Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Agnes Scott College (AGS), a small, private residential women’s college outside Atlanta, Georgia, is applying for a SAMHSA GLS grant to support its project, Scotties Mind Your Mental Health. ASC is diverse, with 61.7% of students identified as students of color. The population of focus for the grant is LGBTQIA+ students, who comprise 66.27% of students seen at ASC’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department. CAPS will serve 4,125 people in three years: 1,350 people in Year 1, 1,375 in Year 2, and 1,400 in Year 3. Overall, CAPS sees 32% of ASC college students. CAPS consistently has more appointments with students annually then similarly sized schools. The Student Government Association felt so strongly about needing more services that it passed a resolution for expanding CAPS staffing. GLS funds will be used to hire a new project coordinator who will implement prevention programming, provide educational seminars, and coordinate outreach efforts. Some evidence-based interventions ASC will implement are Mental Health First Aid, QPR, ASIST, and emotional therapy dogs. The grant’s goals and objectives are: Goal 1: To develop an infrastructure of community relationships, trauma-informed and culturally responsive policies, and training to support the well-being, mental health (MH), and academic success of ASC students. Objective (Obj.) 1.1: Formalize partnerships with five off-campus entities to have them: a. provide informational materials on campus, b. attend MH fairs two times per year, and c. develop warm referral network pathways for students. Obj. 1.2: Develop, review, and/or revise policies to ensure they are trauma-informed; recognize under-resourced populations; and are clear and up-to-date, to include academic policies regarding course accommodations, medical leave of absence (MLOA), crisis protocols, including postvention, Students of Concern team procedures, and guidelines for staff on identifying and referring students with MH or AOD issues by the end of the year one. Obj. 1.3: By the end of the grant period, 300 administrative and student leaders will participate in Scottie Safe Zone training for LGBTQIA+. Obj 1.4: By the end of the grant period, 300 staff, faculty, and students will attend QPR, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), and/or ASIST training. Obj. 1.5: Develop and implement an ongoing monthly training series (eight months per year) for all residence assistants on incorporating trauma-informed practices using trauma-informed values in residence halls and signs of vicarious trauma and what to do when it is experienced. Goal 2: To identify and support ASC students before and if they experience a MH or AOD crisis in order to lessen the impact on their well-being, including academics, and safety. Obj. 2.1: Provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed counseling services to 400 students each academic year via CAPS by the end of Year 3. Obj. 2.2: By the end of the grant period, CAPS will create five new MH support groups for historically marginalized populations, including for the population of focus, LGBTQIA+ students, non-binary and transgender students, and also for immigrants and international students and others identified through student discussions. Obj. 2.3: Facilitate all first-year students developing wellness plans during SUMMIT Legacy (first-year orientation). Obj. 2.4: Each semester, CAPS and Active Minds will hold one MH fair. Obj. 2.5: Engage one student group per semester that represents an under-resourced population to assist in outreach, education, and awareness programming focused on that population. Obj. 2.6: Provide educational health and wellness seminars to150 students each academic year on topics such as self-care, social connectedness, transitioning to college, time management, budgeting, coping skills, stress reduction, eating disorders, intimate partner violence, etc.
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).
