N Tibbs Rd

CHEROKEE PATH PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHEROKEE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE GEORGIA STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER (GASAC) WILL CREATE CO-RESPONSE CRISIS TEAMS, CHEROKEE PATH, TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVEL OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE METRO ATLANTA, CHEROKEE COUNTY IS THE 8TH LARGEST COUNTY IN GEORGIA, AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING, WITH THE POPULATION INCREASING BY 20% FROM 2010 TO 2019. THE EIGHTH MOST POPULOUS STATE, GEORGIA’S POPULATION HAS GROWN BY 8.7% DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD. BY 2050 THE POPULATION OF CHEROKEE IS PROJECTED TO BE 401,622, A 52.8% INCREASE. . CURRENTLY, CHEROKEE COUNTY HAS A 44.72% MEDICAID PENETRATION RATE INDICATING INCREASED RATES OF SATURATION WITHIN THE MARKET. IN ADDITION, OPIOID DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE NEARLY TRIPLED OVER TEN YEARS IN GEORGIA, INCREASING FROM A DEATH RATE IN 2009 OF 5.8 PER 100,000 (456 DEATHS) FOR ALL OPIOIDS TO 9.7 (1,007 DEATHS) IN 2017. THE OPIOID-INVOLVED DEATH RATE IN CHEROKEE FOR 2020 WAS 18.8 PER 100,000 COMPARED TO 17.7 FOR GEORGIA, WITH OVERDOSE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) VISITS AT 85.2 PER 100,000 TO 111.8 FOR GEORGIA. ADDITIONALLY, CHEROKEE HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATIONS IN THE STATE, REPRESENTING 7% OF THE COUNTY’S POPULATION. THE COUNTY ALSO HAS THE 3RD HIGHEST HOMELESS VETERAN POPULATION. HRBH IS EXPANDING ITS EFFECTIVE CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM INTO CHEROKEE COUNTY TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. CHEROKEE PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) IS A CO-RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP THAT PAIRS A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN WITH A UNIFORMED CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OFFICER TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS IN A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS. TO ENHANCE GEORGIA’S STATE-WIDE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL EXPAND ITS CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, THE FOLLOWING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE USED TO ORGANIZE AND EVALUATE THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: CREATING TWO CO-RESPONDER UNITS WITHIN CHEROKEE COUNTY, INCREASING 24/7 ACCESS, AND DATA IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES THAT SET UP SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED DATA PROGRAM. HRBH INTENDS TO SERVE 75 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 150 IN YEAR 2, AND 300 IN YEARS 3 AND 4 FOR A TOTAL OF 825.

PROJECT REDIRECT: AN EARLY DIVERSION CIRCUIT - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT, WILL WORK TO CREATE AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM, PROJECT REDIRECT, DESIGNED TO BETTER AVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE AND/OR LEGAL IMPACT IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. COBB COUNTY IS LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER OF ATLANTA, GA. COBB COUNTY HAS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE POPULATION WITH 51.1% WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKING UP THE SECOND MOST PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION AT 28.8%. IT IS THE 3RD MOST POPULATED COUNTY IN GEORGIA WITH 771,165 PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE . IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 114,332 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN COBB HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS, 30,488 OF THOSE ARE CONSIDERED SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE 78,955 INDIVIDUALS HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONAL FACTORS FOR SOCIOECONOMIC WELL-BEING APPEAR BETTER THAN US AVERAGES, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POCKETS OF POVERTY THAT MAKE UP 14 % OF THE POPULATION THESE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE MUCH LOWER. THE CENSUS TRACT WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTY IS 310.01 (34%) IN FAIR OAKS, AN AREA ALONG SOUTH COBB DRIVE BETWEEN SMYRNA AND MARIETTA . THAT TRACT ALSO HAS THE LOWEST MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE COUNTY AT JUST OVER $29,000. THE TOTAL POPULATION IN COBB COUNTY COMBINED THAT HAD POVERTY RATE HIGHER THAN THE US AVERAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 115,000 . AS THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER WITHIN ITS REGION, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IS PART OF A PUBLIC SAFETY NET OF PROVIDERS IN GEORGIA, FUNDED TO SERVE THE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND VA BENEFITS POPULATION IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA WHO EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE USE AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON JAIL SYSTEMS, ED’S AND HIGHER END CRISIS SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MH/ SUD, AND COD, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. THIS WILL BE COMPLETED BY ESTABLISHING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP WORKGROUP, INCREASING TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIAL PARTNERS, AND INITIATING PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS THAT CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO RESOURCES AT THE RIGHT MOMENT IN TIME. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTENDS TO SERVE 50 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 65 IN YEAR 2, 75 IN YEAR 3, 74 IN YEAR 4 AND 85 IN YEAR 5 TOTALING TO 350 THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TIMEFRAME.

