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City of Hermosa Beach will launch a mobile crisis response pilot program to provide help to people experiencing homelessness and mental health crises. Currently, the Hermosa Beach Police Department is often the agency responding to calls involving unhoused residents who have mental health issues. The City will use the federal funding to engage and support a civilian team that will respond instead of the police when the calls involve non-emergency and non-medical situations with individuals experiencing homelessness and in need of mental health services. The mobile crisis response team will be trained and equipped to de-escalate situations and work in cooperation with Harbor Interfaith Services, which provides services for Hermosa’s unhoused residents. The mobile crisis response team will be able to provide information, referrals, transportation to services and additional follow-up support and case management to support Harbor Interfaith Services. The population served will consist of 34 individuals experiencing homelessness in Hermosa Beach, as well as the resident population of approximately 19,728. The project will aim to decrease the number of individuals experiencing homelessness by offering welfare checks and stabilization services; decrease the number of mental health crisis calls handled by the Hermosa Beach Police Department by identifying calls eligible for diversion to an alternate response model, and improving access to those experiencing homelessness in Hermosa Beach. The City will evaluate the pilot program’s effectiveness in reducing demand for police services and securing help for people experiencing homelessness to determine whether the model can be used more widely to address mental health issues and homelessness in the region.

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018 left the community devastated and traumatized. The impact of the tragedy continues to affect the community. The Eagles’ Haven Wellness Center, powered by JAFCO, opened in 2019 specifically to help the Parkland community heal in the aftermath of this unspeakable tragedy. The Center offers support, wellness services, case management, trauma education and crisis intervention to anyone experiencing trauma related to the shooting including students, teachers, family members, and first responders. The Center is open 7 days a week and offers 24/7 availability for crisis intervention. As the community processes the outcome of the recent the trial of the Parkland shooter, Eagles' Haven will increase our availability and support, offering even more groups, panels, classes, and programs to the community. Increased services are also provided around the time of the anniversary of the shooting each year. Funding will help support wellness activities, therapeutic groups, and crisis counseling to enhance our current programming with a goal of keeping the community safe.

The project titled “Advancing Care in Southern New Mexico” will meet the unprecedented need for coordinated and integrated services demonstrated through the implementation of the first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic in New Mexico. The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic has shown gaps in internal and external infrastructures, capacity building, and service provisions provided through Families and Youth Innovations Plus’s continuum of care. This project will annually serve 200 individuals in Doña Ana County through strategically building initiatives to support Families and Youth Innovations Plus’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic programming capacity and long-term sustainability in offering wraparound mental health and supportive services to Doña Ana County. Creating a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic has been long overdue in New Mexico, specifically in Doña Ana County (County). Half live in isolated rural areas, while the remaining live in the urbanized city of Las Cruces. One in four lives in poverty, with more than 61% of residents being Hispanic (U.S. Census, 2020). Service delivery is a challenge with over 20 small towns and villages that are disconnected from the urban center. Overall, the County is a designated Medically Underserved Area with residents vulnerable to housing and job loss (rates of unemployment as high as 4.7%)-- substance use, domestic violence, and high crime rates (increased by 40% from 2021 to 2022 in the urban core of Las Cruces, New Mexico), and increasing mental health challenges for all ages. Launching the first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic within New Mexico, Families and Youth Innovations Plus has been able to prioritize individuals in crisis, those experiencing a lack of access to behavioral healthcare services (e.g., rural-residing), and in need of support with substance use-related resources. The primary goal of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic was to increase the capacity of the local mental health crisis response to reduce the risk of high-risk behaviors that may contribute to attempted suicides, unnecessary criminalization of youth and adults, or death. Families and Youth Innovations Plus aimed to increase the number of unduplicated individuals receiving services by 50 in Year 1 and 100 in Year 2. Since establishing the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, Families and Youth Innovations Plus has served 115 new participants in quarter one of Year 1 through treatment services while expanding prevention and intervention services offered.

