Project Grant H79SM084563

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING: ENHANCING THE IDENTIFICATION ANDREFERRAL OF HIGH RISK YOUTH - CHILDREN'S RESEARCH TRIANGLE'S (CRT) MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING: ENHANCING THE IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL OF HIGH-RISK YOUTH IS A YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (YMHFA) TRAINING PROGRAM SERVING COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF CHICAGO. DURING THE 5-YEAR GRANT, CRT WILL TRAIN A MINIMUM OF 2,250 INDIVIDUALS SERVING OR CARING FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH IN LOW-INCOME, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FACING DISPARITIES IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE ACCESS. THE TARGET TRAINING POPULATION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: TEACHERS AND RELEVANT SCHOOL PERSONNEL, EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL, MILITARY AND VETERAN'S SERVICE PROVIDERS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, CAREGIVERS OF YOUTH WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES. THE PROPOSED TRAINEES ALL HAVE FREQUENT CONTACT WITH YOUTH WHO ARE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR DEVELOPING MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS DUE TO COMMUNITY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MALTREATMENT, CHILD WELFARE INVOLVEMENT, PRENATAL SUBSTANCE EXPOSURE, AND FAMILY MILITARY INVOLVEMENT. THE OVERARCHING PURPOSE OF OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF TRAINING PARTICIPANTS TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND EMPLOY CRISIS DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES; IDENTIFY COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR YOUTH WITH MENTAL ILLNESS; AND EFFECTIVELY REFER AND CONNECT MARGINALIZED HIGH-RISK YOUTH TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES. SPECIFIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE PROGRAM INCLUDE: CONDUCTING YMHFA TRAININGS WITH 450 INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR SERVING AND CARING FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH WHILE INCREASING THEIR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO YOUTH WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (I.E., TRAINING PARTICIPANTS WILL SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO YOUTH EXHIBITING SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS, SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR ATTITUDE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS, AND USE SKILLS LEARNED IN THE TRAINING); IDENTIFYING AT LEAST 10 NEW TRAINEE AGENCIES PER YEAR; MAINTAINING AND EXPANDING RESOURCE WEBPAGES DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF HIGH RISK YOUTH; AND INCREASING THE ABILITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS TRAINED IN YMHFA TO REFER AND LINK HIGH-RISK YOUTH TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES THROUGH THE USE OF THE CONTINUALLY GROWING PROJECT WEBSITE REFERRAL LIST, TELEPHONE REFERRAL LINE, AND MOBILE APP. A NEEDS ASSESSMENT DURING GRANT YEAR 1 WILL EXPLORE THE REFERRAL PROCESSES UTILIZED BY TRAINEES AND THE BARRIERS THEY FACE IN MAKING SUCCESSFUL REFERRALS. THE RESULTS WILL BE USED TO IDENTIFY AND DISSEMINATE EFFECTIVE REFERRAL MAKING STRATEGIES THROUGH ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCE MATERIALS. PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE TRACKED AND MEASURED THROUGH A SERIES OF SURVEYS, KNOWLEDGE TESTS, AND TRACKING FORMS TO DETERMINE THE EFFICACY OF THE PROGRAM.