Project Grant H79SM087526

MOUNT ROGERS COMMUNITY SERVICES RECAST PROJECT - THE PROPOSED MRCS RESILIENCY IN COMMUNITIES AFTER STRESS AND TRAUMA (RECAST) PROJECT WILL PROMOTE RESILIENCE, TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES AND EQUITY IN THE COUNTIES OF SMYTH, WYTHE, BLAND, CARROLL, GRAYSON, AND THE CITY OF GALAX. IMPLEMENTING GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES OUTLINED WITHIN THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL ENGAGE A DIVERSE COALITION OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY NEEDS AND RESOURCES ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES RECOVERING FROM COLLECTIVE TRAUMA IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AND AWARENESS AROUND ISSUES FACING HIGH-RISK YOUTH AND FAMILIES, GERIATRIC POPULATIONS, AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, AND EXPAND TRAUMA-INFORMED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT SUPPORT YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM WILL EXPAND THE PEER FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL FAMILY SUPPORT PARTNER; INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CONSUMERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND MRCS STAFF RECEIVING TRAINING AND RESOURCES AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, TRAUMA, RESILIENCY, AND WELLNESS. SPECIFIC TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED TO STAFF IN CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC COMPETENCY, TO ENGAGE AND RETAIN CLIENTS FROM DIVERSE POPULATIONS. WE WILL ALSO INCREASE SERVICES AND SUPPORT AROUND THE GERIATRIC POPULATION, INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN MOST ISOLATED DURING THE PANDEMIC. THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND OUR AGENCY'S AVAILABILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS TO THE GROWING BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES FACING OUR SERVICE AREA. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL SERVE 500 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, AND A TOTAL OF 2,157 OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.