Project Grant H79FG001006

ENHANCED MODEL OF MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY - CARE COORDINATION FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES, SUPPORTIVE MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS - DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO IS CREATING AN "ENHANCED MODEL OF SERVICES" (THE MODEL) TO ENSURE YOUTH AND FAMILIES UTILIZING CRISIS AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE COUNTY ARE CONNECTED TO ONGOING, NON-CRISIS, HEALTHCARE. THE MODEL IS A NETWORK OF INTENSIVE IN-HOME AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT, YOUTH PEER SUPPORT, EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT, AN INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM SERVING YOUTH AND FAMILIES, AND TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT AND INTEGRATION. THE TARGET POPULATIONS ARE CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES AND CLIENTS OF THE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, THE YOUTH CARE COMPACT (YCC) (TO BE DEVELOPED), WHO ARE IN CRISIS, RECOVERING FROM CRISIS OR WHO HAVE MULTIPLE UNMET BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND BASIC NEEDS. THE PROPOSED GEOGRAPHIC CATCHMENT AREA IS DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO. THE PROJECT STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS, AND THE ESTIMATED INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES SERVED DURING THIS YEAR OF FUNDING ARE: YOUTH CARE COMPACT NAVIGATOR TO DEVELOP AND LEAD THE YCC: 20 FAMILIES OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT: 150 YOUTH INTENSIVE IN-HOME TREATMENT: 40 FAMILIES SUPPORTIVE PARENTING FOR ANXIOUS CHILDHOOD EMOTIONS (SPACE) COURSE: 54 CAREGIVER UNITS OR INDIVIDUAL CAREGIVERS MARIJUANA TREATMENT PROGRAM: 20YOUTH AND FAMILIES YOUTH PEER SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES: 50YOUTH INTEGRATION OF WEB-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT PLATFORM WITH FAITH-BASED PORTAL TO FULFILL BASIC NEEDS: N/A THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE MODEL IS TO REDUCE FUTURE RELIANCE ON AND UTILIZATION OF THE CRISIS SYSTEM. THE MODEL'S STRATEGY-ORIENTED GOALS ARE GEARED TOWARDS INCREASING CONNECTION TO ONGOING, NON-CRISIS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, RECOVERY AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES, AND INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE CARE COORDINATION. THESE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE ACHIEVED BY IMPLEMENTING THE ABOVE SEVEN STRATEGIES. THE MODEL IS COMPLIMENTARY TO THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DOUGLAS COUNTY AND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER ALLHEALTH NETWORK WHO WILL OPEN A WALK-IN CRISIS CENTER (WIC) FOR ALL AGES AND A 16-BED CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT (CSU) FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND FACILITY IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, AS PART OF A PROPOSAL FOR LOCAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDING. THE MODEL SUPPORTS A LARGER CONTINUUM THAT INCLUDES DIRECT COORDINATION WITH CO-RESPONDERS, COORDINATION OF MULTIPLE SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS AND CHILD WELFARE, AND COLLABORATION WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. TO AVOID BOARDING AT THE WIC AND CSU, THE MODEL WILL OFFER RELIABLE FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT TO KEEP YOUTH AND FAMILIES ENGAGED IN TREATMENT FOLLOWING A CRISIS WHILE AVOIDING CYCLING THROUGH THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM. THE COUNTY AND ITS PARTNERS THROUGH THE DOUGLAS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE (DCMHI) ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY.