The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, with its large network of collaborators, will conduct a five-year Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Aging Among Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses (SMI). The goal is to conduct a coordinated program of research and knowledge translation activities that builds an evidence base on enhancing late life for adults with serious mental illnesses and promotes its use.
The proposed research portfolio is guided by two objectives: 1) generate new knowledge about the individual and environmental factors contributing to health disparities among adults aging with SMI (Project R-1), and new knowledge about promising state-level policies regulating the care of older individuals with particular relevance to aging adults with SMI ; and 2) develop and evaluate interventions that are likely to improve the health and community living of adults aging with SMI.
The National Resource Center (NRC) will conduct dissemination, training and technical assistance, activities to increase the use of research findings; objectives to: 1) conduct online dissemination activities; 2) develop/enhance academic and in-service training to help expand a workforce and support networks, competent to serve a diversity of older adults with SMI; 3) conduct intensive TA to improve cross sector strategic planning for services. Anticipated short term outcomes include increased knowledge, awareness, attitudes, skills, practices related to enhancing late life for people with SMI.
Products relevant to a range of stakeholders, including those ethnically and racially diverse, include manualized interventions and curricula; provider and supporter training programs, state Policy Academies; National Conference report; Taskforce on Workforce Strategies report; webinars, website, social media groups; briefs, presentations and publications.