Tuesday, May 6, 2025
5/6/2025
DEAR MIND 2 - Dear Mind 2 will use the Prime PC as the universal screening tool for the project and the Structured Interview of Psychosis-Risk Syndromes as the assessment tool to identify youth and young adults, not more than 25 years old, at clinical high risk for psychosis. The Coordinated Specialty Care framework will be employed to assure all individual and family needs are identified and the evidence-based resources offered are the least intensive services that can provide the needed treatment and supports. The population to be served is youth under 25 and their families living in the County of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Beaver County is in southwestern Pennsylvania, approximately 30 miles from Pittsburgh and sharing a border with Ohio and West Virginia. Beaver County was ranked in the top 20 (top 1%) nationally for opioid overdose deaths in 2016 (University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health 2018). The County’s median salary is $37,333 with 10% of the population living below federal poverty level with slightly more than 14% of all children in the county experiencing poverty (U.S. Census Bureau 2020). The 2020 Census Bureau population is 164,781 reflecting a 9% decline since 2000 (181,412). Approximately, 27% of the population is under the age of 25 and 3471 used behavioral health Medicaid services in 2017. This number is in addition to those who accessed behavioral health services through third party insurances. The racial composition of the population is predominately Caucasian at 93% followed by African Americans at 8% and 2.9% of households are non-English speaking within the home. Dear Mind 2 will build on four years of the original Dear Mind (Clinical High Risk for Psychosis) grant and more than the decade of system of care work that has come to define the Beaver County service system. A well-established management structure is in place for the Beaver County System of Care. Individuals with lived experience comprise more than 70% of each committee. Schools, the justice system, child welfare, the faith-based community, the manage care provider and the behavioral health system work collaboratively, using evidence-based practices, to support shared clients. An electronic service plan is being shared across systems and work continues to expand information sharing technology. The CSC model built with the original Dear Mind grant will be utilized and enhanced with Dear Mind 2. Goals and measurable outcomes of Dear Mind 2 are to enhance the stepped-care services available through the current CSC model and expand universal screening of early psychosis through enhanced outreach, education, and engagement processes. Research and evaluation will be key to program implementation, redesign, and ultimate success. Dear Mind 2 will outreach to 1500 individuals, screen 650 and enroll 55 by the end of the four-year project.
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).