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The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), in collaboration with community pharmacies and stakeholders across North Mississippi, proposes a comprehensive initiative to address opioid-related emergencies among college and high school students. Through established partnerships with Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Networks (CPESN) and MississippiCare (MC), this project aims to implement a pharmacist-led, school-based naloxone and fentanyl testing strip (FTS) accessibility program. The proposed project will use a ""Train the Trainer"" approach to educate community pharmacists and student pharmacists from UMSOP in delivering naloxone and FTS training to University of Mississippi and high school students. The training curriculum will be developed by UMSOP faculty pharmacists in conjunction with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), incorporating in-person workshops with additional online resources. Focused on the 28 medically underserved counties in Northern Mississippi, where health outcomes are regularly below national averages, the initiative targets University of Mississippi college students and high school students (grades 9-12). By equipping students with knowledge of opioid overdose symptoms, naloxone administration, and FTS use, the program aims to empower them to intervene effectively in opioid-related emergencies and reduce associated harm. The overarching goals of this project are to expand access to naloxone and FTS among students at the University of Mississippi and high schools in Northern Mississippi, and to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to recognize opioid overdose symptoms, administer naloxone effectively, and make informed decisions regarding drug use through fentanyl testing. Key objectives include developing partnerships with student organizations, school districts, and local stakeholders to coordinate training programs; disseminating educational materials to raise awareness and reduce stigma; and distributing naloxone kits and FTS to students, accompanied by comprehensive counseling on usage and storage. Through these efforts, the project seeks to reach approximately 10% of the University of Mississippi student population (around 2,000 students) and an estimated 24,000 high school students across Northern Mississippi. Written consent will be obtained for all participants to ensure transparency and community involvement in program implementation. Continuous evaluation and stakeholder feedback will inform program enhancements, fostering a sustainable approach to opioid harm reduction in educational settings. By expanding access to naloxone and FTS and empowering students with life-saving skills, this initiative strives to mitigate the impact of opioid misuse and enhance community resilience against drug-related emergencies in Northern Mississippi.

Funding Opportunity: fG-24-099 Congressional Directed Funding ABSTRACT Axiom Community of Recovery Transition to Recovery Axiom Community of Recovery (ACR) is providing a program, Transition to Recovery that will provide critical, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and long-term recovery services to complex, high-need, and extremely vulnerable individuals. The participants will be persons who are transitioning directly from a correctional facility or are on probation or parole, diagnosed with a co-occurring mental health condition, including seriously mentally ill, are at high-risk of becoming homeless, and who are currently Medicaid beneficiaries or Medicaid-eligible. The program will include approximately 300 persons with counseling, treatment and navigation/community transition services to be provided by Peer Support Specialists (PSP). These PSPs will be trained and certified. Peer Support has been recognized as an evidence-based practice that results in successful transition into the community. The ability to overcome the challenge of societal and self-induced stigma occurs more readily when newly released participants are partnered with someone who has experienced the same barriers and achieved successful reentry. The participants will be assessed to determine their individual resources, needs and status and create an individualized, person-based plan for reentry. The primary focus will change be as the counselors, behavioral health staff and PSPs work with them through the hierarchy of needs and address their issues including the social determinants of health. The project will directly provide substance abuse and mental health services that often would not be accessed. The PSPs will help participants gain entry to community services and navigate through the complexities of the Medicaid system and other governmental entities. The project will collect various data criteria in order to determine the success of the program. ACR employs an outcome measurement tool, the Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10) assessment. The assessment will be used for each level of care. This is highly correlated to long-term sobriety levels. ACR is requesting $638,394 in federal funding to complete the program that will be conducted in the State of Arizona primarily in Maricopa County and Pinal County which extends through most of the Congressional Districts.

