Embedded mental health supports in sash housing FY24 - this project adds mental health clinicians to our sash affordable housing sites throughout vermont, and will be available to serve as many as…

Embedded mental health supports in sash housing FY24 - this project adds mental health clinicians to our sash affordable housing sites throughout vermont, and will be available to serve as many as 2,000 older adults and adults with disabilities. The equivalent of ten full time clinicians are employed by local community mental health designated agencies and embedded at the local sash sites joining teams comprising of a sash care coordinator and wellness nurse (RN). A regional mental health clinician to lead public health approaches to lower barriers, and support improved mental and emotional wellness throughout all sash panels statewide. They will provide virtual and in-person education for participants and sash staff with particular emphasis to support the sash teams without the sash clinician. Chittenden county sites with the sewc will add a new program, called success in housing - identify needs & enhancing support (shines). The shines coach will specifically work with residents who were formerly homeless. Through targeted support, education and linking to services, such as emotional wellness support from the clinician, the shines coach will focus on housing retention and keeping people successfully housed. Six overarching goals of the project include: 1) sash participants at program sites will have access to and engage in expedited mental health support, within 1-3 business days of referral. 2) sash participants at program sites will experience decreased stigma associated with seeking mental health support. 3) sash participants at program sites who are high emergency department utilizers will experience fewer unnecessary emergency department visits over time and experience resiliency when health emergencies do arise. 4) sash participants at program sites will experience a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms over time. 5) sash will build on our coordinated public health approach by adding resources and systems that support sash staff, supporting emotional wellness groups at sash sites, and support participants to access mental health care. 6) individuals enrolling in the success in housing - identify needs & enhancing support (shines) program will experience long-term, stable housing.