Project Grant H79SM086156

HENNEPIN COUNTY FAMILY RESPONSE AND STABILIZATION SERVICES (FRSS) PROJECT - PROJECT ABSTRACT HENNEPIN COUNTY FAMILY RESPONSE AND STABILIZATION SERVICES (FRSS) PROJECT SAMHSA SYSTEM OF CARE EXPANSION AND SUSTAINABILITY GRANT NOFO NO. SM-22-007 THE HENNEPIN COUNTY FAMILY RESPONSE AND STABILIZATION SERVICES (FRSS) PROJECT WILL PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FAMILY RESPONSE AND STABILIZATION SERVICES (FRSS) FOR YOUTH AGE 5-18 WITH SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, MN. FRSS SERVICES WILL HELP YOUTH AND FAMILIES ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND UNSAFE BEHAVIORS AND PUT ONGOING COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS IN PLACE, REDUCING THE NEED FOR DEEP-END INTERVENTIONS. HENNEPIN COUNTY IS A LARGE AND DIVERSE COUNTY THAT INCLUDES 45 CITIES (INCLUDING MINNEAPOLIS) AND IS HOME TO MANY BLACK, LATINO, SOMALI, AND AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH AND FAMILIES WHO ARE UNDERSERVED BY COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND EXPERIENCE REPEATED DEEP-END SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. THE HENNEPIN COUNTY FRSS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FAMILY RESPONSE (FR) FOR 1,175 YOUTH AGES 5-18 AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT INCLUDES AN IN-PERSON RESPONSE WITHIN ONE HOUR AND 72 HOURS OF CRISIS SUPPORT FOLLOWING THE INITIAL CONTACT. FR WILL SERVE 200 YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN YEAR 1, 250 IN YEAR 2, 325 IN YEAR 3, AND 400 IN YEAR 4. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC STABILIZATION SERVICES (SS) OF UP TO EIGHT WEEKS DURATION TO HELP 470 YOUTH AND FAMILIES NAVIGATE SYSTEMS, PUT NATURAL AND FORMAL SUPPORTS IN PLACE, AND IMPROVE ABILITY TO MANAGE SYMPTOMS AND UNSAFE BEHAVIORS. HENNEPIN COUNTY WILL CONTRACT WITH 4-5 CULTURALLY SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES LED AND STAFFED BY BLACK, LATINO, SOMALI, AND AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITIES TO DELIVER STABILIZATION SERVICES. SS WILL SERVE 80 YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN YEAR 1, 100 IN YEAR 2, 130 IN YEAR 3, AND 160 IN YEAR 4. PARTNERSHIPS WITH 15 INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS SERVING LARGE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS FROM THESE RACIAL AND CULTURAL POPULATIONS OF FOCUS WILL BE THE PRIMARY FRSS REFERRAL MECHANISM. THE GOAL OF FRSS IS TO STABILIZE MORE CHILDREN/YOUTH WITH SED AND THEIR FAMILIES IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS AND TO REDUCE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN ACCESS AND OUTCOMES. KEY OBJECTIVES ARE TO REDUCE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT UTILIZATION, TOTAL DAYS SPENT OUT OF HOME, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVEMENT RELATED TO PSYCHIATRIC OR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS BY 20% IN THE POPULATION OF STABILIZATION SERVICES PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS ACHIEVING YOUTH AND FAMILY SATISFACTION TARGETS RELATED TO INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR OWN CARE, CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS OF SS, AND REDUCTIONS IN PROBLEM BEHAVIORS AND SYMPTOMS. HENNEPIN COUNTY WILL ALSO PROMOTE YOUTH/FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF ITS SYSTEM OF CARE AND ESTABLISH AN SOC GOVERNANCE BOARD. A .75 FTE LEAD FAMILY COORDINATOR WILL PARTNER WITH ADDITIONAL PROJECT STAFF TO CONDUCT OUTREACH TO EXISTING BIPOC PARENT GROUPS, FACILITATE INFORMATION-SHARING AND FEEDBACK EVENTS REGARDING THE SYSTEM OF CARE IN BIPOC COMMUNITY SPACES, RECRUIT BIPOC YOUTH AND PARENT LEADERS, CONDUCT YOUTH AND FAMILY SURVEYS AND FOCUS GROUPS, AND PARTICIPATE ON THE PROJECT TEAM AND SOC GOVERNANCE BOARD. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR WILL ESTABLISH THE SOC GOVERNANCE BOARD, RECRUIT AND TRAIN BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDING BOTH YOUTH AND FAMILY REPRESENTATIVES AND DECISION-MAKERS FROM CHILD-SERVING SYSTEMS, AND CONVENE THE GROUP MONTHLY TO REVIEW SOC REFORMS AND PROGRESS.