Through FY 24 Congressionally Directed Spending, United Community and Family Services, Inc. (UCFS) will utilize federal funds from SAMHSA to expand and expedite our existing Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program to ensure same day treatment when someone is ready to enter recovery from opioid use. This funding period of performance is 9/30/2024 – 9/25/2025. Funds will also be used to identify more clients in need of MAT services to prevent overdosing and to assist them through the recovery process with a dedicated Recovery Coach. To accomplish this, UCFS will hire a dedicated behavioral health clinician who will be available for rapid intake of individuals ready to enter recovery and will coordinate care with the psychiatrist who will provide medication assistance. An additional recovery coach will be hired to provide outreach to the community to identify people in need of opioid recovery services to transition them into care and provide wrap-around services to address social determinants of health. We will also use the funds to purchase a MAT van for the recovery coach to conduct outreach throughout all of Eastern Connecticut, to transport individuals who have requested treatment for opioid use, and to provide wrap-around services for clients in the MAT program. Lastly, the federal funds will be used to provide bridge funding for services for uninsured clients including access to induction (intake) services and medication until we can connect the client with existing access to care staff to enroll patients in Medicaid/Medicare. UCFS Healthcare has a collaborative relationship with the Uncas Health District which is based in Norwich and services the New London County region of our service area. As part of this funding, the PD, Michelle Melendez will establish linkages and collaboration with the Northeast District Department of Health based out of Brooklyn CT since we will be targeted areas in the Northeast Corner of CT which are in that region.

Gallup Community Health (GCH) is a 501c3 non-profit FQHC look-alike serving rural and predominantly Native American Gallup/McKinley County, New Mexico. GCH's service area carries a behavioral health Professional Shortage Area score of 19 and community members face high rates of substance use disorder and behavioral health challenges in a community where alcohol-related deaths are many times the national average and life-expectancy trails the US by 10 years. GCH's Behavioral Health Expansion brings fully integrated behavioral healthcare to the primary care environment. The program will train local community members pursuing behavioral health careers, provide services to those without insurance coverage, include outreach to the un-housed and detained populations and strengthen coordination of care among regional partners. The program will provide 2,500 patient contacts over the 12-month project period.

The Ending Generational ACEs (Adverse Childhood Events) program at Jacob's Ladder would provide for individuals in our six-month treatment facility, outpatient facility, and recovery residence to attend parenting education classes combined with individual therapy sessions to explore the attendee's own childhood adverse events and the subsequent adverse events that their current substance use disorder is creating for their children. The project's goals are to facilitate family reunification and prevention of generational repetition of childhood adverse events and to decrease participant substance use by implementing evidence-based programs that address high-risk behaviors and promotes recovery. As West Virginia's parents struggle with substance use, our state's children are at a significant risk of experiencing adverse childhood events. Children dealing with traumatic experiences can face social, emotional, physical, and mental health challenges that last into adulthood. The program will use evidence-based treatment modalities including CBT, trauma therapy, mindfulness techniques, expressive journaling, and music and arts therapy to reduce the impacts of the participant’s adverse childhood experiences. The program will also provide parenting education to promote family health and resilience. Jacob’s Ladder serves residents in all fifty-five (55) counties in West Virginia. The population of focus will be adult individuals with a substance use disorder diagnosis currently in Jacob’s Ladder’s inpatient, outpatient, or recovery residence who are the parent, stepparent, or guardian of a minor child. The program will serve 100 unduplicated individuals throughout the annual grant funding period.

Native American LifeLines, Inc (NAL) will engage in activities focused on the behavioral health needs of Urban American Indians in Massachusetts by providing culturally informed education on substance use, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), harm reduction strategies, and/or risk factors related to substance use disorder. Our efforts will focus on educating the community through a series of workshops led by NAL staff members and community partners / subject matter experts and evaluated through pre-and post-testing. NAL staff would also work on developing a youth council that would identify, discuss, and determines best practices for engaging their peers with information on the prevention or intervention of substance abuse. To accomplish this, the Native H.E.A.L. Project will focus on four areas - Direct Service, Health Promotion and Substance Use Prevention, Training, and Youth Engagement.

With resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Congressionally Directed Funding, the Addiction Recovery Coalition of New Hampshire (ARCNH) will implement its Recovery Support Expansion program, which aims to meet the critical need for enhanced recovery support services in New Hampshire, ultimately reducing overdose deaths, promoting sustained recovery, and improving overall community wellness. Established in 2022, the CSP is a unique clinical supervision and mentoring program developed as a holistic and innovative substance use training initiative to address New Hampshire's behavioral health workforce shortage. The population of focus for this project includes individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or co-occurring mental health disorders (CODs) within the Greater Souhegan Valley Region of New Hampshire, which is an area comprised of a population of nearly 86,000 from 12 towns. Participants will have access to Certified Recovery Support Workers who will provide individual and group recovery support sessions and will also organize, promote, and facilitate sober, pro-social networking events and activities to help participants build their recovery community and reduce isolation. These events may include game nights, BBQs, dances, holiday parties, sporting events, Recovery Walks, Trunk or Treat Halloween parties for participant's children, and other sober-environment activities. All events will be substance-free and family-friendly. The project will serve at least 250 individuals through direct services, including one-on-one peer support, group sessions, and community events. ARCNH will build on its success as an existing Recovery Community Organization in the Greater Souhegan Valley Region that serves more than 1,700 participants annually. Project goals will be met with a team of 3.6 FTE program staff. A project director will ensure successful implementation and ARCNH will provide regular reports to SAMHSA ensure all project goals are met.

