Rural awareness and access project (raap) - the rural awareness and access project (raap) proposed by CSO entails an expansion of audiences for our current mhfa, ymhfa and trauma training, a…

Rural awareness and access project (raap) - the rural awareness and access project (raap) proposed by CSO entails an expansion of audiences for our current mhfa, ymhfa and trauma training, a stronger outreach to school systems, primary care and pediatric practices and veterans organizations and addition of nonviolent crisis intervention (NCI) curriculum. Training target audiences: we will offer training to the listed audiences, selected because they either serve high risk individuals with diagnoses of serious mental illness, substance abuse disorder and those who have been traumatized by violence or other factors. We will train 1,800 people over 5 years. - primary care and pediatric practices; schools, and early education agencies; hospitals (ED personnel and direct care staff); law enforcement, first responders and courts; behavioral health advocacy organizations; victim assistance providers and advocates; veterans' organizations; grass-roots and community based organizations. Geographic catchment area: CSO will provide training in franklin county, north quabbin/worcester county, berkshire county, and hampshire counties in the state of massachusetts. The region has a combined population of 360,191 people and is predominantly rural. Population of focus: those who will benefit from community awareness and training are rural residents: adults with SMI, youth with SED and those adults and youth with substance use disorders by facilitating access to care. Project goals and objectives: goal 1: to educate participants so that they may identify signs of mental health problems and distress in themselves, CO-workers, friends, family and people they serve or come into contact with. Objective a: within 4 months of grant start CSO will provide in person mhfa, ymhfa and trauma informed care trainings to 360 community members annually across 4 wmass counties. Objective b: within 4 months of grant start, CSO will provide free basic trauma training and technical assistance to 25 community organizations annually,, including institutional workforces, school personnel, medical and first responders and staff of other CBO's in the service region. Objective c: within 4 months of grant start, CSO will provide nonviolent crisis prevention training to 50 participants annually; 100% of participants will receive certification in nonviolent crisis intervention (CPI). Goal 2: increase access to behavioral health services by giving trainees the tools to identify those in need of services and facilitating access to care and treatment through referral. Objective a: 90% of training participants will report an improved understanding of mental health issues, be able to identify those in need of services and able to offer appropriate responses. Objective b: 90% of training participants will report increased confidence about knowing how and where to make mental health referral for someone they are concerned about. Objective c: 25% of training participants will confirm having made a referral to mental health treatment within 12 months of completion of training.