Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
Rhode Island Project AWARE The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), in partnership with their Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF), proposes to work with: Providence, Pawtucket and Woonsocket school districts, impacting 38,795 students, to increase awareness of MH issues among school-aged youth; provide training for school personnel and other adults who interact with school aged youth to detect and respond to MH issues, and connect their families to needed services. In Rhode Island, one in five (19%) children ages 6-17 has a diagnosable mental health problem and one in 10 (10%) has a significant functional impairment. RIDE, DCYF, and its partners will build strong collaborative partnerships to oversee BH efforts in LEAs who serve school-aged youth with mental disorders. The collective impact of our state partnership will be mirrored by a similar partnership within the three LEAs, in partnership with local community MH treatment provider agencies, to ensure that school prevention and intervention programs and services are linked to existing resources and/or new capacity to support students is created. The following goals will support the process: Goal 1 Through programs, policies and system changes RIDE, DCYF and its partners will increase access to culturally competent and developmentally appropriate school- and community-based BH services, particularly for children and youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) or Serious Mental Illness (SMI) for the 38,795 students and ultimately the 142,949 RI school aged youth statewide. Goal 2 RIDE, DCYF, the 3 LEAs, along with partners, will have school-based MH programs staffed by behavioral health specialists to screen, provide early intervention, and address any ongoing MH needs of children with symptoms consistent with a SMI or SED. Goal 3 RIDE, DCYF, the 3 LEAs, along with partners, will see an increase in awareness and identification of MH issues and the promotion of positive MH. Goal 4 RIDE, DCYF, the 3 LEAs, along with partners, will have the capacity to connect families, schools, and communities to increase engagement and involvement in planning and implementing school and community BH and prevention programs for school-aged youth. Goal 5 RIDE, DCYF and partners will have the capacity to support LEAs in helping school-aged youth develop skills that will promote resilience and promote pro-social behaviors; avert development of mental and behavioral health disorders; and prevent youth violence. Goal 6 Schools will have the ability to immediately identify students and respond to their needs if they exhibit behavioral/psychological signs of a severity indicating the need for clinical intervention. Goal 7 Systems will be established to expand and sustain BH services and supports for school-aged youth beyond the Project AWARE funding period.
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).
