Sunday, April 20, 2025
4/20/2025
Rural Northern Border Region Outreach Program - Application Organization Information: Healthy Acadia 75 State Street, Ellsworth, Maine, 04605 Community-based organization healthyacadia.org Designated Project Director and Other Key Personnel Information: Caroline Bloss, Recovery Projects Director, 201-403-3627, caroline.bloss@healthyacadia.org Tracy Crossman, Housing and Community Resource Navigator, 207-801-1175, tracy.crossman@healthyacadia.org Rural Northern Border Region Outreach Program: Project Title: The HEART Project Project Goals: (1) expand existing regional Consortium; (2) create new behavioral health workforce development program; (3) expand health navigation programming to include broader population; and (4) deliver education and training to providers and community members. Project Objectives: (1) broaden focus of ongoing regional work; (2) address shortage of entry-level behavioral health workers; (3) support clients/patients accessing services; (4) address stigma, racism, and other biases in organizations and communities. Proposed Service Area: Hancock and Washington counties in Maine Target Population: The overall target population are individuals affected by substance use disorder and/or mental health disorders. Focus Area: The HEART Project’s focus area is to expand and enhance the delivery of behavioral health services and improve health outcomes in two rural, northeastern counties of Maine, Washington and Hancock counties, also known as Downeast Maine. Consortium Member Partnerships: Mount Desert Island Hospital - hospital Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. - community health and social service organization Eastport Health Care, Inc. - Federally Qualified Health Center Project Activities: The HEART Project will build new pathways into behavioral health careers by promoting opportunities in the field and putting credentials within reach for more people; provide care navigation to people seeking treatment and supportive services; and make training and educational opportunities broadly available to providers and community members to de-stigmatize mental health treatment. Expected Outcomes: Our expected outcomes include a stronger, more robust and sustained Consortium of partners committed to addressing regional behavioral health needs long into the future; increased numbers of community members entering the behavioral health workforce, enabling partners to better meet their hiring needs, along with increased capacity to address behavioral health needs across frontline community workers; expanded and enhanced community health navigation services across the region, leading to improved health and other outcomes for vulnerable community members experiencing behavioral health challenges; increased understanding and skills around behavioral health, health equity, cultural competency, and related issues among clinicians and community members, leading to improved outcomes for communities members; and the sustaining of this important work through our planning and sustainability efforts. Capacity to Serve Rural Underserved Populations in the NBRC Region: Consortium comprises rural health care organizations and a two-county public health agency with vast experience serving this rural region. Partners are expert in delivering resources, treatment, and other interventions in this portion of the NBRC Region. Organizations at every level of the Consortium have the structural, organizational, professional, and financial capacity to carry out the work of the project. 100% of the geographic area served is rural, and all partners are located in the region. Funding Opportunity Notification: Healthy Acadia learned of this funding opportunity through grants.gov. Funding Preference: Funding Preference Requested: Qualification 1: Health Professional Shortage Area
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).