H79SM088152

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico Project AWARE seeks to establish a network of partners to promote, prevent, and intervene with school-and-evidenced-based mental health services.

The project will address:
1) Educators, behavioral health professionals lack professional development;
2) Increased school-aged youth mental health needs; and
3) No systematic coordination of services for connecting school and CBO services.

Through a three-tiered system of support, BBGPR Project AWARE will increase the number of students and faculty who utilize SEL curriculums, suicide prevention training, violence prevention education, MHAT training, evidence-based behavioral health and substance-use services, and referrals.

Population: 1,943 youth (6-17), families, teachers, and faculty at five Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) schools and BGCPR clubhouses.

Specific service areas include five public housing complexes and associated public school; BGCPR Arecibo, Bayamon, San Lorenzo, Llorens Torres, and Las Margaritas (San Juan) clubhouses.

Nearly 100% Hispanic, 60% youth impoverished, and 24.6% of PRDE students need behavioral, emotional, or health support. 60% of PR population experience traumatic events.

Services:
System of support to address:
Tier 1:
1) Youth Mental Health First Aid training.
2) Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, and Social Emotional Learning curriculum.
3) Creation of COST & CIT teams in each school.
4) School-based suicide prevention and awareness education and training.
5) School safety and threat/violence prevention program.

Tier II:
1) Process to screen and identify students needing additional support based on SAMHSA's Ready Set Go Review Screening for Health Risks in Schools.
2) Brief intervention services by licensed mental health professional.

Tier III:
1) Referral pathways for youth requiring intensive services receive referrals to critical behavioral health, substance use, or co-occurring supports/services.
2) CIT and developing crisis response plan for schools and BGCPR.

Partners:
PRDE, ASSMCA, Albizu University, Psychotraumatology Institute of PR, and The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Goal 1: Increase capacity of educators and behavioral health professionals to recognize the signs of mental health needs, de-escalate situations, respond to individuals in crisis, and refer school-aged youth to services.

Objective 1.1: Yearly at least 25 educators/staff receive training in prevention/mental health promotion = 150 by Y5.
1.2: Y1 develop and implement capacity building program for BGCPR workforce and educators to expand ability to recognize signs of violence/mental health disorder and de-escalation to assist individuals in crisis diverted to treatment.
1.3: Deploy suicide prevention and awareness training, and train 100 educators by Y5. Y3, develop suicide awareness policy for each school; increase referrals and CIT deployment.

Goal 2: Increase the quality and quantity of evidence-based mental health supports and services available to school-aged youth and the number of school-aged youth able to use those services.

2.1: Annually 90% of those trained better prepared to identify and address mental health.
2.2: Y3 5 new organizations have entered into formal written agreements to improve mental health-related practices/activities.
2.3: Y1, develop a sustainable referral infrastructure and implementation plan for providing comprehensive school-based mental health programs and services.
2.4: Conduct needs assessment and generate formal report that fulfills AWARE requirements.
2.5: Students and families at AWARE schools perceive higher awareness of and accessibility to mental health services.

Goal 3: Increase quality and size of the network of referral mental health partners available to students.

3.1: Start in Y2, 150 students annually screened for mental health interventions.
3.2: Start in Y2, at least 75 students are annually receiving mental health or related services.
3.3: Start in Y2, at least 100 students are annually referred to mental health or related services.
3.4: By Y5, 75% of school staff trained in COST and CIT referral processes.
3.5: Start in Y3, 5% annual increase in students referred to COST, 15% increase during grant.

Boys & Girls Clubs Of P.R

NOT APPLICABLE

93.243 - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance

Division of Grants Management [HHS - SAMHSA]

Puerto Rico United States

State-Wide

Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) Program (SM-23-001)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 347% from $736,363 to $3,289,888.