Project Grant H79SM088425

IT TAKES A VILLAGE PROJECT - ABSTRACT JORDAN COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CENTER (JCRC) AND SERENITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CORPORATION (SHWC) HAVE PARTNERED TOGETHER TO LAUNCH IT TAKES A VILLAGE, A FULL-SERVICE PROGRAM THAT THAT WILL INTEGRATE EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES AND INTERVENTIONS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CULTURAL AND TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR TRANSITION-AGED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 16-25) WHO EITHER HAVE, OR ARE AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING, SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. TARGET POPULATIONS: THE PROJECT WILL TARGET AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC AT/HIGH- RISK YOUTH AGED 16 TO 25 AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT RESIDE IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THESE COMMUNITIES: LEE HARVARD, COLLINWOOD, MT PLEASANT, AND DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND (EUCLID CORRIDOR), WHICH ARE HIGH POVERTY AREAS AND ARE CONSIDERED "HOT SPOTS" FOR VIOLENT CRIME. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS IS LOW-INCOME - 50% WILL LIVE 100% BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND 50% WILL LIVE 200% BELOW THE POVERTY LINE; 80% WILL BE LOW ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS, 80% WILL HAVE ONE OR MORE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, 50% WILL HAVE CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS, 100% WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE INCIDENT OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, AND 100% WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. STRATEGIES/INTERVENTIONS: THE PROJECT IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR PARTS. PART 1: UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY: SHWC WILL FORM A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND ACTION PLAN. PART 2: INCREASE ACCESS TO TRAUMA-INFORMED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES: IT TAKES A VILLAGE WILL: A) EXPAND ACCESS TO AN AFTERSCHOOL EXPRESSIVE ART THERAPY PROGRAM CALLED IMIND FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (AGE 16-19); B) FOR TRANSITIONAL-AGE YOUTH WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND YOUTH WITH EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND EDUCATIONAL DIFFICULTIES, IT TAKES A VILLAGE WILL CREATE AN INTENSIVE INPATIENT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM CALLED ASPIRE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE; C) IT TAKES A VILLAGE WILL FORM A SERVICE PROVIDER SUB-COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE REFERRAL PATHWAYS AND NAVIGATION SERVICES THROUGH PREVENTION SPECIALISTS; D) IT TAKES A VILLAGE WILL PROVIDE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION APPROACHES TO YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS; PART 3: TRAIN THE COMMUNITY: A) IT TAKES A VILLAGE WILL IDENTIFY RELEVANT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTIONS AND TRAIN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS; PART 4: COMMUNITY OUTREACH: IT TAKES A VILLAGE WILL USE THE POPULAR OPINION LEADERSHIP EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL TO RECRUIT POPULAR OPINION LEADERS TO REDUCE STIGMA AND ENCOURAGE YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO SEEK TREATMENT. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: GOAL 1: INCREASE CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY AND SCREEN YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND RELATED INTERVENTIONS. GOAL 2: INCREASE AWARENESS OF IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND REDUCE STIGMA THOUGH A COMPREHENSIVE OUTREACH STRATEGY; GOAL 3: INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT BY ESTABLISHING A REFERRAL NETWORK, ENROLLING MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS ON MEDICAID, EXPAND ACCESS TO IMIND, AN ART THERAPY PROGRAM, AND LAUNCHING ASPIRE, A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. GOAL 4: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF TRANSITION-AGED YOUTHS AND YOUNG ADULTS, GOAL 5: INCREASE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP BY DEVELOPING AND DISSEMINATING COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS AND PARTICIPATING IN EVALUATION EFFORTS; BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2028: 70% OF YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN IMIND AND ASPIRE PROGRAMMING WILL REPORT ABSTAINING FROM ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS AT SIX-MONTHS POST INTAKE. BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2028: 70% OF YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN IMIND AND ASPIRE PROGRAMMING WILL REPORT INCREASED FEELINGS OF SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS. PEOPLE SERVED: THE PROJECT WILL SERVE 755 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE GRANT WITH EVIDENCE-BASED, CULTURALLY AND TRAUMA INFORMED SUICIDE PREVENTION APPROACHES AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS (50 IN YEAR 1, 80 IN YEAR 2, AND 205 IN YEAR 3, AND 210 PER YEAR IN YEARS 4-5).