Abstract Cowlitz Indian Tribe has been providing Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services as part of its Behavioral Health offerings since 2016 for those affected by opioid use and other substance use disorders. Growing demand for this life-saving intervention and increased barriers experienced by those affected by substance use prompted analysis of alternative means by which to provide these critical services. At the end of 2023, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe acquired a mobile unit built specifically for MAT service provision with funding support from Accountable Communities of Health initiatives. The goals of this project include increasing access to care and the number of individuals receiving MAT services, meeting behavioral health needs in community-based settings, and engaging those affected by substance use in holistic health services with a priority to improve health outcomes for Indigenous community members. Objectives outlined to achieve these goals include filling positions identified for effective operation of the mobile unit, developing a consistent calendar of locations that are easily accessible to those with the greatest need, and piloting this innovative service model in hopes that within one year’s time, it becomes a self-sustaining and effective tool in battling the opioid epidemic. With the unit on-site and ready to serve, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe is requesting $700,000 in funding for adequate staffing, equipment, and supplies needed to ensure the unit can operate in its first year as intended.

The project titled ""An Integrative Approach to Community-Based Long-Term Recovery"" is a new grant-funded initiative aimed at enhancing long-term recovery for individuals in Taos County, NM. This innovative program leverages Mind-Body Medicine as its core method, supplemented by group acupuncture treatment, group ketamine therapy, comprehensive case management, and recovery self-care education and training. By integrating these holistic practices, the program aspires to provide sustainable recovery solutions and significantly improve the overall health and well-being of the community. Opiate use disorder remains a critical issue in Taos County, marked by a troubling rate of drug overdose deaths, currently at 29.2 fatalities per 100,000 people annually. Furthermore, there are 136.9 drug overdose-related emergency department visits per 100,000 people, significantly higher than the state average of 50.6. Many individuals with substance use disorders also face co-occurring mental health challenges, such as PTSD and major depressive disorder, complicating their recovery process. Additionally, barriers to accessing services, including limited availability of primary care providers and long waitlists at clinics, exacerbate the struggle for effective treatment. These factors underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to substance abuse treatment in the region. The ""Integrative Approach to Community-Based Long-Term Recovery"" program offers numerous benefits to individuals, their families, and the broader community. By addressing both the physical and mental health aspects of recovery, the program provides a comprehensive support system. Group acupuncture and ketamine therapy sessions alleviate physical and psychological symptoms, promoting overall well-being. Self-care education empowers individuals with tools and strategies to maintain long-term sobriety, while case management ensures access to primary care services and resources, facilitating a seamless recovery process. The primary population targeted by this project comprises adult residents of Taos County who are currently complete with their medical detox process for opiate use disorder. These individuals are selected based on the understanding that maintaining long-term sobriety often requires addressing underlying conditions such as PTSD and major depressive disorder. By providing integrated services that cater to both physical and mental health needs, the program aims to support these individuals in achieving sustained recovery and improving their quality of life. Individuals benefit by receiving treatment that addresses them on physical, mental and emotional levels, while also learning how to maintain long term recovery. Families benefit from the improved health and stability of their loved ones, and the community sees a reduction in drug-related incidents and enhanced public health and safety. By fostering a supportive environment and addressing the root causes of substance use disorders, the program aims to create lasting change and promote a healthier, more resilient community.

Marshall University's Center of Excellence for Recovery (Center of Excellence) will work with Prestera Health Services (Prestera), the largest comprehensive behavioral health services provider in West Virginia, to develop and implement an intensive care coordination model for individuals and their children impacted by SUD. This model will integrate a wraparound process, used in the past, and the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) in Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, Kanawha and Boone Counties. The Center of Excellence and Prestera will develop a manual with universal guidelines for staffing, training, service process, and procedures to care for 25 adults and 25 children in rural/suburban areas. The goal is for this new model to be replicated throughout WV to assist children and families.