PURPOSE: THE CONTINUUM OF CARE (COC) PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY-WIDE COMMITMENT TO THE GOAL OF ENDING HOMELESSNESS; PROVIDE FUNDING FOR EFFORTS BY NONPROFIT PROVIDERS, STATES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO QUICKLY HOUSE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHILE MINIMIZING THE TRAUMA AND DISLOCATION CAUSED TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES BY HOMELESSNESS; PROMOTE ACCESS TO AND EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF MAINSTREAM PROGRAMS BY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES; AND OPTIMIZE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE MOST RECENT COC AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT LISTING AWARDS BY STATE AND COC IS ACCESSIBLE AT HTTPS://WWW.HUD.GOV/PROGRAM_OFFICES/COMM_PLANNING/COC/AWARDS. SELECT THE LINK UNDER THE FUNDING AND AWARD INFORMATION SECTION FOR THE APPROPRIATE FISCAL YEAR.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM FUNDS MAY BE USED TO PAY FOR THE ELIGIBLE COSTS USED TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE PROJECTS UNDER FIVE PROGRAM COMPONENTS: (1) PERMANENT HOUSING, WHICH INCLUDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND RAPID REHOUSING; (2) TRANSITIONAL HOUSING; (3) SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ONLY; (4) HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (HMIS), AND (5) IN SOME CASES, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION. THIRTEEN TYPES OF ASSISTANCE MAY BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE (COC) PROGRAM: (1) COC PLANNING ACTIVITIES/COSTS FOR DESIGNING AND CARRYING OUT A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPLICATION TO HUD; (2) UNITED FUNDING AGENCY (UFA) COSTS FOR FISCAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTING NECESSARY TO ASSURE THE PROPER DISBURSAL OF, AND ACCOUNTING FOR, FEDERAL FUNDS AWARDED TO SUBRECIPIENTS UNDER THE CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM, (3) ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY (INCLUDING STRUCTURES) FOR USE IN THE PROVISION OF HOUSING OR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; (4) REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES TO PROVIDE HOUSING OR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; (5) NEW CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING THE BUILDING OF A NEW STRUCTURE OR BUILDING AN ADDITION TO AN EXISTING STRUCTURE FOR USE AS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING; (6) LEASING OF A STRUCTURE OR STRUCTURES, OR PORTIONS THEREOF, TO PROVIDE HOUSING OR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; (7) RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH MAY BE SHORT-TERM, MEDIUM-TERM, OR LONG-TERM, AS WELL AS TENANT-BASED, PROJECT-BASED, OR SPONSOR-BASED, FOR TRANSITIONAL OR PERMANENT HOUSING; (8) SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ASSIST PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN HOUSING; (9) OPERATING COSTS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING; (10) COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING AND OPERATING HMIS; (11) PROJECT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS; (12) RELOCATION COSTS; AND (13) INDIRECT COSTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2 CFR PARTS 200, AS APPLICABLE. IN ADDITION TO USING GRANT FUNDS FOR THE ELIGIBLE COSTS DESCRIBED ABOVE, RECIPIENTS AND SUBRECIPIENTS IN CONTINUUMS OF CARE DESIGNATED AS HIGH PERFORMING COMMUNITIES MAY ALSO USE GRANT FUNDS TO PROVIDE HOUSING RELOCATION AND STABILIZATION SERVICES AND SHORT- AND/OR MEDIUM-TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AS SET FORTH IN 24 CFR 576.103 AND 24 CFR 576.104, IF NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY FROM BECOMING HOMELESS. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS: NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER PROGRAM (OR ANY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS USED TO SUPPLEMENT THIS ASSISTANCE) MAY BE USED TO REPLACE STATE OR LOCAL FUNDS PREVIOUSLY USED, OR DESIGNATED FOR USE, TO ASSIST HOMELESS PERSONS OR PERSONS AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: DECREASE IN THE NUMBER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, MORE SPECIFICALLY USING PERFORMANCE INDICATORS SUCH AS THE LENGTH OF TIME HOMELESS, RETURNS TO HOMELESSNESS OVER TIME, AND EXITS TO PERMANENT HOUSING. COC PERFORMANCE PROFILE REPORTS CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://WWW.HUDEXCHANGE.INFO/PROGRAMS/COC/COC-PERFORMANCE-PROFILE-REPORTS/.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ARE UNKNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

CHEROKEE PATH PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHEROKEE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE GEORGIA STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER (GASAC) WILL CREATE CO-RESPONSE CRISIS TEAMS, CHEROKEE PATH, TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVEL OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE METRO ATLANTA, CHEROKEE COUNTY IS THE 8TH LARGEST COUNTY IN GEORGIA, AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING, WITH THE POPULATION INCREASING BY 20% FROM 2010 TO 2019. THE EIGHTH MOST POPULOUS STATE, GEORGIA’S POPULATION HAS GROWN BY 8.7% DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD. BY 2050 THE POPULATION OF CHEROKEE IS PROJECTED TO BE 401,622, A 52.8% INCREASE. . CURRENTLY, CHEROKEE COUNTY HAS A 44.72% MEDICAID PENETRATION RATE INDICATING INCREASED RATES OF SATURATION WITHIN THE MARKET. IN ADDITION, OPIOID DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE NEARLY TRIPLED OVER TEN YEARS IN GEORGIA, INCREASING FROM A DEATH RATE IN 2009 OF 5.8 PER 100,000 (456 DEATHS) FOR ALL OPIOIDS TO 9.7 (1,007 DEATHS) IN 2017. THE OPIOID-INVOLVED DEATH RATE IN CHEROKEE FOR 2020 WAS 18.8 PER 100,000 COMPARED TO 17.7 FOR GEORGIA, WITH OVERDOSE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) VISITS AT 85.2 PER 100,000 TO 111.8 FOR GEORGIA. ADDITIONALLY, CHEROKEE HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATIONS IN THE STATE, REPRESENTING 7% OF THE COUNTY’S POPULATION. THE COUNTY ALSO HAS THE 3RD HIGHEST HOMELESS VETERAN POPULATION. HRBH IS EXPANDING ITS EFFECTIVE CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM INTO CHEROKEE COUNTY TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. CHEROKEE PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) IS A CO-RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP THAT PAIRS A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN WITH A UNIFORMED CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OFFICER TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS IN A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS. TO ENHANCE GEORGIA’S STATE-WIDE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL EXPAND ITS CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, THE FOLLOWING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE USED TO ORGANIZE AND EVALUATE THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: CREATING TWO CO-RESPONDER UNITS WITHIN CHEROKEE COUNTY, INCREASING 24/7 ACCESS, AND DATA IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES THAT SET UP SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED DATA PROGRAM. HRBH INTENDS TO SERVE 75 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 150 IN YEAR 2, AND 300 IN YEARS 3 AND 4 FOR A TOTAL OF 825.

