Project Grant H79SM084713

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING (MHAT - NASHVILLE) - THE PURPOSE OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING - NASHVILLE (MHAT - NASHVILLE) IS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING, INTERVENTION STRATEGIES AND RESOURCE LINKAGES TO COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN METRO NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE (AND LATER, ADJACENT COUNTIES) WHO REGULARLY INTERACT WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED). THE PROJECT WILL TRAIN 1,900+ INDIVIDUALS OVER FIVE YEARS. OUR FOCUS WILL BE TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT REGULARLY INTERACT WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF SMI, SED, OR OTHER ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WITH A PRIORITY ON THOSE THAT DO NOT ALREADY RECEIVE SUCH TRAINING IN-HOUSE OR THROUGH OTHER SOURCES. SERVICE SECTORS WE WILL TARGET FOR TRAINING INCLUDE THOSE SERVING VETERANS, ACTIVE MILITARY, AND MILITARY FAMILIES; TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL; CHILD-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS; THE HOMELESS; PARKS AND RECREATION; LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS; PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS; PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES; AND COMMUNITY SERVICE NONPROFITS. TARGET POPULATIONS INCLUDE THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS; VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES; CHILDREN AND YOUTH ESPECIALLY THOSE IN CRISIS AND IN FOSTER CARE; AND INDIVIDUALS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS, OR FROM FAMILIES WITH RISK FACTORS FOR TOXIC STRESS. THE PROJECT WILL (1) CREATE A REFERRAL NETWORK OF CONNECTED SERVICE PROVIDERS; (2) PROVIDE TRAINING USING EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA; AND (3) CREATE A PERMANENT PHONE AND TEXT-BASED REFERRAL AND CRISIS SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICE'S CRISIS CALL CENTER TO WHICH PARTNER AGENCIES CAN REFER THOSE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE PROJECT GOALS ARE TO: 1) IMPLEMENT IN-PERSON EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING TO INCLUDE RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND IDENTIFYING RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS AND OTHER RELEVANT RESOURCES, AND 2) INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED), OR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN NASHVILLE/DAVIDSON COUNTY. PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE ESTABLISHING TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS WITH AT LEAST 50 LOCAL PROVIDERS; CREATING A REFERRAL NETWORK OF CONNECTED COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS; PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND CRISIS DE-ESCALATION TRAINING CURRICULA TO A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 1,900 MIDDLE TENNESSEE-AREA SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO INTERACT WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING SMI/SED; AND DEVELOPING PERMANENT INFRASTRUCTURE UTILIZING THE CRISIS CALL CENTER TO LINK INDIVIDUALS WITH SMI, SED AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH CRISES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE CLINICS, AND/OR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS.