Wednesday, May 1, 2024
5/1/2024
MU proposes to expand our existing, extensive training infrastructure to provide mental health awareness training to individuals including school personnel; youth leaders in high school and institutions of higher education including those studying criminal justice-related topics; law enforcement and other emergency first responders; veterans assistance programs; armed services members and their families, faith communities, and community coalitions on how to appropriately and safely identify and respond to individuals with mental health disorders. Additionally, training for first responders, law enforcement, and others who respond to crisis situations will include how to employ de-escalation techniques particularly with individuals experiencing Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and/or Serious Emotional Disease (SED). MU will collaborate with community coalitions to provide ‘Train the Trainer” opportunities to assist with sustainability of the training program and to support expanding the training to more remote and underserved areas. Collaboratives will also be leveraged to expand access to resource information regarding assistance with severe mental health issues. MU’s proposed Appalachian Mental Health Awareness Training Hub (MHAT Hub) will provide training to 2,700 individuals throughout the West Virginia (WV) Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH) Region 5, which is the most populous region in WV and includes the following counties: Boone, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam, and Wayne Counties. The overall purpose of the MHAT Hub is to create a model that can adapted throughout WV to increase the effectiveness and safety of services provided to those experiencing mental health issues enhancing the safety and efficacy of services provided out of the direct care setting. Goals will include: Goal 1. Increase number of individuals (such as: school personnel; youth leaders in high school and institutions of higher education including those studying criminal justice-related topics; law enforcement and other emergency first responders; professionals serving veterans; armed services members and their families, faith communities, and community coalitions) able to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and appropriately respond, particularly SMI and/or SED. Goal 2. Train emergency first responders including law enforcement, individuals serving veterans and military personnel to identify persons with a mental health disorder and effectively employ crisis de-escalation techniques. Goal 3. Enhance current and establish new linkages with school and/or community-based mental health-related agencies to refer individuals with the signs or symptoms of mental illness to appropriate services.
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).
