Project Grant H79SM085597

MURTIS TAYLOR--CARE ACCESS NOW (CAN) PROJECT - THE MURTIS TAYLOR HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM'S CARE ACCESS NOW (CAN) PROJECT WILL SUPPORT AND RESTORE THE DELIVERY OF EXPANDED, IMPROVED, AND ACCELERATED CLINICAL SERVICES THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED), SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SMI OR SED AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, REFERRED TO AS CO-OCCURRING DISORDER (COD). THE PROJECT'S POPULATION OF FOCUS IS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AFRICAN AMERICAN ADULTS AND TRANSITIONING YOUTH WITH SED, SMI, OR COD. OUTREACH AND INTAKE PROCEDURES WILL ALSO FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING AND SERVING ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, RETURNING VETERANS, AND MILITARY FAMILIES AND SERVICES WILL BE PRIORITIZED TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHEN APPROPRIATE. THE GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS IS CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO AND WILL SERVE 400 UNDUPLICATED CONSUMERS PER YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 800 PEOPLE. THE PROJECT HAS THE FOLLOWING GOALS: 1) STRENGTHEN MTHSS' HIPAA COMPLIANT TELEHEALTH CAPACITY TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF MH, SUD, & INTEGRATED MH/SUD SERVICES TO THE UNINSURED/ UNDERINSURED; 2) EXPAND AVAILABILITY OF OUTPATIENT SERVICES TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR UNINSURED/ UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS WITH SED OR SMI, & COD; 3) EXPAND AVAILABILITY OF TRAUMA INFORMED SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, & PATIENT-CENTERED TREATMENT PLANNING & TREATMENT DELIVERY TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR UNINSURED/ UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS WITH SED OR SMI, & COD; 4) EXPAND AVAILABILITY OF CLINICAL & RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR UNINSURED/ UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS WITH SED OR SMI, & COD; 5) INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT & RESOURCES TO MTHSS' CMHC STAFF TO ENHANCE WELLNESS, BALANCE & CONNECTION FOR INDIVIDUAL PRACTITIONERS & SUPERVISORS; 6) EXPAND AVAILABILITY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS & EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR UNINSURED/ UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS WITH SED OR SMI, & COD; 7) STRENGTHEN MTHSS' OUTREACH STRATEGIES & REFERRAL PATHWAYS TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS & THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED TO MH, SUD, & INTEGRATED MH/SUD SERVICES. THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY COUNCIL-A RECIPROCAL REFERRAL NETWORK TO CREATE A PATHWAY OF ACCESS FOR MINORITY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGE INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY. THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OF WHICH MAKE REFERRALS TO THE PROJECT AND ACCEPT PROJECT PARTICIPANTS. THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A CRISIS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE REFERRAL NETWORK, IMPLEMENT ENHANCED DE-ESCALATION AND CRISIS RESPONSE TRAINING TO ALL PROJECT STAFF, LAUNCH A 24/7/365 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACCESS PHONE LINE AND TRAIN OUTREACH, ACCESS & BENEFITS SPECIALISTS ON TELEPHONIC DE-ESCALATION AND CRISIS RESPONSE TECHNIQUES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT TAKES A WHOLISTIC TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH AND WILL SUPPORT STAFF WITH MENTAL HEALTH SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOLS, LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN TO INFORM AND EDUCATE CMHC STAFF ABOUT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF POOR MENTAL HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR TREATMENT, IMPLEMENT TRAINING SEMINARS OR WORKSHOPS, AND IMPLEMENT TRAININGS DESIGNED TO HELP MANAGERS RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS AND DEPRESSION IN THEMSELVES AND IN SUBORDINATES.