencies are contracting with more and more schools to provide counselors for the most impacted children. Schools are also working to incorporate more social emotional learning into their every-day lessons.
“60 Years of Hope” Awarded Regional Emmy
September, 2018
“60 Years of Hope,” the short film created to capture Eastway Behavioral Healthcare’s six decade journey, was awarded an Emmy at the 54th Annual Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Awards. The video captures the significance of our Dayton area roots, our commitment to our clients and the dedication and compassion of our staff. Watch.
Eastway Plans Total $1M Property Investment
Dayton Daily News
September 26, 2017
Eastway Behavioral Healthcare, a mental health services agency, is purchasing an industrial building and parking lot across Bainbridge Street near its Dayton headquarters.