Monday, May 6, 2024
5/6/2024
I’m Here: Youth Mental Health Awareness Training Program for Adults is a new application in response to SM-21-007 Mental Health Awareness Training Grants. Considering the increase in mental health concerns for youth and the impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, project I’m Here: Youth Mental Health Awareness Training Program for Adults intends to help youth between the ages of 12-18 cope with mental health issues by providing Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training to a racially and ethnically diverse group of adults within DeKalb, Kane, and Winnebago counties in Illinois. YHMFA trains adults to assist adolescents who are experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or is in crisis. Less than 1% of Illinois residents are trained in mental health first aid. By the end of the funding period, the project intends to: (1) train 5,250 individuals in DeKalb, Kane, and Winnebago counties in Youth Mental Health First Aid and (2) have at least 40% of participants trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid come from a historically marginalized background. The project will train 900 people in year 1, 1,200 people in years 2-4, and 750 people in year 5 by having four trainings per month. Each training must have a minimum of 5 participants and a maximum of 30 participants. Specifically, the project will target students and faculty at Northern Illinois University in year 1, community organizations in DeKalb, Kane, and Winnebago counties in year 2, staff, teachers, and administrators in middle and high schools in three counties in years 3 and 4, and the general public in the three counties in year 5. The success of the project will be evaluated by: (1) number of individuals trained, (2) increase in knowledge of mental health resources in the three counties, (3) increase in participants confidence in helping youth with a mental health challenge or crisis, and (4) participants’ practical application of techniques to assist youth during a mental health challenge or crisis. The project director (Harris-McKoy) conducts research about mental health and adolescent development, is a clinician, and has provided Youth Mental Health First Aid Training.
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).
