Tuesday, May 13, 2025
5/13/2025
UC Crisis Awareness Response and de-Escalation Support (UC CARES) - The proposed “University of Cincinnati Crisis Awareness Response and de-Escalation Support (UC CARES)” project team will train 360 undergraduate and graduate students and 90 faculty in Mental Health First Aid, SBIRT, and ICAT de-escalation over a five-year period. The team will also create, test, and disseminate iBook training materials comprised of elements of SBIRT and ICAT de-escalation appropriate for non-clinical use. These materials will be used in all trainings, supplemented with specialty MHFA training in Higher Education for faculty and staff and Public Safety for Criminal Justice students. At UC Main Campus, there are more than 3,500 full and part time faculty and over 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students; 50% of undergraduates are female, 89% age 24 and under, 74% White, 7% Black/African American, 4% Asian, 4% are two or more races, and 3% Latinx. At satellite campuses, Blue Ash and Clermont, total count includes 600 full and part time faculty, with over 12,300 undergraduate students. Blue Ash has 60% female, 84% ages 24 and under, 63% White, 19% Black/African American, 5% Asian, 5% two or more races, and 5% Latinx. Clermont 53% female, 78% White, 7% Black/African American, 4% two or more races and 3% Latinx. Project goals include: 1) Expand the capacity of the University of Cincinnati to identify, support, and refer to local and national services individuals exhibiting the signs and symptoms of serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, and/or other mental disorders; 2) Decrease emergency incidents on campus by strengthening pathways to care with improved supports and referrals by trained UC CARES First Aiders; 3) Increase competence of current and future correctional practitioners and public safety officers to recognize individuals with mental health disorders and employ de-escalation techniques to respond to individuals in crisis; 4) Develop, test, and disseminate training materials comprised of adapted ICAT and SBIRT practices with additional referral procedures and resources, complementing MHFA; and 5) Evaluate and disseminate findings related to the effectiveness of MHFA training combined with adapted ICAT and SBIRT practices. A stakeholder advisory board comprised of university and community leaders in behavioral health and crisis response will guide activities. The objective is for 90% students to achieve 80% or higher on knowledge measures. Over the term, at least 95% of Criminal Justice students will complete a wellness plan. UC faculty and staff will receive specialized MHFA for Higher Education. In the first year, the team will train 30 general students, 10 Criminal Justice students, and 10 faculty and staff in the UC CARES campus trainings or course. This annual training goal will double in years 2 through 5 to 100 trainees per year, with the primary objectives for trainees to increase referral behavior by 30% and for at least 80% of trainees to use one or more components of the MHFA, SBIRT, or ICAT de-escalation models. Further, we aim to reduce overall crisis responses incidents on campus by 20% from baseline measures. The team will disseminate findings in conference and peer-reviewed publications in Years 2 and 5.
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).