Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
LifeWorks Trauma-Informed Community-Based Counseling Program will use evidence-based and evidence-informed treatment models, Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for Adolescents (ITCT-A) and Trauma-Focused Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), to help 709 unduplicated transition-age youth (16-21) address mental health needs related to trauma during this five-year project. The project will specifically target transition-age youth in Austin/Travis County, Texas, with complex trauma histories related to intersecting experiences of homelessness, abuse, and involvement with foster care and/or juvenile justice systems. In Fiscal Year 2020, LifeWorks served 504 youth ages 16-21 with counseling and housing services. Of those served, 90% reported experiencing trauma and 44% a history of abuse. Of these youth, 59% were female, 37% male, 3% transgender, and 1% other. Racial and ethnic identities were 46% Hispanic/Latino, 31% Black, 15% white, and 9% more than one race. Further, 97% had incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, 38% had foster care involvement, and 27% reported substance abuse within the past six months. Nonprofit agencies in the City of Austin and Travis County have come together in a community-wide initiative to end youth homelessness. LifeWorks Trauma-Informed Community-Based Counseling Program is a critical element in a community system that ensures youth homelessness will become rare, brief, and non-recurring. ITCT-A and TF-CBT are flexible and individualizable treatment models that have been shown to be effective at reducing mental health symptoms in multi-traumatized youth. Both modalities support integration with other supportive services to address additional issues (e.g., experiences of homelessness or substance use disorder) that may exacerbate mental health challenges. LifeWorks will also utilize Peer Support to provide treatment support and to help youth increase community connections. These services will help prevent youth homelessness and support youth who have transitioned out of homelessness recover from trauma and maintain housing stability. Project goals are: #1 Increase access to trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatment, #2 Reduce effects of trauma by providing evidence-based treatment, #3 Increase social connectedness to support long-term recovery, and #4 Promote housing stability among transition-age youth recovering from trauma. Measurable objectives include increasing participants' coping skills and social supports, reducing symptoms of psychological distress, increasing engagement in counseling through Peer Support, training community providers to use trauma-informed approaches, and supporting housing stability among participants co-enrolled in LifeWorks Rapid Rehousing. The agency will leverage decades of experience providing mental health and housing services to youth, licensed clinical staff, existing partnerships with other community providers, and evidence-based practices. LifeWorks is uniquely positioned to deliver quality services that will have a lasting impact on transition-age youth who need trauma-informed care.
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).
