Project Grant H79SM087671

CONCORD CHILDREN'S SYSTEM OF CARE EXPANDED INTEGRATION PROJECT - THROUGH THE CONCORD CHILDREN'S SYSTEM OF CARE EXPANDED INTEGRATION PROJECT, THE CONCORD SCHOOL DISTRICT (CSD), IN DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH RIVERBEND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, WILL SERVE AS A HUB FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FAMILY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EDUCATION, AND TIMELY FACILITATED REFERRALS FOR EXTERNAL CLINICAL CARE. AS NEW HAMPSHIRE'S CAPITAL CITY, CONCORD IS HOME TO OVER 4,000 PRE-K - GRADE 12 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, MORE THAN A THIRD OF WHOM QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. ALL FIVE ELEMENTARIES, THE SINGLE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THE SOLE HIGH SCHOOL ARE PERENNIALLY TITLE I SCHOOLS AND, AT ANY GIVEN TIME, 80-110 OF OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS. AS THE STATE'S MOST COMMON REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT COMMUNITY, CONCORD HAS WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF NEW AMERICAN STUDENTS TO ITS SCHOOLS OVER THE PAST DECADE. PRE-PANDEMIC, 35% OF CSD HIGH SCHOOLERS REPORTED SYMPTOMS OF CLINICAL DEPRESSION; THAT FIGURE HAS RISEN TO 39%, AS HAS THE NUMBER WHO HAVE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE (23%). THE OVERARCHING GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO: 1) BUILD THE CAPACITY OF STAKEHOLDERS WITH A SHARED INTEREST IN AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH INTENTIONAL COLLABORATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY-WIDE TRAINING, AND CODIFIED POLICY CHANGE; 2) MITIGATE BARRIERS TO CLINICAL CARE NEEDED BY SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH SED/SMI BY ESTABLISHING RESPONSIVE PATHWAYS TO SCHOOL- AND COMMUNITY-BASED INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, WRAPAROUND, AND CRISIS INTERVENTION; 3) RESPOND TO THE INCREASING NEED FOR TARGETED INTERVENTIONS THROUGH THE CREATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WITH AND/OR AT RISK OF DEVELOPING A SED/SMI, THE FACILITATION OF SKILLS GROUPS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL; 4) IMPLEMENT TIER 1/PREVENTATIVE APPROACHES IN CLASSROOMS, PRESCHOOL - GRADE 12, TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE SCHOOL CLIMATE THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS' BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS IN A COVID-ERA WORLD. THIS PROJECT WILL CLINICALLY SERVE 10% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION THROUGH TIER 2/3 SERVICES PER YEAR, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL 50 HIGHEST-NEEDS STUDENTS ASSESSED VIA THE NOMS, FOR A TOTAL OF 1,600 UNDUPLICATED YOUTH ENROLLED IN SCHOOL- AND/OR CLINIC-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. ADDITIONALLY, TIER 1/PREVENTION PROGRAMMING WILL BENEFIT ALL STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. WE WILL WORK WITH NO FEWER THAN 400 FAMILIES, THROUGH TRAINING AND FAMILY THERAPIES, PROJECT-WIDE. TO RESPOND TO THE INCREASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS, CARE COORDINATION INFRASTRUCTURE IS A CHIEF PRIORITY; TWO CMHC/SCHOOL LIAISONS AND A FAMILY COORDINATOR WILL BE THE CONDUIT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, AND FAMILIES TO EFFECTIVELY FACILITATE CO-LOCATED SERVICES, PARTICIPATE IN MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORTS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS (MTSS-B), AND SUPPORT SCHOOL- AND COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAMMING. TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE DISTRICT AND RIVERBEND WILL ALSO PARTNER WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION, YOUTH- AND FAMILY-SERVING ENTITIES (E.G. CONCORD FAMILY YMCA, PARENT INFORMATION CENTER), AND LOCAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS (E.G. WAYPOINT, COMMUNITY BRIDGES).