Friday, April 26, 2024
4/26/2024
Maryland’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) is proud to submit this proposal, Maryland Healthy Transitions (MD-HT), a program to raise awareness of mental health challenges faced by transition-aged youth (TAY) age 16-25, increase early identification of mental health conditions among TAY, and provide services and supports to meet the needs of TAY as they transition into adulthood. MD-HT, developed in full partnership with Anne Arundel County and the Mid-Shore Region of Maryland, and consumers, youth, and families and through the collaborative support of multiple local and state agencies and stakeholders, leverages the experience and solid infrastructure built within both Maryland’s child and adult systems and sets forth a commitment and partnership to increase awareness and early identification and improve outcomes for TAY with mental health needs. The target population is TAY ages 16-25 with serious mental health conditions (SMHC), defined as meeting the diagnostic criteria for serious emotional disturbance or serious mental illness. TAY at-risk for SMHC and their families, in addition to the general public, will also be targeted by outreach and education efforts in the communities. The data to support the need for this proposal are staggering. Nationally, youth and young adults with mental health challenges experience poorer outcomes and quality of life than their peers without mental illness. Research has consistently shown that TAY with mental health disorders experience significant challenges in completing school and adopting adult roles, compared to their peers. Multiple needs assessments and mental health plans from the proposed MD-HT counties cite a lack of services for TAY as a key area of need. To address these needs, we have selected the Transition-Aged Youth Maryland Model (TAY Maryland Model) curriculum for expanded implementation in Maryland. Our program goals are to promote awareness of mental health challenges among TAY, increase early identification of TAY with mental health needs, and to provide coordinated, evidence-based practices (EBPs) and supports to assist TAY in a successful transition into adulthood. As a result, we hope for TAY to be involved in age-appropriate activities, including employment, continuing education, and contributing to the community. An evaluation team will collect and report infrastructure performance and client-level outcome data. With our current TAY initiatives across the State and our nationally recognized expertise in the provision of high-fidelity EBPs of Supported Employment and Assertive Community Treatment, we are well-positioned to expand and enhance TAY services. MD-HT will serve 60 youth in year one, and approximately 80 youth per year thereafter for a total unduplicated count of 380. MD-HT will build on Maryland’s past and current TAY initiatives and history of infusing research-based approaches directly into the public mental health system, while ensuring successful implementation of the services and outreach in the two selected communities and expansion of a TAY system of care model that will continue to be sustained and replicated statewide.
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).
