Wednesday, April 30, 2025
4/30/2025
WJCS Mental Health Awareness Training Program - This proposed project, WJCS Mental Health Awareness Training Program, will utilize the evidence-based Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training to provide in-person training designed to increase the community’s capacity to help individuals appropriately and safely respond to individuals with mental disorders, particularly individuals with SMI and/or SED. The individuals to receive mental health awareness training include 920 teachers and school personnel; 325 law enforcement and emergency services personnel; and 420 families, caregivers, and service providers in contact with armed services personnel, veterans, and their families. The population of focus for which the training is intended to help are youth, adults and veterans who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) living in low-income communities of Westchester County that have been disproportionately affected by the trauma stemming from COVID-19 and systematic racial disparities. Westchester County, lying just north of New York City has the greatest income inequality in NY outside of Manhattan. In Westchester, the pandemic has taken a devastating toll on youth, families and adults. The short- and long-term impacts of this experience and the ongoing pandemic are wide-ranging and severe, particularly for children who have lost a parent or a caregiver. The pandemic further exacerbated and sharply exposed these systemic racial disparities long faced by communities of color at the same time social unrest was peaking throughout the nation in protest of the police brutality directed towards Black men and women. Goal #1: Increase the ability of Westchester County teachers and school professionals, law enforcement and emergency responders and families, caregivers and service providers in contact with armed services personnel, veterans and their families to recognize signs and symptoms of mental disorders, particularly serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbances (SED), to decrease the stigma associated with receiving services for mental disorders surrounding the population of focus for which the training is meant to help. Objective a) Total Number of Unduplicated Individuals to be trained in MHFA, YMHFA and CIT with Grant Funds: 300 Year 1; 300 Year 2; 335 Year 3; 335 Year 4; 335 Year 5; Total 1,665. Goal #2: Increase access to MH services in Westchester County for the population of focus, especially those with SMI or SED, by utilizing steering committee made up of community representatives who can serve as 'credible messengers' and establish linkages with MH agencies and facilitate referrals of individuals with the signs or symptoms of mental illness to appropriate services. Objective a) Each year hold 4 steering committee meetings with at least 6 community partners representing target population to focus on access and linkages to MH. Objective b) Each year establish 5 new community linkages for school personnel working with our target to expand referrals for individuals with signs or symptoms of mental illness to appropriate services. Objective c) Each year establish 5 new community linkages for law enforcement and emergency service personnel working with our target population to expand referrals for individuals with signs or symptoms of mental illness to appropriate services. Objective d) Each year establish 5 new community linkages for veterans, families of veterans and veteran service personnel to expand referrals for individuals with signs or symptoms of mental illness to appropriate services. Goal #3: Increase the ability of MHFA, YMHFA and CIT participants in Westchester to make referrals to further MH evaluation and/or available community resources in Westchester. Objective d) Total Number of Unduplicated Individuals referred to further MH evaluation and/or community resources with Grant Funds: 150 Year 1; 150 Year 2; 177 Year 3; 177 Year 4; 177 Year 5; Total 831.
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).