Project Grant H79SM085465

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER, INC. (MHRC) IS A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER (CMHC) THAT WILL USE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH GRANT FUNDS TO PROVIDE: (1) EXPANSION OF CO-RESPONDER PROGRAM; (2) CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONTACTS; (3) SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES; (4) EXPANSION OF OUTPATIENT SERVICES INCLUDING PROVISION OF SERVICES IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AREA; (5) IMPLEMENTATION OF HIPAA-COMPLIANT TELEHEALTH SERVICES; (6) STAFF TRAINING IN EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS; AND (7) RESTORATION OF INPATIENT CRISIS STABILIZATION CAPACITY. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS, CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, OR SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE RESIDING IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE PROGRAMS BEING PROPOSED ARE DESIGNED TO FILL GAPS IN THE COMMUNITY'S CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT HAVE WORSENED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE SERVICES THAT WERE FINANCIALLY IMPACTED DURING THE PANDEMIC. SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED INCLUDE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF A PILOT CO-RESPONDER PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE (JSO) BY ADDING FIVE (5) MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO PARTNER WITH JSO PATROL OFFICERS AND SIX (6) CASE MANAGERS. THIS WILL RESULT IN CO-RESPONDER TEAMS OPERATING IN ALL SIX (6) JSO PATROL ZONES. FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED FOR THE CONTINUATION OF A SUICIDE PREVENTION CARE COORDINATION PROGRAM THAT WILL OTHERWISE END IN NOVEMBER 2021. THE GRANT WILL ALSO ASSIST MHRC IN RESTORING CRISIS STABILIZATION BED CAPACITY WHICH WAS REDUCED DUE TO NURSING VACANCIES CAUSED BY NURSES OPTING FOR HIGHER PAYING JOBS AT COVID VACCINATION SITES AND HOSPITAL SETTINGS. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC'S NEGATIVE FINANCIAL IMPACT, MHRC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HIRE THE NECESSARY CLINICAL STAFF TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROPOSAL ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE BY ADDING TWO (2) LICENSED INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONERS TO MHRC'S OUTPATIENT CLINICS. THIS WILL ALSO ENABLE MHRC TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT SERVICES IN AN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AREA. THESE SERVICES WILL GIVE MHRC THE ABILITY TO SERVE 500 ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 1,000 INDIVIDUALS SERVED. MHRC WILL USE THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FUNDED THROUGH THIS GRANT: SEEKING SAFETY; QUESTION, PERSUADE, REFER (QPR); QPRT ADVANCED SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT TRAINING; COUNSELING ON ACCESS TO LETHAL MEANS (CALM); WELLNESS RECOVERY ACTION PLAN (WRAP); ILLNESS MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY (IMR); AND COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SUICIDALITY (CAMS). MHRC WILL ALSO DEVELOP A HIPAA-COMPLIANT TELEHEALTH PROGRAM AND AN EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM. THESE PROJECTS WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE FOR RESIDENTS OF JACKSONVILLE, REDUCE SUICIDE RISKS, REDUCE ARREST AND INVOLUNTARY INPATIENT ADMISSIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS ENCOUNTERED BY THE POLICE, REDUCE RE-ARREST FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS RELEASED FROM JAIL, RESTORE INPATIENT CRISIS STABILIZATION CAPACITY, AND STRENGTHEN THE MHRC WORKFORCE.