Stratis Health’s Community Integration Rural Coordination Learning Embrace (CIRCLE) of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Care project is substance use training program aimed at meeting the critical need for coordinated medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) care between county correctional health and community providers. Our project will enable care plans grounded in evidence-based clinical practices and support patients in their transition from jail to community and ongoing recovery. The results will benefit the community and make it easier for recently incarcerated people to continue MOUD post-release, thus reducing the risk of relapse, mortality, and recidivism among this vulnerable population. Stratis Health will implement the project in rural Itasca and Meeker Counties in Minnesota, as a partnership between the local health system, clinic, and county jail with the support of an activated community. The project will: 1) Train Clinicians, Care Teams, and Administrators Stratis Health will develop and offer an intense one-day training for Itasca and Meeker Counties clinicians, care teams, and administrators from local health systems, clinics, and jails and provide technical assistance to support design and implementation of MOUD programs. As a result, trainees will be enabled to launch and sustain MOUD programs. 2) Expand MOUD Access We will support the county jails as new MOUD care delivery sites and will expand care delivery through coordination with local health care delivery. 3) Create Community Ownership and Sustainability Stratis Health will help the community to create a locally-led task force and identify local clinician champion(s) in each community. This will enable local leadership and sustainability to coordinate community efforts broadly based on community interest and needs. We will connect communities with the Steve Rummler Hope Network, a Minnesota-based organization which supports establishment of local naloxone distribution sites. Stratis Health is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization based in Minnesota, established in 1971. Stratis Health began addressing the opioid crisis in 2014, focusing on a) increasing access to evidence-based and culturally relevant care for OUD, b) improving the appropriate prescribing of opioids for pain management, and c) reducing disparities in OUD care and outcomes. Stratis Health’s local implementation sites are in Itasca and Meeker Counties in rural Minnesota. In each community, the health system, clinic, and county jail have committed to work with Stratis Health over the 1-year period of the project.

For this initiative, Catholic Charities’ New Haven Family Service Center Certified Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) will provide additional staffing and staff training and fidelity monitoring in the evidence based models of Motivational Interviewing/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to enable clinic staff to offer these evidence based treatments to the clinic population. The target population is adults ages 18 and up in New Haven, CT with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), those with Any Mental Illness (AMI) and SUD; those with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and SUD; among those with SUD will be individuals with Opiate Use Disorder. 2022 US Census population estimates show that New Haven’s total population ages 18 and up is 135,736;approximately 78% of population (105,900) are ages 18+ and 11% (14,630) are ages 65+; 17% (24,158) are ages 18-24, 51% (70,429) are ages 25-64. 49% are male and 51% are female; 32% are Caucasian; 28% are Black, 31% are Hispanic of any race, 9% are of another race. Project Goals and Objectives are as follows: Goal 1: To increase staff capacity to provide evidence-based treatment for individuals with substance use and co-occurring diagnoses. By December 1, 2024, hire project staffing, including 2 clinicians, a case manager, a peer specialist and a prescriber. By December 15, 2025, to increase the capacity of staff to implement Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MI/CBT) with fidelity by providing a two day intensive training in the MI/CBT model of care to 12-15 clinic staff and a half day training for 4 supervisors in model coaching and fidelity rating. Beginning January 2, 2025 to increase the capacity of staff to implement MI/CBT with fidelity by providing monthly coaching sessions with 4 clinical supervisors. Beginning January 2, 2025 to evaluate model fidelity by analyzing fidelity ratings and providing feedback to 4 clinical supervisors on results. Goal 2: To improve behavioral health functioning, decrease mental health symptoms and reduce substance use/risk of harm among a target population of adults with AMI/SUD SMI /SUD. Beginning January 2, 2025, improve mental health symptoms, daily functioning and reduce drug use among at least 60% of 250 adults, clinical staff will provide outpatient behavioral health services (individual, groups) using the MI/CBT model of care. Beginning January 5, 2025, an APRN will provide medication management to up to 250 adults in care and coordinate with the local FQHC to provide medication approved to treat consumers with opioid disorder. Beginning January 15, 2025 to help consumers attain and maintain sobriety/treatment gains, a peer recovery specialist will provide individual and group support services for 50 people receiving services, including their family members. Beginning January 15, 2024 to increase daily living skills and reduce the impact of SDOHs among 60% of 40 adults with SMI/COD served annually, a Targeted Case Manager will provide TCM services. This grant will allow the FSC CCBHC to hire additional culturally-matched staffing to provide outpatient behavioral health treatment for up to 250 total unduplicated adults with mental health or co-occurring disorders using the MI/CBT model. It will allow us to evaluate the fidelity of the model by providing MI/CBT model training/coaching and fidelity monitoring through Dr. Brian Kulik from Yale University, who has extensive research and clinical training expertise in these models.