The population of the Northern Shenandoah Valley and surrounding area is facing increasing mental health needs while coping with a shortage of behavioral health providers to meet these growing demands. While Winchester Medical Center includes an inpatient psychiatric unit with 36 beds and provides an Adult Intensive Outpatient Program, the number of outpatient providers to meet community needs has decreased with the retirement of three outpatient psychiatrists over the past two years. This project aims to increase the behavioral health workforce to meet the growing needs of our community, increase the number of providers available to provide services, and increase access to behavioral health services in our community. This project will address these goals through a two-pronged approach to the behavioral health workforce shortage in the area. The first approach is to increase the number of behavioral health providers in the area by providing supervision for employees and students who are non-licensed social workers and counselors. This project will provide funding for current Valley Health LCSWs and LPCs to become certified to provide clinical supervision and allow them to provide supervision for non-licensed clinicians in pursuit of licensure. This program will also provide funding for LCSWs and LPCs to supervise students who require field placement experience and supervision in their pursuit of graduation requirements. We expect this funding to increase the number of LCSWs and LPCs who are licensed and are committed to providing services in our rural health area. The second approach is to increase the knowledge, skill set, and capabilities of our existing workforce to provide care for those with behavioral health needs in our community. This second approach will provide training for our providers in behavioral health care, training for our crisis/intake nurses to become certified as certified substance abuse counselors (CSACs), and training for mental health techs and/or certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or other ancillary staff or community members to become mental health or substance peer support staff. The overarching goal of the program is to prepare students to deliver evidence/based behavioral health interventions in rural and federally qualified health centers by increasing the number of behavioral health providers and increasing the skillset of current primary or other specialty providers. Goals: 1. Provide supervision for LCSW and/or LPC students in our behavioral health programs. 2. Expand the skill set of existing work force to increase access to behavioral health care. Objectives: 1. Enroll primary care providers in REACH training in behavioral health to increase their comfort in meeting basic behavioral health needs of their patients. 2. Provide funding for mental health techs and/or CNAs or other ancillary staff or community members to become trained peers in either substance use or mental health. 3. Provide funding for nurses or others to obtain formal certification as CSACs.

For this project, we propose to scale and expand Identity’s successful evidence-based Encuentros program, which provides low-income Latino and other historically underserved youth and families access to desperately needed non-clinical community-based mental health support. The main goals and objectives of the project are as follows: • Formalize, design and produce shareable versions of 1) the Encuentros curriculum and group facilitation guide, and 2) training guide for Community Mental Health Workers (CMHWs). These materials have been piloted and continuously improved and are now ready to be designed for use electronically and in hard copy. This step will facilitate the training and consistent use of the curriculum and training materials by CMHWs and staff. • Train 12 new CMHWs to co-facilitate Encuentros groups in order to reach more community members who are suffering. The CMHWs are natural connectors and trusted leaders in their community, involved in multiple school, faith, neighborhood, work and other local networks. • Translate our curriculum, training guide and evaluation survey instruments from Spanish into English. This step will allow us to offer Encuentros groups to members of our community who prefer English. • Integrate existing Encuentros program evaluation data into Identity’s overall client data management system, customize fields and reports and train Identity staff on these improvements. This step acknowledges and supports the standardization of Encuentros as it moves past the piloting phase to long-term sustainability and scalability. Identity’s non-clinical community-based Encuentros program was established in 2020 to address the urgent and growing need for emotional support among Montgomery County MD’s Latino population, the county’s fastest growing demographic. Many Latino youth and their families face significant mental health struggles related to unaddressed toxic stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), acculturation, family separation and reunification, language barriers, housing insecurity, and economic instability, all of which were significantly compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. While clinical mental health support for Latinos was already hard to find before the pandemic due to a lack of Spanish-speaking clinicians and the cost of therapy, COVID-related job, food, housing and health insecurities further traumatized those that were already suffering and overwhelmed clinical capacity. To meet this need, Encuentros provides youth and families from historically underserved Latino communities with no-cost, culturally and linguistically appropriate emotional support groups. These groups offer a safe space for participants to engage in open discussion about mental and emotional health challenges and develop strategies for managing them. The program was designed with and for the Latino community, and group sessions are delivered by trained and trusted community members (Community Mental Health Workers) with support from Identity’s bilingual staff. In Spanish, “encuentros” is the act of coming together.

SECTION A: Description of Project, Population of Focus, and Statement of Need A-1 Hope for Heroes Horsemanship Center has been providing Therapeutic Horsemanship classes to about 100 individual veterans and active duty personnel annually for the last 5 years. They do this by organizing participants into small group classes of 4 to 6 participants each for weekly 90 minute classes for 8 consecutive weeks. They operate 3 classes daily on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for each 8-week semester and generally operate 4 semesters annually. Of these (9) classes that are offered weekly, 4 to 5 are for first-time participants and 3 to 4 are for participants who have already completed one semester and are attending for "Postvention" Services. The applicant operates this program through community donations and does not ever charge any of the participants any fees for participation. To-date, the applicant program has never obtained complete and total funding for their operations and relies upon no-interest loans from the program founders to maintain operations. The applicant program will be using this Funding Opportunity FG-23-099 to help pay for the funding of their program in conjunction with other community funding. The Program has consistently grown their community funding base each year by 15% to 30% and received

