Lotus House Mental Health Treatment for Homeless Women, Youth and Children - Treatment for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness, Serious Emotional Disturbance, or Co-Occurring Disorders Experiencing Homelessness (FOA) No. SM-23-006 (CFDA) No.: 93.243 PROJECT ABSTRACT The Sundari Foundation, Inc. offers the Lotus House Mental Health Treatment for Homeless Women, Youth and Children project to screen 700 unduplicated women and youth experiencing homelessness and assist 350 diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness, Serious Emotional Disturbance or Co-Occurring Disorders in Miami-Dade County, FL with behavioral and/or mental health services annually. Over the 5 year grant period, 1,750 will receive services. The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust will provide referrals via the CoC Coordinated Entry system as well as referrals for public housing and other permanent housing programs. Citrus Health Network, a licensed behavioral/mental health provider will collaborate, offering psychiatric evaluations and outpatient treatment, including medications, all free of charge onsite. Lotus House will provide targeted, intensive case management to access comprehensive support services. Evidence-based Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Seeking Safety groups are provided onsite to build resilience and mental wellness. Lotus House Women’s Shelter provided shelter and comprehensive services to 1,411 women, youth and children experiencing homelessness in 2022. 67% are African American/Black and 32% White and of these 37% are Hispanic. 10% identify as LBTQIA+. 40% have substance use histories and/or test positive at intake. Most have unmet medical, dental and optical needs. 87% have disabilities. 100% live well below the poverty line. 34% do not have a high school diploma and 77% are unemployed at intake. Almost 1 in 4 have no health insurance. 94% of women and youth had histories of trauma and/or abuse: 92% experienced or witnessed domestic violence; 35% experienced childhood sexual abuse/assault; 34% experienced childhood physical abuse/neglect; 40% physical assault as adult; 22% sexual assault as an adult. In 2022, we assessed 394 children for developmental functioning, trauma histories, social, emotional and behavioral health and parent-child interaction. 63% of our children evidenced clinical need in at least one area. Project Goal 1: Provide access to mental health treatment - 100% of 700 individuals will receive screening assessments by licensed Lotus House staff. -100% of 350 individuals screened with SMI, SED, COD will be linked to our collaborative licensed provider or equivalent for further assessment. -100% will be offered any needed prescriptions for medication from our collaborative licensed provider or equivalent. 100% will be offered treatment and follow-up treatment when needed, on an outpatient basis, by our collaborative licensed provider or equivalent. 60% improve PCL-5 score pre/post. 70% will exit with a mental health home and receive an exit resource guide. Goal 2: Case Management and Support Services - 100% of those assessed with SMI, SED, COD will be offered intensive case management (including links to employment/education, access to public benefits, mental health counseling, housing advocacy) coordinated by our qualified Resource Coordinators based on needs assessed in their action plans.100% will be offered evidence-based counseling by our in-house licensed counselors. Goal 3: Assist in Accessing Permanent Housing - 70% of those assessed with SMI, SED, COD will exit to permanent housing. Miami-Dade County is home to the largest percentage of people with serious mental illnesses of any urban community in the United States. It has been estimated that 9.1% of the population experience serious mental illnesses, yet only 1% receive treatment in the state funded community mental health system. Rates of serious mental illnesses are two to three times the national average, but per capita state spending for community-based treatment ranks 49th nationally. https://www.nasmhpd.org/site