During the first year of operation, the Harbor Recovery Center served or affected 113 individuals. Last year, in 2023 we served 191. By “served or affected” we mean these individuals received direct services, were part of an extended family whose members received services or who participated in sponsored events. And these numbers continue to increase. In 2024, we expect to serve 573 individuals through primary supports and 2117 individuals through our secondary supports, which include support groups, drop-in center, Rise Up for Recovery events and monthly family meals. We serve all populations, with the following array of services, programs and support: HRC provides Family Peer Support, overseen by a certified family peer specialist to families in our community who are having difficulty coping with a loved one who struggles with addiction and/or mental health concerns. They are provided with support, referrals, resources and guidance. HRC provides Individual Certified Peer Support for individuals seeking or currently in recovery. HRC is a safe and confidential location for support groups and recovery meetings in the greater Portage area. This includes but is not limited to 12 step and similar recovery meetings, and grief support for those who have lost a loved one to an overdose or suicide. HRC provides referral services for those seeking treatment. This includes referrals to those seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) or mental health treatment. We are able to assist them in connecting with service providers. This can include wraparound services, therapy, treatment court, medication-assisted treatment programs, or other levels of care. HRC provides social activities for families and individuals in recovery and their allies. This currently includes community meals, drop in centers and monthly social events. 2024 Project Goals: -increasing individuals served by 25% -increase the ability of our clients to access housing and employment opportunities. -increase availability of staff being able to meet clients in their own communities. -increasing staff certifications for peer support services.

NAMI New Hampshire (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will use this funding to provide individuals, families, and communities affected by co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders with a robust suite of support groups, education programs, and resources. During the grant year, NAMI NH will enhance its nascent family support group for those affected by co-occurring disorders; provide up to three (3) educational webinars focused on co-occurring disorders at no cost to the community; train up to two (2) additional support group leaders with lived experience; and explore other opportunities to expand programming relative to co-occurring disorders. Traditionally, the treatment and support of mental health and substance use disorders have been siloed. However, we know we need to work together to change cultures and systems to best help Granite Staters. As a respected mental health leader, NAMI NH will work with our community partners and volunteers with lived experience to provide the critical support, education, and resources needed to bring help and hope to individuals and families affected by co-occurring disorders. NAMI NH, by collaborating with our partners and substance use disorder experts, seeks to bridge the gap between two historically siloed systems and offer the support, education, and resources needed as individuals and families navigate two complex arenas to find help and hope. By providing these services, we hope to improve the quality of life for Granite Staters affected by co-occurring disorders and help individuals and families thrive. NAMI NH anticipates serving approximately 752 Granite Staters with this funding.

The proposed 'CCH TCE: Special Project will implement targeted strategies for the provision of substance misuse, abuse, and harm reduction services, facilitated access to treatment, and peer recovery support services for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. All project participants will: (a) be assessed as misusing or abusing drugs and/or alcohol, or have a substance use disorder involving drugs and/or alcohol; (b) not fully engaged in harm reduction, treatment, and/or recovery support services; and (c) all participants will be residing in supportive housing for single adults and adult couples that is operated and managed by CCH in the City & County of Denver, Colorado. To reduce health and social risks, including risk of death, the project will expand participants' access to evidence-based harm reduction and peer recovery support services, as well as provide facilitated access to treatment. Potential for housing stability will be enhanced by project activities including social community events designed to increase participants' sense of belonging and community support. In year one, the project will enroll 75 participants and 30 additional participants will be enrolled annually in years 2 and 3. Within the first six months of project enrollment, 80% of participants will engage in project services. Thirty percent of participants who engage in the project's peer support services will reduce their substance use from intake to six months of project participation. During project enrollment, 50% of participants will be referred to substance use disorder treatment. In year 1, the project will distribute 850 harm reduction supplies to project participants, including fentanyl test strips and overdose reversal medications; in year 2, 835 harm reduction supplies; and in year 3, 750 harm reduction supplies. Fifty percent of participants will engage in community events within 6 months of project enrollment. A total of 135 participants will be served throughout the 3-year project: 75 in year 1 and 90 in each subsequent year.

