Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
Southeast Texas is comprised of significant mental health needs, highly rural and underserved areas, and a culturally diverse population. Texas’ unique geography and population characteristics present challenges for delivery of all healthcare related services. Access to mental health services in Texas is a significant challenge. A major barrier for Texas families in accessing treatment is the limited behavioral health system capacity. Across the State of Texas, over 80% of the counties are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). The partner sites included in the current application are both located within designated mental health HPSAs. Clover Educational Consulting Group (Clover) proposes to bring evidence-based mental health training to college faculty and staff, professionals serving college student Veterans, college student peer leaders, providers and staff who work with juveniles on probation, and rural behavioral health service recipients within the highly culturally diverse region. The trainings will focus on serving youth and adults at high risk of mental health disorders in southeast Texas, to include college students, college student Veterans, juveniles on probation, and rural behavioral health service recipients. The identified populations of focus were chosen due to their high risk of mental health symptomatology and suicide and the underserved nature of the populations. Clover has developed collaborative partnerships with 2 local agencies in the region who have committed to hosting trainings, assisting with the response to mental health issues, and to improving the coordination of services to the populations of focus. These organizations are the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Harris County Juvenile Probation Department. Each organization has attested, via a Letter of Commitment, to their support for the project and has described in the LOC how they will facilitate the recruitment of a sufficient number of individuals to be trained. The three goals of the project are as follows: Goal 1- Improve the capacity of college faculty, staff, and student peer leaders to identify and respond to signs and symptoms of MH issues in college students, including student Veterans, in Texas Rio Grande Valley; Goal 2- Improve the capacity of local providers, community members, and first responders within the community to identify and respond to signs and symptoms of MH issues in rural populations, including rural Veterans; and Goal 3: Improve the capacity of juvenile probation staff to identify and respond to signs and symptoms of MH issues in juveniles on probation in Harris County. If funded, the proposed project will provide training for 1,040 individuals over the three-year grant term.
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).