Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
MHAASA proposes the "PUEDO", meaning "I can" Project, directed to youth of 16-25 years of age with SED/SMI, including moderate intellectual disability, and their families/caregivers from the San Juan and Ponce, Puerto Rico catchment areas. Using the Wraparound Strategies EBP and trauma-informed approaches, 500 participants will be given expanded access to quality treatment and support services to promote their self-sufficiency and recovery through this 5-year grant. Outreach will be done through promotion and awareness campaigns and strengthened collaboration with the Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare, Special Education systems and community support services providers and support groups, representatives of which will participate in an Advisory Council with youth/family peers to guide project planning and implementation. The two catchment areas are urban with about 500,000 total populations, 14% unemployment, 40-50% poverty rates, high criminal and family/youth violence, poor transportation, limited professionals to meet demands, and other barriers. Two licensed and experienced treatment providers are the MHAASA Rio Piedras MH Center for Children and Adolescents in San Juan and the Ponce Behavioral Health Clinic in Ponce, which will maximize third-party resources for treatment. Training will be given to project and collaborating partner entities' staff on SED/SMI, the Wraparound EBP with System of Care values and principles, referral procedures and related topics. The Spanish Traumatic Events Screening Inventory-Parent Report screening will be administered to identify youth who have trauma experiences. The Wraparound EBP has four phases of assessment, individualized planning, plan implementation and transition to recovery. Project goals include expanded access to EB treatment and support services for healthy transition to adulthood; improved cross-system collaboration, for increased service capacity related to transition aged youth with SED/SMI through infrastructure and organizational improvements at state and local levels; and planning and implementing public awareness and cross-system training to reduce stigma and increase support for SED/SMI youth/young adults by community, business and education leaders. Objectives include achieving self-management of behaviors, improved social relations and functioning, and self-sufficiency through education/employment in at least 85% of participants completing the EBP, as well as reducing risky and unhealthy ATOD use and sexual practices for a healthy transition to adult life. These will be achieved by integrating family and community support, linking youth/families to housing, basic living, education, vocational, peer support, social/economic benefits, legal and other service needs based on Individualized Care Plans. An experienced Project Director will lead the professional team to implement the Action Plan. A local Evaluator will carry out process, outcome and EB fidelity evaluations, results used to improve project operations. A total of $1 million per year is requested.
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).