With the "Improving access to mental and behavioral health services via a Psychiatric Consultation and Psychiatric Assessment Team Telemedicine model" project, St. Charles Health System (SCHS) proposes to (1) establish a Psychiatric Consultation Telemedicine model and (2) expand the service hours of its Psychiatric Assessment Team (PAT). These investments will meaningfully increase access to and quality of behavioral health care in Central Oregon, particularly for the most vulnerable and underserved residents, such as rural residents and individuals experiencing substance use disorders and mental health conditions. The population of focus for this project is individuals with behavioral health care needs in the Central Oregon region served by SCHS, which includes Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties. Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) will support planning for and implementing a new Psychiatric Consultation Telemedicine model at SCHS. CDS funds will allow SCHS to hire a Consult Liaison Psychiatrist, allocate time from other SCHS staff to plan, implement, oversee, and monitor this new program, and purchase necessary supplies and equipment. CDS funding will also support extending hours for SCHS' Psychiatric Assessment Team (PAT). Comprised of master's-level providers, the PAT performs crisis evaluation and support for SCHS Emergency Departments and medical floors in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville. CDS investment will allow SCHS’ two rural hospitals (Prineville and Madras) to offer 24/7 PAT consultations. Project Goals 1. By Dec. 2024, develop telemedicine platform for Behavioral Health specialty consultation. Objectives include: By Jan. 2025, train 75% of nursing and PAT staff at St. Charles Health System on the use of telemedicine interface and equipment. 2. By Jan. 2025, implement a comprehensive Consult Liaison program to provide psychiatric consultation, through telemedicine or in-person care, for patients presenting in the emergency department and/or inpatient medical floors with an identified need for a psychiatric assessment. Objectives include: By Jan. 2025, train 75% of providers, PAT staff and hospitalists at St. Charles Health System on the policies, procedures, and operations of the Consult Liaison service. By June 2025, 15-20 psychiatric consultations per week take place in the Emergency Department and/or the inpatient floors through face-to-face or telemedicine. 3. By March 2025, develop a quality improvement analysis of the Consult Liaison program. Objectives include: Beginning Feb. 2025, evaluate the new Consult Liaison service weekly for eight weeks and implement improvements as necessary by March 31, 2025. 4. By Jan. 2025, implement a comprehensive after-hours and weekend Psychiatric Assessment Team (PAT) response to Prineville and Madras hospitals through telemedicine to provide master’s-level crisis risk assessments and/or family sessions for patients presenting in the emergency department for a behavioral health crisis. Objectives include: By Dec. 2024, recruit and hire seven-day-per-week night shift PAT staff to be stationed at St. Charles Redmond Hospital. By Jan. 2025, train 75% of providers, PAT staff and hospitalists at St. Charles Health System on the policies, procedures and operations of Psychiatric Assessment Team consults utilizing telemedicine. SCHS expects to directly serve 825 persons with project funds.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) will meet a continuing need for community members and caregivers to be literate in critical mental health signs and symptoms and to be better prepared to provide support and referrals to at-risk youth. The project aims to increase the number of people who participate in training as well as to increase the number of instructors who actively provide training in the state. Through this project we will train educators and volunteers within the New Hampshire (NH) Extension network and other partners in the state in the implementation of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s Youth Mental Health First Aid curriculum. These YMHFA instructors will offer trainings that will be available to any adult who lives with, works with, and/or cares for youth (e.g., parents, school staff, social service providers) throughout the state. To develop and coordinate this pool of instructors and to identify and recruit participants for classes, we will work closely with key partners in New Hampshire including our existing network of instructors, the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI) NH, regional public health networks, local Community Mental Health Centers, and the NH Department of Education. By the end of the grant period, this project will have trained 600 community members and caregivers and will have added eight instructors to the statewide pool. We will aim to have at least 90% of participants report after the training that they are better prepared to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders (particularly serious mental illness and/or serious emotional disturbances); they are more able to offer initial support to those suffering; and they are more able to refer them to appropriate services.

