OAKLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK (OCHN) WILL USE GRANT FUNDS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN?S CRISIS SERVICES TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE ITS CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. - OAKLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK (OCHN) WILL USE GRANT FUNDS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S CRISIS SERVICES TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE ITS CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS, A NEED WHICH GREW SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE PANDEMIC. OCHN WILL PROVIDE INCREASED CLINICAL CAPACITY FOR TIMELY ACCESS TO CRISIS INTERVENTION AND STABILIZATION SERVICES, ENHANCED BY YOUTH PEER SPECIALISTS AND PARENT SUPPORT PARTNERS. OCHN EXPECTS TO SERVE 600 CHILDREN IN YEAR 1, 800 CHILDREN IN YEAR 2, TOTALING 1200 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS SERVED. THE DESIRED OUTCOME OF THE ENHANCED CRISIS SERVICES WILL INCLUDE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS DIVERTED FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED), REDUCED WAIT TIMES IN EDS, STAFF TRAINING ON EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION, INCREASED ENGAGEMENT OF YOUTH PEER SPECIALISTS AND PARENT SUPPORT PARTNERS, CONSISTENT CARE PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH AT RISK FOR SUICIDE, AND SATISFACTION WITH YOUTH CRISIS SERVICES. OCHN RECOGNIZES THE PANDEMIC HAS SERIOUSLY IMPACTED AN ALREADY VULNERABLE POPULATION OF YOUTH WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY IN MINORITY POPULATIONS AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. OCHN WILL CONTINUE FOCUSING ON ACCESS TO CARE, USING ITS FULL ARRAY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, LEVERAGING TELEHEALTH AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND INDIVIDUAL'S EXPERIENCE WITH CARE.