Tennessee voices rural family network - the mental health support and service system for children and youth with SED will ensure that families are transformation catalysts of a culturally responsive…

Tennessee voices rural family network - the mental health support and service system for children and youth with SED will ensure that families are transformation catalysts of a culturally responsive and family driven mental health and related child and family service systems across TN through cooperative partnerships between rural family members, policymakers, service providers, family organizations and targeted resources. The project will serve children, youth, and their families effected by severe emotional disturbance across rural tennessee. Tennessee has an estimated population of 6,829,174 people. 97 percent is rural. 78.4% of the state's population is white, 17.1% - african american, 2.0% -asian, 0.5% - american indian or alaska native, 0.1% - native hawaiian or other pacific islander, and 5.7% - of hispanic or latino origin. The population of those under 18: 49% are female and 51% male. 22% of the population is under 18. 94.6% speak english and 3.9% spanish. 24% of those children under 18 receive public assistance and 19.4% live in poverty. Lgbtq population age 13 and up in the state - 223,000. There are 3,240 emotionally disturbed students which is 3.3% of the total in TN receiving special education services. Project goals and objectives: 1: develop a network of family and organizational leaders with systems change management capacity that reflects the culture, traditions, and beliefs of rural TN: increase family run initiative participation in systems change; leadership training for families and youth. 2. Increase family organization skills and collaboration within and across programs, providers, and policymakers; improve rural family leader and organization skills and capacity; state and/or local planning and policy development workgroups will have a family representative; development of training that increases the capacity of the systems of care, community partners, and families to create and sustain a family driven approach. Child serving programs and agencies will increase their capacity to implement family driven practices; updates or resources will be shared annually across the state. 3. Reduce stigma, bias, and superstition of mental illness and associated services that interfere with the utilization of networks of services and supports to families and their children. Produce training resources on stigma, bias, and bullying, town hall meetings in each rural region. 4. Increase family capacity to access mental health services and utilize supports in their community to make informed decisions on behalf of their children and youth within rural TN. Family leaders and organizations will be linked to the FSS coalition; rural regions will have a local contact for information and referral; regional mental health information centers to assist families in understanding, accessing, and advocating for services; resources that guide families as they navigate mental health services, help them advocate for their needs and understand the child serving systems; outreach on social media.