Project Grant H79SM085499

ADVANTAGE ENHANCEMENT AND RESTORATION INITIATIVE - ADVANTAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT OUR ENHANCEMENT AND RESTORATION INITIATIVE FOCUSING ON MILITARY VETERANS AS WELL AS CIVILIAN ADULTS AND YOUTH WITH ISOLATED OR CO-OCCURRING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. AS THE SAFETY NET PROVIDER FOR OUR SERVICE REGION THAT ENCOMPASSES THE 10 COUNTY REGION OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA, WE SPECIFICALLY TARGET INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EITHER UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED AND WHO HAVE VERY LIMITED SOCIAL SUPPORT STRUCTURES. IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC OF 2020 WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN OUR REGIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE. TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A THREE PRONGED SERVICE APPROACH SUPPORTED BY A FOCUS ON EMPLOYEE SUPPORT AND WELLNESS AND ONGOING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE INTEND TO EXPAND OUR TELEHEALTH SERVICES TO SUPPORT THOSE WITHIN RURAL AREAS AS WELL AS THOSE AMONG OUR MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHO BENEFIT FROM BEING ABLE TO SOCIALLY ISOLATE TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH. WE WILL ALSO BE EXPANDING OUR PEER SUPPORTED RECOVERY SUPPORT PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OUR OVERALL OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES TO MORE DEMONSTRABLY IMPACT THOSE IN OUR REGION WHO ARE MOST IN NEED. LASTLY, WE INTEND TO ENHANCE OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE OUR OVERALL EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE THE PREVALENCE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS INVOLVED WITHIN THE LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. TO SUPPORT THESE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS WE ARE PROPOSING AN EXPANSION OF EMPLOYEE SUPPORT AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND AGENCY WIDE EXPANSION OF EVIDENCE BASED AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT TRAINING PROGRAMS. OUR PROPOSED GOALS FOR THIS INITIATIVE ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND TELEHEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW HYBRID IN-PERSON/TELEHEALTH PROGRAMMING AND TO ALLOW SIGNATURE CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY. 2. EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYEES BY INCREASING EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP) ACCESS AND OFFERING MONTHLY WELLNESS PROGRAMMING. 3. EXPAND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT-SERVICE STAFF IN CULTURALLY EQUITABLE CARE, TRAUMA-FOCUSED CARE, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES 4. IMPLEMENT PEER-LED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SERVICES FOCUSED ON THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF COVID-19 5. EXPAND EXISTING SERVICES TO FREQUENT UTILIZERS OF COMMUNITY CRISIS SERVICES, ESPECIALLY POLICE AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, TO ALLOW FOR PEER-LED CASE MANAGEMENT, OUTREACH, AND COORDINATION OF CARE.