Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Counseling and School Psychology program PROJECT Bridging the Way proposes to train school personnel from districts and interested parents, as well as undergraduate clinical teachers in the UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration in early mental health detection and appropriate referrals. As the largest Hispanic Serving Institution in Texas and the second largest in the United States, UTRGV and its School of Medicine have teaching and research sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), located along the US/Mexico border. Eighty percent of Texas counties, including the RGV counties of Hidalgo and Cameron, are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HRSA). Section 38.351 of the Texas Education Code mandates mental health prevention and intervention training for state school districts. Section 21.044 (c-1) of the Texas Education Code requires individuals seeking a teaching certificate as part of a bachelor's degree to receive instruction regarding mental health, substance abuse, and youth suicide. Both mandates have approved the use of the evidence-based program, Youth Mental Health First Aid. In addition, project personnel will offer trainings on the evidence-based Mental Health First Aid to assist in the identification of adults or colleagues who may be experiencing the same kinds of issues. Through training school personnel and future teachers in Youth Mental Health First Aid, PROJECT Bridging the Way will accomplish the following goals: 1) increase the capacity of clinical teacher candidates and K-12 school personnel, including school law enforcement, to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness and/or emotional disturbances in youth; 2) increase the capacity of school district human resources/personnel staff and administrators to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness and/or emotional disturbances in school district staff; 3) increase the ability of clinical teacher candidates and K-12 school personnel, including school law enforcement, to refer youth with potential mental health issues to an experienced, licensed mental health provider organization; and 4) increase the ability of school district human resources/personnel staff and administrators to refer the staff with potential mental health issues to an experienced, licensed mental health provider organization. As part of accomplishing these goals, PROJECT Bridging the Way will meet the following objectives by the end of the grant period (2026): 1) deliver the Youth Mental Health First Aid training to clinical teacher candidates and school personnel, including school law enforcement, and Mental Health First Aid to human resources/personnel staff and administrators for a total of 4,625 unduplicated individuals; 2) develop written and electronic materials for 4625 project participants, including school law enforcement, about resources that are available in the community for individuals with mental health issues; and by October 2021, 3) the project team will create a system to track referrals to mental health resources and services among people with mental health issues.
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).
