Thursday, March 13, 2025
3/13/2025
The University of Georgia’s Connect Project (Connecting Extension with Communities to Reduce Mental Health Stigma) is a mental health awareness initiative that will expand the University of Georgia Extension’s ability to support people with mental health challenges, especially in rural communities, by offering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainings for adults and youth to UGA Extension employees, volunteers, and local community members across Georgia. The MHFA curriculum provides everyday people the skills to identify and help someone who is experiencing a mental health challenge. Through the Connect Project, the UGA Extension network, the Institute on Human Development and Disability, and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Georgia will partner to train 360 Extension employees/volunteers and rural community members across Georgia over a five-year period. The project objective are as follows: (1) Expand the current capacity of individuals certified as instructors to deliver MHFA; (2) Increase the number of Extension staff and volunteers trained in MHFA and the competence of these staff and volunteers to recognize and respond to mental health challenges in youth and adults; (3) Increase the number of rural community members trained in MHFA and the competence of these community members to recognize and respond to mental health challenges in youth and adults; (4) Increase community awareness of mental health issues in order to reduce stigma around mental illness and treatment of mental health issues through media campaigns; and (5) Develop an online database of vetted mental health resources (national, state, and regional).
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).