Project Grant H79SM084029

REGION 6 SYSTEM OF CARE PROJECT (R6SOC) - REGION 6 BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE PROPOSES TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE SERVICES IN THE RURAL NEBRASKA COUNTIES OF CASS AND WASHINGTON, WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT SERVE 7,578 BIRTH-21 CHILDREN/YOUTH. REGION 6 SYSTEM OF CARE PROPOSES A HYBRID APPROACH OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO ULTIMATELY CONNECT 450 CHILDREN/YOUTH (BIRTH-21) WITH SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES (SED) AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (75 IN Y1 AND 125/YEAR THEREAFTER). THE PROPOSAL FEATURES A SCHOOL-BASED SINGLE POINT OF ACCESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN/YOUTH WITH SED AND THEIR FAMILIES. TWO DISTRICTS WITHIN THIS RURAL GEOGRAPHIC CATCHMENT HAVE OVER 40% OF STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. THE AREA IS EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, FRAGMENTED SERVICES, AND CHALLENGING 50-MILE DRIVES TO SERVICES IN URBAN OMAHA. ONCE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO INCREASE CAPACITY FOR POPULATION ACCESS AND SERVICE USE, ACTIVITIES WILL FOCUS ON CONNECTING THE POPULATION TO SERVICES/INTERVENTIONS THROUGH EARLY IDENTIFICATION, SO ACCESS AND USE CAN OCCUR IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE, MOST NORMATIVE ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE. LICENSED PERSONNEL WILL SCREEN 90% OF THE GEOGRAPHIC CATCHMENT'S SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND REFER 100% OF THOSE IDENTIFIED THROUGH SCREENING TO APPROPRIATE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT TIERS OR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. CONTINUOUS ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES WILL NOT ONLY ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY OF SERVICE INTEGRATION, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN THE CROSS-SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE. CAPACITY FOR IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES IS FURTHER BOOSTED VIA A CADRE OF 8 PARENT MENTORS MATCHED WITH 145 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FACING SED CHALLENGES. IN ADDITION, 400 TEACHERS, SCHOOL PERSONNEL/ADMINISTRATION, FAMILIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING ON EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES AND/OR AWARENESS REGARDING CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. WORKFORCE CAPACITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE INCREASED BY INTEGRATING AT LEAST 6 POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS INTO THE RURAL SCHOOLS.