Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Asian Association of Utah (AAU) proposes to implement the Refugee Mental Health Awareness Training (RMHAT) program to educate refugee communities and the individuals who serve them. The program strives to train individuals to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, particularly serious mental illness (SMI) and/or serious emotional disturbance (SED), and to provide those experiencing mental health illnesses with appropriate resources. The RMHAT program will also train additional individuals such as law enforcement, school personnel, emergency first responders, and community members on how to identify those with a mental health disorder, employ de-escalation techniques in a crisis situation, and educate individuals on what community resources are available. To implement this project, evidence-based practices will be utilized for those receiving mental health first aid training and for those who are seeking mental health services. RMHAT program staff will be certified as a Mental Health First Aid Trainer and conduct trainings to educate refugees, service providers, and community members on how to recognize and identify individuals who are experiencing a mental health disorder. The Mental Health First Aid training is listed as an evidence-based program by SAMHSA’s National Registry, and is a standardized psychoeducational program developed to empower the public to approach, support, and refer individuals experiencing mental illness. One goal of this project is to increase the capacity of refugee community members to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and/or SED among community members. It is anticipated that 22 refugee community leaders will participate in the training each year, leading to a total of 66 refugee community leaders trained throughout the lifetime of the project (3 years). In addition, 330 refugee adults and youth will also have participated in this training in one year, thus bringing the total to 990 refugee adults and youth trained throughout the project’s lifetime. Another goal is to increase the capacity of service providers and others who work with refugee communities to recognize signs and symptoms of SMI/SED individuals. 11 organizations will be trained each year, thus bringing the total to 33 organizations throughout the lifetime of the project. The third goal is to increase the capacity of refugee communities and service providers to make referrals for mental health services. It is anticipated that there will be a referral system set up within four months of start-up time for clients to be referred to the AAU Community Wellness Program. The fourth goal is to decrease negative attitudes towards mental health issues within refugee communities; it is anticipated that half the community leaders (11 each year, 33 throughout the project’s lifetime) who attend the training will show a decrease in negative stigmas. The last goal is to decrease SMI/SED symptoms by providing mental health services to unfunded clients. It is anticipated that 70% of clients will report a decrease in psychiatric symptoms within 12 months of services, and that 85% of clients will be enrolled into a benefit program within 6 months of services.
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).
