San Fernando Valley Community Healing Project - To improve mental health outcomes in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area 2, Dignity Health - Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Center for Healthier Communities (CHC) will increase the capacity and ability of professionals in social, public, and community services and families to recognize, and respond to individuals with SMIs or SEDs who are homeless or experience housing instability and refer them to resources that promote mental health. Homelessness is a significant public health crisis in SPA 2. In a recent survey, homelessness increased 22%, and 16.5% of homeless individuals reported having a SMI. Further, 35% of individuals who have difficulty affording housing, also faced difficulty affording health services and medication. Although the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provides mental health services, they need additional support to close gaps in access to care for those in high-risk populations, like individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Therefore, the Northridge Hospital Foundation, which provides oversight of CHC is applying for the DHHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration FY 2021 Mental Health Awareness Training Grants (MHAT) FOA# SM-21-007 CFDA# 93.243 to support The San Fernando Valley (SFV) Community Healing Project. Through the SFV Community Healing Project, the CHC will partner with the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) SFV, and SFV Community Mental Health Center, Inc. to conduct a combination of 191 sessions of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)/Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), and provide all trainees orientation to the One Degree referral platform (11 sessions in Year 1, 35 sessions in Year 2, 45 sessions in Year 3, 50 sessions in Year 4, and 50 sessions in Year 5). We will reach a total of 1,898 individuals through these trainings (98 trainees in Year 1, 220 trainees in Year 2, 460 trainees in Year 3, 560 trainees in Year 4, and 560 trainees in Year 5). Through this collaborative effort, we will train homeless service providers, security officers, health and mental health professionals, support staff, families, and community members to better identify and respond to individuals experiencing SMIs or SEDs who are homeless or facing housing instability and connect them to local mental health resources
