Maryland Chain of Care: Mental Health Awareness Training Project - The University of Maryland Extension’s Maryland Chain of Care (MCC) project will provide Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) using the MHFA program to individuals affiliated with (1) peer recovery community organizations and (2) human service referral agencies and libraries. The purpose of the project is to train individuals to prepare them how to recognize and appropriately and safely respond to individuals with mental disorders, particularly individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbances (SED). The measurable outcome of the project has been identified as training 250 individuals in peer recovery, human service agencies, and librarians per year to reach our 5-year goal of 1250 individuals. We target peer recovery community organizations across Maryland and human service organizations and libraries, serving Western and Central Maryland (Baltimore City, Garret, Allegany, Washington, Baltimore, Howard, Prince George’s Counties). In Collaboration with Voices of Hope, Office of Consumer Advocates, Consumer United Way of Central Maryland, and public libraries, the program goals and activities for the next five years will include: Goal 1 Increase the capacity of individuals in peer recovery community organizations, human service organizations, and libraries to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders, and to safely respond to by training them with the evidenced-based program MHFA. Objective 1.1. By September 29, 2022, 16 individuals in mental health and human service professions will have completed MHFA instructors training. (16 each in Y2-5, a total of 80 instructors) Objective 1.2. By September 29, 2022, 150 individuals from peer recovery community organizations, 40 human service organizations, and 60 librarians will have completed the MHFA program. (250 each in Y2-5, total of 1,250 individuals) Goal 2 Increase the number of referrals for individuals with the signs or symptoms of mental illness to appropriate services Objective 2.1. By September 29, 2022, the referral mechanism, including the list of mental health services and resources using pre-existing relationships, referral assessment, tracking databases will used to make referrals for 500 individuals. (500 each in Y 2-5, total: 2,500) Objective 2.2. By September 29, 2022, resources and supports of mental health services for the population of focus will be distributed to 1000 individuals. (1,000 each in Y 2-5, total: 5,000) The project will increase the number of trained individuals with MHFA, strengthen the collaboration and coordination among professionals, and increase the information dissemination and referrals to mental health services.
