Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County (FSA) Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) Project – NOFO #SM-26-030 - Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County (FSA) will implement a Mental Health Awareness Training project in Santa Barbara County, California, to prepare youth and the adults who support them to recognize mental illness, respond safely, support suicide prevention, de-escalate crises, and connect individuals to local services. Populations of focus include middle and high school students, students in non-traditional schools, young adults, parents and caregivers, educators and school personnel, youth-serving professionals, healthcare and behavioral health providers, first responders, military- and veteran-connected families and personnel, and other trusted community members. FSA will provide teen Mental Health First Aid, teen Question, Persuade, Refer, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Question, Persuade, Refer, and Psychological First Aid. With YouthWell, FSA will provide written and electronic resources, outreach, community activities, partnerships, and referral linkages. As a licensed community mental health provider, FSA will use its clinical, school-based counseling, intake, and referral capacity to connect individuals to screening, assessment, and services. Over 3 years, the project will train youth in grades 9–12 and adults, provide at least 1 annual training for military- and veteran-connected communities, refer youth in grades 6–12 to mental health or related services, and improve participants’ ability to recognize concerns, respond safely, and connect people to help.
