Habilitative systems, INC.'s mental health practicum will target african americans, first responders, faith organizations, law enforcement, school administration, parents and caregivers of adolescents…

Habilitative systems, INC.'s mental health practicum will target african americans, first responders, faith organizations, law enforcement, school administration, parents and caregivers of adolescents and adults who demonstrate risk factors associated with serious emotional disturbances and or mental disorders, to provide mental health assessment training. HSI serves disadvantaged community areas in chicago, illinois, more specifically, the high-risk communities of austin, north lawndale, west garfield park, and englewood. Environmental and social factors such as extreme poverty, violence, trauma, high employment, lack of affordable housing, and homelessness are all too common. The availability and prevalence of opioids and other substance use besiege these communities daily. IT is also known that individuals suffering from mental disorders can choose to harmfully self- medicate. The proposed training plan includes three major components: 1) mental health disorders treatment services, so trainees are able to advocate and support cohesive services for individuals assessed with mental disorder(s); 2) a task force that will create a community mental health and service directories for agencies to use as referrals sources to connect individuals to housing, health, tanf, medicaid, child care, transportation, legal issues, and more supports for emotional, social and mental health needs; and 3) a culturally competent family psychoeducation program to teach families about mental illness, how to identify the warning signs, and review the fact sheets concerning mental illness. HSI will utilize its trainings to facilitate the dissemination of mental health information to large numbers of community stakeholders. HSI will administer a minimum of 36 trainings per year or 180 over a period of 5 years. His will train 50 community stakeholders during the first year, 100 the second year, 100 the third year, 125 the fourth year, and 125 the fifth year for a total of 500 trained stakeholders. HSI's mental health practicum will increase access to mental health; increase community mental health partnerships, increase the number of mental health trainers; and improve family well-being. The specific measures include number of referrals, number of follow-up interviews, number of new community stakeholders to join taskforce, number of stakeholders who successfully complete training, and pre- and post- surveys and assessments.