Project Grant H79SM086268

NEVADA STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK - NEVADA PEP, A FAMILY-DRIVEN RESILIENCY-ORIENTED NONPROFIT, SUPPORTS THE STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK TO PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT RESOURCES TO ENGAGE FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS RAISING CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE. THE PROGRAM SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR TRANSFORMING MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED SYSTEMS BY STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES AND FAMILY LED COALITIONS, POLICY MAKERS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. NEVADA WAS HARD-HIT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CLOSURES, THE STATE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TOURISM REVENUE AND RAMPANT UNEMPLOYMENT. FAMILIES WERE IMPACTED BY GRIEF AND LOSS, AND CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO THEIR EDUCATION AND NEEDED SERVICES WAS UNPREDICTABLE AT BEST. THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER WITH AN ALREADY UNDERFUNDED SYSTEM OF CARE TO MEET THE NEEDS IN RURAL, FRONTIER, AND URBAN COMMUNITIES HAS CREATED A CRISIS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH SED AND THEIR FAMILIES/CAREGIVERS. MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA 2022 REPORT HAS ONCE AGAIN RANKED NEVADA 51ST IN THE NATION FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTHCARE. THESE REALITIES ARE BOTH DISHEARTENING AND A CALL TO ACTION FOR THE COUNTLESS DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS WHO PARTNER TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS IN NEVADA. NEVADA PEP IS APPLYING TO THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA) TO CONTINUE OUR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK SERVING OVER 18,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN 1993 AS PART OF THE WORK OF THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (CASSP) INITIATIVE, PEP CONTINUES TO PROVIDE OUTREACH, RESOURCES, AND FAMILY-TO-FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO EVIDENCED-BASED AND PROMISING PRACTICES AND TO REDUCE FAMILY ISOLATION. TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROGRAM GOAL, PEP WILL PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS, ENHANCE ACCESS, AND AVAILABILITY TO INDIVIDUAL FAMILY ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT BY INCREASING THE FAMILY WORKFORCE AND PROGRAMS USING EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROMISING PRACTICES THAT ARE HOLISTIC, FAMILY/CAREGIVER-DRIVEN, AND TRAUMA INFORMED. PEP WILL ALSO EMPOWER FAMILIES AND FAMILY-LED GROUPS BY ADVANCING FAMILY VOICE AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THAT AFFECTS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND SYSTEMS CHANGE AT THE POLICY, PLANNING, AND IMPLEMENTATION LEVELS. RECOGNIZING THAT EACH COMMUNITY HAS ITS OWN DIVERSITY, INCLUDING CULTURAL, AND LANGUAGE NEEDS, PEP WILL PARTNER WITH REGIONAL CONSORTIA'S STRATEGIC PLANS TO ADDRESS SERVICE NEEDS AND BARRIERS SPECIFIC TO EACH REGION OF THE STATE.