The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota Center for Rural Behavioral Health (CRBH) at Minnesota State University, Mankato was founded in 2021. At the heart of its mission is a goal to increase access to behavioral health services in outstate Minnesota. A primary method for achieving this goal and the focus of this Congressional Designated Spending project is the development of a Mental Health Training Clinic. The training clinic will positively impact rural Minnesotans by increasing access to mental health services and increasing the number of mental health professionals eligible to practice in Minnesota. The training clinic will function as a clinical placement site for students enrolled in a range of behavioral health program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Students will provide services under the supervision of a student-focused interdisciplinary team of professionals who are committed to serving clients from an integrated whole-person model (including direct care and case management). The training clinic will provide students with exposure to and appreciation for providing services to individuals living in rural Minnesota while also responding to the shortage of mental service providers in the region.

RMEQ reaches an estimated 20,000 people through its innovative programs delivered by LBGTQ+ and allied staff and volunteers each year. The Improving Access to Mental Health Treatment for Colorado’s LGBTQ+ Youth Community initiative will make these life-saving services more accessible to individuals who face geographic and economic barriers to behavioral health care. With funding from SAMHSA, RMEQ will purchase two electric buses that will transport clients to and from RMEQ facilities. This project will 1) enhance convenience and reliability so that individuals can consistently attend appointments and activities, which leads to 2) increased utilization rates, which ultimately leads to 3) better health outcomes and continuity of care.

Project Name: Community Resiliency Support Services (CRSS) The Chinese-American Planning Council’s (CPC) Community Resiliency Support Services (CRSS) project will boost CPC’s capacity to implement targeted education and outreach to reduce cultural stigma surrounding mental health care among low-income, immigrant, and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in New York City (NYC), to raise awareness of and connect community members to available services, and to provide mental health screenings. Background and Population to be Served: CPC’s mission is to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities. CPC provides community-based child care, youth, workforce development, senior, special needs, and home attendant services to 80,000+ low-income community members annually who must overcome additional language, culture, generational, and technology barriers to access health and mental health services. In the AAPI community, discussing and accessing mental health care is stigmatized, and the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing social and economic disruption have worsened social determinants of health (SDOH) such as financial stability and housing and food insecurities among NYC’s low-income, immigrant, and AAPI communities. Even years after the onset of the pandemic, low-income and immigrant AAPI community members have not recovered from the ongoing and negative health and mental health impacts of the pandemic, and the rise in Asian hate has also negatively impacted the mental health of AAPI New Yorkers. Goals and Strategies/Interventions: CRSS has three chief goals: 1) raise community awareness of health/mental health care needs and available services/resources, including those established to offer relief for pandemic-related issues; 2) reduce cultural stigma surrounding mental health care and/or reduce/remove barriers to accessing services; and 3) advance efforts to combat anti-Asian violence and reduce the impact of growing insecurity and anxiety among vulnerable AAPI that stem from anti-Asian racism. CPC has identified the following strategies to achieve these goals: 1) expand outreach and education; 2) expand mental health screenings, case management, and referrals; and 3) provide neighborhood safety and belonging services. Measurable Objectives: By the end of the grant period (September 29, 2025), CPC expects to achieve these measurable results: 1) conduct eight community based education/outreach events; 2) conduct six mental-health-focused trainings for CPC and/or partner staff and/or community members; 3) develop and implement 12 ethnically-targeted mental health marketing/media campaigns to reach at least 100,000 NYC residents; 4) conduct at least eight culturally-appropriate support group sessions for AAPI community members; 5) conduct at least 600 mental health screenings for individuals who initially seek CPC’s assistance for issues such as food or housing; 6) conduct nine workshops focused on reducing stigma around mental health care, improving SDOH, and reducing barriers to using health and mental health services; 7) conduct three workshops on topics such as self-defense and reporting anti-Asian violence to increase confidence among AAPI individuals in protecting themselves and combating racism; 8) conduct at least two community-based inter-cultural event to build cross-cultural understanding. Number of Individuals Served: CPC will serve 1,100 (600 unduplicated) individuals through direct CRSS services such as mental health screenings, workshops, and discussion groups. Outreach, education, and awareness campaigns will reach at least 100,000 individuals.

