Saturday, August 13, 2022
8/13/2022
Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare proposes to expand and enhance services in the rural Nebraska counties of Cass and Washington, with special focus on school-based mental health services in eight school districts that serve 7,578 birth-21 children/youth. Region 6 System of Care proposes a hybrid approach of infrastructure development and delivery of services to ultimately connect 450 children/youth (birth-21) with severe emotional disturbances (SED) and their families to mental health services (75 in Y1 and 125/year thereafter). The proposal features a school-based single point of access for mental health services for the children/youth with SED and their families. Two districts within this rural geographic catchment have over 40% of students eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch. The area is experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals, fragmented services, and challenging 50-mile drives to services in urban Omaha. Once infrastructure has been established to increase capacity for population access and service use, activities will focus on connecting the population to services/interventions through early identification, so access and use can occur in the least restrictive, most normative environments that are clinically appropriate. Licensed personnel will screen 90% of the geographic catchment's school-age children and refer 100% of those identified through screening to appropriate Multi-Tiered System of Support tiers or community-based services. Continuous accountability and assessment activities will not only ensure sustainability of service integration, but also strengthen the cross-system infrastructure. Capacity for improved mental health outcomes is further boosted via a cadre of 8 Parent Mentors matched with 145 families with children facing SED challenges. In addition, 400 teachers, school personnel/administration, families and other stakeholders will participate in training on evidence-based practices and/or awareness regarding children's behavioral health. Workforce capacity for mental health services will be increased by integrating at least 6 post-doctoral fellows into the rural schools.
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).
