20 Under 40 Leadership Award

On October 29, 2021, I received the 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award. 

Here is the press release. 

(Toledo, Ohio) Elijah Jones, Manager of Treatment Services at Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County, received a 2021 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award on Thursday, October 28 at the 26^th annual 20 Under 40 ceremony.  He was among the 20 selected from a field of 209 nominated candidates.

In his role at MHRSB, Jones monitors over $14 million in mental health and substance use disorder treatment contracts. He is a member of the Lucas County Opioid Coalition and a co-lead for the healing Communities Study to reduce opioid overdoses by 40 percent. In partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services he worked to rapidly distribute hundreds of naloxone kits into high-risk communities.

Jones is an appointed co-chair of the Social Justice Committee of the City of Toledo Human Relations Commission, he recently completed two terms as the Region 1 director of the National Association of Social Workers-Ohio Chapter and actively volunteers with NASW to create opportunities for local social workers to network and develop professionally. He has participated on the Citizens Review Committee for City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods as it related to homelessness, and he is a regular abstract reviewer for the American Public Health Association. He is a member of both the University of Toledo Opioid Task Force and the Latino Alliance of Northwest Ohio.

In 2020, Jones won the Adult Leadership Diamante Award from the Latin o Alliance of Northwest Ohio. He is a licensed independent social worker with supervisory designation, a licensed independent chemical dependency counselor, a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and a certified clinical trauma professional. He recently completed requirements to become a certified diversity professional. A leader in social work he provides training supervision for students and has taught courses at both the University of Toledo and St. Louis University.

Jones earned both an under-graduate and Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Toledo and is currently a doctorial candidate in educational psychology.

The 20 Under 40 program focuses on individuals in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their career and/or in the community. An independent panel of judges selects the 20 candidates for recognition.  It is intended that the program will further motivate young leaders in our area. Since 1996, 520 young, community leaders have been recognized through the 20 Under 40 program.

Program sponsors include Eastman & Smith; Fifth Third Bank; Plante Moran; The Andersons, Inc.; University of Toledo and Dana Incorporated.  The Toledo Business Journal serves as the media partner, Leadership Toledo serves as the community partner, and Buckeye Broadband as broadcast partner.  Ulrich Pinciotti and THREAD are creative partners.  Community support is provided by EPIC Toledo, Imagination Station, The Toledo Repertoire Theatre, Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Opera, Toledo Zoo, and the Valentine Theatre.