People harmed by interpersonal violence are at higher risk for depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and poly-victimization. To mitigate these additional harms, culturally-responsive and trauma-informed responses to disclosures are critical. STRIVE-COPE improves crisis response (forensic interviews, forensic medical exams, advocacy) and behavioral health care (acute support and healing care) to survivors of interpersonal and sexualized violence. This project also supports outreach, violence prevention, and professional education. Staff: This grant supports 15 specialty staff positions in three areas of care: Sexual Assault Response, Mental Health and Wellness, and Interpersonal Violence Education and Prevention. Several of these positions require bilingual skills and experience navigating systems with a multi-cultural perspective. Population & Primary Service Area: While Mosaic Georgia serves all who request care, STRIVE-COPE focuses on youth and adults, largely female, LGBTQ, and/or BIPOC, who experience dating violence, sexual assault/ abuse, stalking, sex trafficking or other commercial sexual exploitation. In 2022, 45% clients were between ages 13-24; 37% were 12 and under; and 18% were 25-90 years. 77% were BIPOC. The primary geography/catchment area is Gwinnett County, Georgia. With almost 1,000,000 people, 26% of residents were born outside the United States and 1/3 households speak a language other than English at home. There are over 180,000 k-12 students in in 141 public schools. The need for culturally-responsive outreach and care continues to grow. Services: STRIVE-COPE improves Care with practitioners in acute response roles and behavioral health & wellness care. Services include forensic interview and medical services with acute triage and interventions; individual trauma-focused therapy plans, therapeutic and psychoeducational support groups, and trauma-informed healing and wellness modalities with culturally based approaches. Outreach to deliver resources to underserved communities and Prevention initiatives for youth, adults, and parents to reduce stigma and encourage engagement in care. Education for professionals in public safety will help improve trauma-informed responses to victims. All education/training is designed to increase knowledge and enhance practical skills. Project Goals & Measurable Objectives: STRIVE-COPE increases access and improves the level of care for BIPOC and other victims of interpersonal violence: 150 clients served with acute response (forensic interview & forensic medical) care. 180 clients will participate in therapeutic care resulting in decreased trauma symptoms and increased resilience coping skills. Professional education will improve communication and trauma-informed skills of 80% of 100+ participating criminal justice practitioners. Culturally-responsive prevention initiatives will strengthen protective factors for 60% of 160+ participants who are vulnerable to interpersonal violence. Culturally-responsive outreach and education with BIPOC professionals will create 2-4 new collaborations for under-served, at-risk youth and adults.

No-cost crisis mental health services to D.C. schools, health care providers, nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses seeking support in the aftermath of a death, crime-related incident, or other traumatic event. The project provides stabilization-focused services so that all segments of the workforce can access targeted mental health support in the aftermath of a crisis. Any individual who works in Washington, D.C. and is impacted by a critical incident at work will be eligible for participation. Services consist of support sessions for individuals and/or groups based on the specific needs of a requesting workplace.

The Wisconsin 988 Congressional Spending Project will work to expand capacity at the Wisconsin Lifeline to respond to 988 calls, chats, and texts proficiently and compassionately. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) will work with the Wisconsin Lifeline to increase the in-state answer rates. To support expansion of the Wisconsin Lifeline, Wisconsin DHS will provide resources to enhance the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of qualified behavioral health staff. This project will allow the Wisconsin Lifeline to ensure that all residents, regardless of geographical area, have access to quality, local crisis services when they contact 988. Wisconsin is home to approximately 5.9 million people. Wisconsin's overall population is 88% white, 7% African American, 3% Asian, and 1% American Indian/Alaska Native. Of that overall population, 8% is Hispanic, 22% is under the age of 18, and 18% is over the age of 65. Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, 65% are considered rural (non-metro). In addition, 11% of the population lives below the poverty level. In 2022, the Wisconsin Lifeline provider Family Services, responded to an estimated 46,635 Lifeline calls made by Wisconsin residents, a 116% increase from 2021. While exact numbers serviced is impossible to predict due to the nature of the service, based on 2022 call, chat, and text volume data, Wisconsin is expecting to respond to an estimated 87,535 contacts to the Lifeline throughout this project year. The two most common reasons help seekers identify as their primary reason for contacting 988 are mental health concerns and relationship related issues. The State of Wisconsin, Department of Health Services has an opportunity through this project to expand and improve the infrastructure and capacity at the WI Lifeline. Three goals of this project are: 1. Increase the capacity of the Wisconsin Lifeline to respond to chat and text demand. 2. Improve and maintain high in-state answer rates for calls, chats, and texts by expanding the remote workforce with 50% of Lifeline counselors working remotely by the end of this project period. 3. Further develop and enhance the infrastructure needed to meet in-state answer rate goals and maintain high-quality 988 services to all Wisconsinites. Personnel and staff requirements for this project will be in kind and made up of staff within the Bureau of Prevention Treatment and Recovery Services. Staff will include a Project Director, Project Supervisor, and Project Coordinator. Contracted staff will include Family Services as the contracted Wisconsin Lifeline provider, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute who will provide evaluation services, and Spherion for contracted DHS positions.