Saturday, June 7, 2025
6/7/2025
MH ALERT - Through our proposed MH ALERT Program, Horizon Health Services (HHS) will train adult individuals to: 1) recognize mental health (MH)/suicidal signs/symptoms; 2) safely de-escalate crisis situations; and, 3) refer persons-in-need to community-based MH services and treatment. Our population of focus to be trained (trainees) includes faculty, staff, coaches, and parents/guardians at three (3) schools; and, employees and adult program participants at six (6) workplaces. Our population being impacted by the trainings includes students aged 10-19 at the schools; and, employees and adults/youth with whom trainees interact at the workplaces. Our catchment area is Erie and Niagara Counties and we will actively seek to engage additional, diverse school, workplace, and community-organization partners throughout the 3-year program. A recent, mass shooting incident within our catchment area has increased what were already-elevated rates of anxiety and other MH symptoms/incidents observed over the last several years. Concurrently, there is a shortage of resources in environments where need is the greatest with 62% of schools in Erie County reporting no prevention programming and an uptick in requests received by HHS for workplace programs. To address the need, HHS will offer 1,000 adults MH awareness training using the following un-modified evidence-based practices (EBP): Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), an EBP to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing proven suicide prevention training, and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), an EBP training course that teaches participants about MH/SUD and how to intervene. Our goals and objectives include: (1) Increase access to information/education about MH disorders and suicide prevention through evidence-based trainings: 1.1. Identify four qualified staff to conduct trainings; 1.2-1.3. Four qualified staff become certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructors, and certified MHFA Instructors; 1.4. All entities submitting Letters of Commitment will host QPR trainings by our certified instructors resulting in approximately 18 groups of 20 trainees for an approximate total of 365 individuals trained annually (prorated to 270 for Year 1); 1.5 All partners submitting Letters of Commitment will be offered full-day MHFA training following completion of QPR training; 1.6. Following trainings, 100% of exit surveys received back will report increased knowledge of subject matter. (2) Improve linkage/connection to MH treatment/services/resources for populations impacted by trainings: 2.1. During QPR trainings, 100% of trainees will be given contact information for community-based treatment/services/resources to discuss with and distribute to the population impacted as they observe MH signs/symptoms. 2.2. Cultivate and actively maintain relationships/communication with current/new schools, workplaces, and community-based organizations to optimize use of treatment referral mechanisms. Data collection and measurement procedures will be conducted on a quality-tested, secure data management system with reporting occurring commensurate with the indicated timeline.
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).