Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Building on the expertise of Morehouse School of Medicine and our large and diverse community of AA stakeholders, scientists, and educators, The Center of Excellence (CoE) for Behavioral Health Disparities - African Americans will use innovative, evidence-based, culturally aligned systems-change, workforce development, technology transfer, and collaborative national partnerships to eliminate disparities and promote behavioral health and health equity for African-Americans. Our audience of focus includes the range of behavioral health (BH) leaders and practitioners, who often struggle to bridge cultural divides and make services more accessible, acceptable, and effective. We propose serving 3,000 practitioners a year, 15,000 people over 5 years. Strategies and interventions will include providing multi-modal training, technical assistance, education and resources to system leaders and practitioners, focusing on health equity through systems change, engagement and retention, eliminating bias, and creating welcoming and inclusive environments. Goal 1: Increase the capacity of BH systems to provide outreach, engage, retain, and effectively care for B/African-American (B/AA) people through: (1a) a multi-modal needs-assessment identifying challenges and opportunities; (1b) systems-change initiatives with our Black Stakeholders Engagement Council; (1c) development, delivery, and (1d) dissemination of a Systems Transformation Learning Community focusing on social determinants of health; (1e) Leadership Institute giving 100 participants knowledge and skills for addressing disparities; and (1f) access to 50-80 new tools, resources and modules on engagement and retention care for B/AA people per year. Goal 2: Improve dissemination of up-to-date information and culturally appropriate evidenced-based practices and approaches for B/AA people, through (2a) annotated listing of emerging best practices for B/AA people; (2b) a website section on EBP for B/AA people; (2c) an outline course addressing effects of historical trauma and everyday racism on BH; (2d) 45 webinars on practical application of EBPs; (2e) quarterly role-specific implementation affinity calls with practitioners; and (2f) a monthly e-newsletter. Goal 3: Increase workforce development opportunities focused on implicit bias, social determinants of health, structural racism, and other factors that impede high-quality care for B/AA people, through: (3a) a strategic report on infusing knowledge of B/AA BH considerations into academic and job training curricula; (3b) 5 learning communities on prescribing for B/AA patients; (3c) 10 interactive trainings and (3d) an online course on recognizing and addressing implicit bias; (3e) a 10 podcast series on stigma reduction and the impact of racism on health; (3f) annual outreach to higher education to promote career paths for potential B/AA BH practitioners; and (3h) guidelines for creating welcoming and inclusive service environments. Goal 4: Increase collaboration between CoE and SAMHSA TTA providers, to infuse culturally appropriate information on B/AA people in all SAMHSA-funded TTA Centers, through (4a) presentations, coordination calls, and collaborative projects that engage all SAMHSA TTA providers.
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).
