Friday, May 2, 2025
5/2/2025
Improving Mental Health Awareness in the Piedmont - Improving Mental Health Awareness in the Piedmont will provide evidence-based training to a diverse population of personnel to increase the capacity of those able to identify the signs and symptoms of mental illness and refer those individuals for service while reducing stigma. Piedmont Community Services covers the geographical area of the counties of Henry, Franklin, Patrick and the city of Martinsville. It is located in southside Virginia. This project has three goals: Goal 1: Increase the capacity of various personnel in the Piedmont Community Services catchment area which includes the counties of Franklin, Henry and Patrick and the city of Martinsville to be better able to identify the signs and symptoms of mental illness, how to safely de-escalate a crisis situation involving an individual with a mental illness and identify resources available in the community for individuals with a mental illness by providing Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) SafeTalk, Signs of Suicide for middle and high school students and other training resources developed by SAMHSA or other HHS agencies. Those trained will include school personnel, emergency first responders, staff at Department of Social Services agencies, law enforcement, families of active military and veterans, college students with majors in social work and nursing, and the general public. Objective 1a: By September 29, 2022, school personnel (100) in Henry County Schools, and Franklin County Schools; EMS workers (100), Department of Social Services personnel (40); Piedmont Community Services personnel (40), 100% of nursing students (60) at the community college and social work students (30) and nursing students (30) at Ferrum College , Law Enforcement (20), parents of SED and SMI children (40), and the general public (60) in MHFA for youth and/or adults as well as middle and high school students (300) in Signs of Suicide provided by PCS and/or HCDPS trainers. Objective 1b: By September 29, 2022, at least 100 people will have participated in ASIST, and/or SafeTalk provided by Piedmont Community Services trainers. Objective 1c: By September 29, 2022, law enforcement and Department of Safety personnel (60) will be trained in the CIT program. Objective 1d: By September 29, 2026, PCS Prevention and/or HCDPS staff will have trained more than 2500 personnel in MHFA for youth and/or adults including 400 Public Safety workers and more than 160 law enforcement officers and 1500 will be trained in ASIST, SafeTalk, CIT, Signs of Suicide in the counties of Patrick, Henry, and Franklin and the city of Martinsville. Goal 2: Increase the capacity of trained members of the Piedmont Community Services catchment area which includes the counties of Franklin, Henry and Patrick and the city of Martinsville to refer appropriate individuals to services for behavioral health assessment and treatment. Objective 2a: By September 29, 2022, written and electronic materials that contain a list of identified resources and supports to assist the population of focus, particularly those with SMI and/or SED will be distributed to members of the community who have been trained in Mental Health First Aid as well as those trained in CIT, SafeTALK and ASIST. Objective 2b: By September 29, 2026, trained personnel will have referred 85% of the people that meet the signs and/or symptoms of people needing Mental Health resources. Goal 3: Reduce stigma to seek help for mental illness throughout the Piedmont Community Services catchment area through media campaigns and information dissemination. Objective 3a: By September 29, 2022 more than 20% of the target population will have seen PSAs, billboards, and/or brochures about mental health stigma in effort to increase mental health promotion.
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).