Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
DISC Village, Inc. will expand capacity of Evidence-based Prevention Education and Youth Counseling services utilizing qualified professionals in schools to decrease symptomology of trauma exposure from Hurricane Michael. DISC Village, Inc. will provide universal strategies to increase awareness of mental health related challenges for school administrators and personnel to encourage youth to engage in services that meet individualized behavioral health needs. An estimated 40,000 students are actively enrolled in the public school systems within Leon and Wakulla Counties for the 2019-2020 school year. In the months following Hurricane Michael, these Districts saw a surplus of 300 new students relocating as a direct result of the storm. These students demonstrated challenges with mental wellness brought on by the experience of a traumatic event including, but not limited to, fear, anxiety, social-disconnectedness, and depression, all while trying to navigate a new community and school setting. The expansion of Prevention Services will include Evidence-based education models that incorporate strategies aligned with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) including psychoeducation about reactions to trauma, relaxation training, stress or trauma exposure, and social problem-solving. Prevention Services’ goal is to reduce symptoms related to PTSD and trauma exposure among students. Pre and post interviews will be conducted by staff, incorporating screening tools identifying anxiety, fear, depression, and self-esteem. Students will complete activities to build social skills, enhance resiliency to stress, and identify ways to advocate for peer and caregiver support. The expansion of Youth Counseling services will include targeted therapeutic mental health counseling utilizing Evidence-based modalities of Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Youth Counseling services’ goal is to enhance self-sufficiency and self-esteem, and promote the resolution of the underlying challenges with emotional wellness among students. A comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment will be conducted by staff to determine need for services. Students will collaborate with counselors to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that identifies personal strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences. Individualized goals and objectives will be addressed in weekly one-on-one sessions. The Organization is projected to serve 375 students annually and approximately 5,500 individuals during the lifetime of the project to include students in both Prevention and Youth Counseling Services, school faculty and staff, and community members.
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).
