Project Grant H79SM089780

WEST VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK - THE MOUNTAIN STATE PARENTS CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT NETWORK (MSP-CAN) STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK (SFN) WILL ENGAGE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS/PRIMARY CAREGIVERS WHO ARE RAISING CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED) AND/OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (COD). THE SFN SERVES ALL 55 COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE SFN HAS THE NEED FOR INCREASED CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT, SUSTAIN, AND IMPROVE EFFECTIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MORE EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO AND MEET THE NEEDS OF FAMILY MEMBER/PRIMARY CAREGIVERS WHO ARE RAISING CHILDREN, YOUTH, OR YOUNG ADULTS WITH SED/COD, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED OR UNDER-RESOURCED. PROGRAM GOALS ARE TO: 1) ENHANCE FAMILY/CAREGIVER PARTICIPATION, VOICE, LEADERSHIP, AND EMPOWERMENT STATEWIDE TO EFFECT SYSTEMS CHANGE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; 2) ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES OF FAMILY/CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROVIDERS AND FACILITATE ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROMISING FAMILY/CAREGIVER PEER DELIVERED PRACTICES; AND 3) EMPHASIZE AND BUILD FAMILY/CAREGIVER LEADERSHIP WITHIN FAMILY/CAREGIVER-CONTROLLED ORGANIZATIONS AND IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION WITH ALLIED STAKEHOLDERS. MSP-CAN IS A FAMILY-CONTROLLED ORGANIZATION, WITH A BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPRISED OF 67% FAMILY MEMBERS/PRIMARY CAREGIVERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY RAISING A CHILD WITH SED. PROJECT STAFF ARE THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, PARENT COORDINATOR, AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR. MSP-CAN HAS LETTERS OF COMMITMENT FROM THE WEST VIRGINIA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PLANNING COUNCIL; WV DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES' BUREAU FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; WIRT COUNTY FAMILY RESOURCES; AND THE WV ASSOCIATION FOR DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT. WEST VIRGINIA HAS HIGH RATES OF POVERTY (27.9% OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING BELOW POVERTY LEVEL AND 18.2% OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING FOOD STAMPS/SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS) AND LOW RATES OF EDUCATION ATTAINMENT (ONLY 24.8% OF THE POPULATION OVER 25 YEARS HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER) - WHICH COMBINE TO IMPACT THE PREVALENCE OF CHILDREN WITH SED (CENSUS 2020). WEST VIRGINIA RANKED 42ND OVERALL IN THE 2023 STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN AMERICA REPORT, INDICATING THAT YOUTH IN THE STATE HAVE A HIGHER PREVALENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND LOWER RATES OF ACCESS TO CARE. NEARLY 18% OF YOUTH IN WV EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE (MDE) IN THE PAST YEAR, AND 13% EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE SEVERE MDE (2023 STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN AMERICA). CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO EXPERIENCE ADVERSITY HAVE AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD FOR DEVELOPING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT MAY LEAD TO SED, SUCH AS ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AGGRESSION, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND MORE. (AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.) 27.8% OF HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH AND 31.9% OF MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH IN THE STATE REPORT THAT THEY HAVE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE (CDC 2021). WEST VIRGINIA FACES OTHER UNIQUE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SED FOR YOUTH, INCLUDING HIGH LEVELS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT, AND HOMELESSNESS. WV HAS THE HIGHEST DRUG OVERDOSE MORTALITY RATE IN THE NATION, AT 90.9 DEATHS PER 100,000 RESIDENTS, COMPARED TO 32.4 IN THE US (CDC 2021). IN 2022, THERE WERE 6,153 CHILDREN IN WV IN FOSTER CARE, AND 16,757 GRANDPARENTS IN WV RAISING GRANDCHILDREN IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD WITHOUT A PARENT PRESENT. (WV DHHR 2023). THE 2023 THERE WERE 1,416 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN WV, INCLUDING 161 PEOPLE IN FAMILIES AND 125 INDIVIDUAL YOUTH (US HUD). KEY ACTIVITIES OF THE SFN ARE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY ADVOCACY & SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES RAISING CHILDREN WITH SED; ENHANCE FAMILY VOICE, EMPOWERMENT, AND PARTICIPATION IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POLICY, PLANNING, AND IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA; AND INCREASE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP IN WORKFORCE AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO AND AVAILABILITY OF EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROMISING PRACTICES THAT ARE HOLISTIC, FAMILY/CAREGIVER-DRIVEN, AND TRAUMA INFORMED. MSP-CAN WILL COLLECT AND REPORT DATA ON THE NUMBER OF