The City of Everett aims to establish an Alternative Response Team designed to assist individuals facing behavioral and mental health crises. This initiative will encompass crisis response, care coordination, and medical referrals. The primary objectives of the program are to enhance the availability of behavioral health response hours per week and reduce the reliance on Police, Fire, and EMS deployments in situations where behavioral health services are more suitable. It is anticipated that the program will serve 750 individuals annually.

Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Center (also referred to as Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center (Mid-Fairfield)) FY2024 Congressionally Directed Spending project is a collaborative effort of Mid-Fairfield and Norwalk Public Schools (NPS) (additional project partners include but are not limited to the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI), City of Norwalk Community Services Department, and Norwalk ACTs). The project is titled: Mid-Fairfield / Norwalk Public Schools: Comprehensive Mental Health and Wellness Services & Supports Initiative. The purpose of the project is to help close the gap in equitable access to comprehensive mental health and wellness services and supports by building upon our current partnership with Norwalk Public Schools (NPS) to improve, expand, enhance, and augment the array of mental health services provided to students, parents/caregivers (families), and teachers/support staff. Embedding support within schools reduces barriers that many families experience when seeking mental health services for their children. In addition to providing direct counseling (e.g., individual, family, group therapies) and wraparound care coordination, directly to students and families, Mid Fairfield will provide consultation and coaching (e.g., tiered interventions, trainings (trauma, social-emotional tools and strategies)) to teachers/support staff to build a foundation and framework that creates safe and supportive school environments that foster resilience and recovery which are critical for improving student outcomes. The proposed program model is based on the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework which promotes increasing awareness of mental health issues through education at the lowest level to providing more intensive direct services for school-ages youth at the highest level of need. Mid-Fairfield will deploy licensed clinicians, care coordinators, and mental health consultants (English- and/or Spanish-speaking) to be hired and supervised by Mid Fairfield and embedded within identified NPS schools. The project will also used evidenced based curricula and data-based decision making to provide a clear framework to address mental health and behavior issues while promoting a health school climate and culture.

In our proposal for Congressional Discretionary Spending, Behavioral Health for Youth & Young Adults at Holy Cross Hospital, Sinai Health System’s Holy Cross Hospital will add behavioral health services for 75 or more youth and young adults ages 6-24 at risk or screening positively for serious mental health conditions. They will receive approximately 3,600 visits during the year. The program (to be named Under the Rainbow) will provide assessment, case management, counseling, advocacy, transportation, and referrals. Sinai’s Holy Cross Hospital serves 14 community areas across 7 zip codes in southwest Chicago with a Hardship Index Score of 86 (out of 100); the residents face severe hardships in terms of employment, housing, education, and poverty; factors that highly correlate with poor mental and physical health. In Sinai Chicago’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) process, as well as in 2016 and 2019, we heard from southwest Chicago community members that behavioral health and collective trauma within our communities – caused by repeated exposure to violence, racism, and socioeconomic threats to wellbeing – are key areas in need of immediate attention. HCH’s program ( to be named Under the Rainbow like its counterpart at Mount Sinai)will provide high-quality, trauma-informed, effective, and timely assessment and treatment services to youth through young adults who have experienced abuse, neglect, or complex trauma, and will also provide treatment for a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, ADHD, psychotic disorders, grief/loss, school related problems, and family conflict. The program has two goals: 1) Complete all preparation to begin Youth, Adolescent ad Young Adult Services in Holy Cross offices by December 2024 and 2) Implementation of the Youth, Adolescent and Young Adult Services Program at Holy Cross for the remainder of the award period. HCH UTR (under interim PD, Katherine Hall) will recruit and hire a 1.0 FTE Project Director/Clinical Supervisor to manage the emerging caseload and assist with the recruitment and on-the-job training of the psychotherapists and other staff to provide services within 60 days of the start date. HCH will hire three full-time psychotherapists, allocate a 50% FTE psychiatrist, and allocate or recruit a 50% FTE case manager, a 1 FTE central scheduler and support specialist, and 65% FTE insurance verifier to implement the program. Additionally, the program will engage community- and faith-based organizations, other child/adult-serving providers, and relevant public agencies in Southwest Chicago to maximize and coordinate treatment services and supports as indicated through social determinants of health screening to maximize the impact of these services in patients' lives.