HIGHLAND RIVERS TRAINING INSTITUTE, A COLLABORATION WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF MENTAL ILLNESS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AND LGRMS, IS DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING SERIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS, ITS PREVALENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE SO THAT INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS ARE BETTER SERVED BY THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE INTEND TO DO THIS BY USING EXISTING BEST PRACTICE MODELS, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) AND THE QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING NEW MODULES BASED ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE TARGETED POPULATION TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF RELEVANT RESPONSES TO CITIZENS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. GEORGIA HAS MANY SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING HIGH RATES OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS (RATES OF UNINSURED: 13% GEORGIA VS. 8.9 US, CENSUS 2018), INCREASED RATES OF POVERTY (16% GEORGIA VS. 8.9% US, CENSUS 2018), AND A SIZEABLE INCOME DISPARITY (MEDIAN INCOME: GEORGIA $36,624 VS. US $42,861 CENSUS 2018). THESE SOCIETAL INDICATORS HAVE BEEN AMPLIFIED IN THE PAST YEAR WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THAT HAS ALSO INCREASED ISOLATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. THIS TRAINING WILL AIM TO INCREASE THE TARGET POPULATION'S CONFIDENCE IN USING DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND CULTIVATE A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION SHARING, WHICH WILL ALSO BE USED TO TRACK REFERRALS MADE BY TRAINING PARTICIPANTS. OUR GOAL IS TO TRAIN 90 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR ONE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS TRAINED PER YEAR (YEAR 2:180, YEAR 3: 250, YEAR 4: 250, AND YEAR 5: 250) UNTIL WE REACH OUR TOTAL GOAL OF 1020 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED. THE GRANT WILL COMPRISE 4 PHASES TO THE TRAINING PLAN. PHASE 1 WILL WORK TO BUILD AWARENESS AMONG THE TARGET POPULATION, PHASE 2 WILL CONSIST OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAM MODULES, PHASE 3 WILL IMPLEMENT THE SPECIALIZED TRAINING BASED ON REGIONAL NEEDS, AND PHASE 4 WILL SPREAD THE TRAINING PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE. WE EXPECT TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRAINING THE TOOLS TO HANDLE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY KNOWING WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO IT, AND WHEN TO DO SO. THIS ALSO INCLUDES DIMINISHING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING TREATMENT FOR THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF TRAUMA AND MENTAL ILLNESS. FINALLY, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE THAT CITY AND COUNTY LEADERSHIP HAS IN ENGAGING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND INCREASE RESOURCE ALLOCATION THAT IMPROVES AND SUSTAINS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

HIGHLAND RIVERS TRAINING INSTITUTE, A COLLABORATION WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF MENTAL ILLNESS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AND LGRMS, IS DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING SERIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS, ITS PREVALENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE SO THAT INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS ARE BETTER SERVED BY THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE INTEND TO DO THIS BY USING EXISTING BEST PRACTICE MODELS, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) AND THE QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING NEW MODULES BASED ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE TARGETED POPULATION TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF RELEVANT RESPONSES TO CITIZENS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. GEORGIA HAS MANY SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING HIGH RATES OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS (RATES OF UNINSURED: 13% GEORGIA VS. 8.9 US, CENSUS 2018), INCREASED RATES OF POVERTY (16% GEORGIA VS. 8.9% US, CENSUS 2018), AND A SIZEABLE INCOME DISPARITY (MEDIAN INCOME: GEORGIA $36,624 VS. US $42,861 CENSUS 2018). THESE SOCIETAL INDICATORS HAVE BEEN AMPLIFIED IN THE PAST YEAR WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THAT HAS ALSO INCREASED ISOLATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. THIS TRAINING WILL AIM TO INCREASE THE TARGET POPULATION'S CONFIDENCE IN USING DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND CULTIVATE A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION SHARING, WHICH WILL ALSO BE USED TO TRACK REFERRALS MADE BY TRAINING PARTICIPANTS. OUR GOAL IS TO TRAIN 90 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR ONE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS TRAINED PER YEAR (YEAR 2:180, YEAR 3: 250, YEAR 4: 250, AND YEAR 5: 250) UNTIL WE REACH OUR TOTAL GOAL OF 1020 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED. THE GRANT WILL COMPRISE 4 PHASES TO THE TRAINING PLAN. PHASE 1 WILL WORK TO BUILD AWARENESS AMONG THE TARGET POPULATION, PHASE 2 WILL CONSIST OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAM