Project Grant H79SM084383

MHAT GRANT TIPTON, LAUDERDALE, FAYETTE, HAYWOOD, AND DYER COUNTIES - PROFESSIONAL CARE SERVICES (PCS) IS AN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC, FOUNDED IN 1971, THAT PROVIDES SPECIALTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS AND SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE. PCS PLANS TO UTILIZE FUNDING FOR A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING (MHAT) PROJECT IN ORDER TO TRAIN COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE IDENTIFIED GEOGRAPHIC CATCHMENT AREA. THE IDENTIFIED COUNTIES ARE TIPTON, LAUDERDALE, HAYWOOD, DYER, AND FAYETTE COUNTIES AND WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY ARE RURAL COUNTIES WITH NOTABLE SERVICE GAPS FOR THOSE WITH SPMI AND SED AND EACH COUNTY HAS A RELATIVELY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS IN POVERTY. THOSE WITH SPMI AND SED ARE THE IDENTIFIED POPULATION OF FOCUS. STAKEHOLDERS TO BE TRAINED INCLUDE EMPLOYEES AT HOSPITALS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES. THE TRAININGS ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN EACH COUNTY TO MORE ACCURATELY IDENTIFY AND REFER TO CRISIS AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WHEN MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED. THE TRAININGS WILL ALSO PROVIDE SKILLS AND STRATEGIES WHEN RESPONDING TO THE POPULATION OF FOCUS AND WILL INCLUDE DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES THAT ARE SAFE TO ADMINISTER. DURING PCS' TENURE IN THE IDENTIFIED COUNTIES, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REQUESTS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR TRAININGS ON HOW TO BEST INTERVENE WITH THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. PER SELF-REPORT, THESE AGENCIES FEEL ILL EQUIPPED TO INTERVENE AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE. PCS HOPES TO TRAIN 450 INDIVIDUALS IN EACH YEAR OF THE GRANT. TRAINEES WILL INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT/CORRECTIONAL STAFF, HOSPITAL PERSONNEL, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THIS GRANT PROPOSAL INCLUDES FOUR KEY PERSONNEL. THE KEY STAFF AND THEIR ROLES ARE AS FOLLOWS: SARA HAWKINS, PROJECT DIRECTOR; KATIE COLEMAN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR; SAMANTHA HAMMONDS, PCS CLINICAL DIRECTOR; AND CAYLA STARNES, COMMUNITY LIAISON. THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL DETAILS PCS' PLAN TO CARRY OUT THE MHAT PROJECT TO SUCCESSFULLY INCREASE REFERRALS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ANYONE IDENTIFIED WITH AN SPMI OR SED.