MODULES, PHASE 3 WILL IMPLEMENT THE SPECIALIZED TRAINING BASED ON REGIONAL NEEDS, AND PHASE 4 WILL SPREAD THE TRAINING PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE. WE EXPECT TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRAINING THE TOOLS TO HANDLE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY KNOWING WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO IT, AND WHEN TO DO SO. THIS ALSO INCLUDES DIMINISHING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING TREATMENT FOR THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF TRAUMA AND MENTAL ILLNESS. FINALLY, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE THAT CITY AND COUNTY LEADERSHIP HAS IN ENGAGING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND INCREASE RESOURCE ALLOCATION THAT IMPROVES AND SUSTAINS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

CHEROKEE PATH PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHEROKEE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE GEORGIA STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER (GASAC) WILL CREATE CO-RESPONSE CRISIS TEAMS, CHEROKEE PATH, TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVEL OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE METRO ATLANTA, CHEROKEE COUNTY IS THE 8TH LARGEST COUNTY IN GEORGIA, AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING, WITH THE POPULATION INCREASING BY 20% FROM 2010 TO 2019. THE EIGHTH MOST POPULOUS STATE, GEORGIA’S POPULATION HAS GROWN BY 8.7% DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD. BY 2050 THE POPULATION OF CHEROKEE IS PROJECTED TO BE 401,622, A 52.8% INCREASE. . CURRENTLY, CHEROKEE COUNTY HAS A 44.72% MEDICAID PENETRATION RATE INDICATING INCREASED RATES OF SATURATION WITHIN THE MARKET. IN ADDITION, OPIOID DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE NEARLY TRIPLED OVER TEN YEARS IN GEORGIA, INCREASING FROM A DEATH RATE IN 2009 OF 5.8 PER 100,000 (456 DEATHS) FOR ALL OPIOIDS TO 9.7 (1,007 DEATHS) IN 2017. THE OPIOID-INVOLVED DEATH RATE IN CHEROKEE FOR 2020 WAS 18.8 PER 100,000 COMPARED TO 17.7 FOR GEORGIA, WITH OVERDOSE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) VISITS AT 85.2 PER 100,000 TO 111.8 FOR GEORGIA. ADDITIONALLY, CHEROKEE HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATIONS IN THE STATE, REPRESENTING 7% OF THE COUNTY’S POPULATION. THE COUNTY ALSO HAS THE 3RD HIGHEST HOMELESS VETERAN POPULATION. HRBH IS EXPANDING ITS EFFECTIVE CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM INTO CHEROKEE COUNTY TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. CHEROKEE PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) IS A CO-RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP THAT PAIRS A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN WITH A UNIFORMED CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OFFICER TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS IN A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS. TO ENHANCE GEORGIA’S STATE-WIDE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL EXPAND ITS CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, THE FOLLOWING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE USED TO ORGANIZE AND EVALUATE THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: CREATING TWO CO-RESPONDER UNITS WITHIN CHEROKEE COUNTY, INCREASING 24/7 ACCESS, AND DATA IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES THAT SET UP SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED DATA PROGRAM. HRBH INTENDS TO SERVE 75 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 150 IN YEAR 2, AND 300 IN YEARS 3 AND 4 FOR A TOTAL OF 825.

HIGHLAND RIVERS TRAINING INSTITUTE, A COLLABORATION WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF MENTAL ILLNESS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AND LGRMS, IS DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING SERIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS, ITS PREVALENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE SO THAT INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS ARE BETTER SERVED BY THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE INTEND TO DO THIS BY USING EXISTING BEST PRACTICE MODELS, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) AND THE QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING NEW MODULES BASED ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE TARGETED POPULATION TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF RELEVANT RESPONSES TO CITIZENS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. GEORGIA HAS MANY SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING HIGH RATES OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS (RATES OF UNINSURED: 13% GEORGIA VS. 8.9 US, CENSUS 2018), INCREASED RATES OF POVERTY (16% GEORGIA VS. 8.9% US, CENSUS 2018), AND A SIZEABLE INCOME DISPARITY (MEDIAN INCOME: GEORGIA $36,624 VS. US $42,861 CENSUS 2018). THESE SOCIETAL INDICATORS HAVE BEEN AMPLIFIED IN THE PAST YEAR WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THAT HAS ALSO INCREASED ISOLATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. THIS TRAINING WILL AIM TO INCREASE THE TARGET POPULATION'S CONFIDENCE IN USING DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND CULTIVATE A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION SHARING, WHICH WILL ALSO BE USED TO TRACK REFERRALS MADE BY TRAINING PARTICIPANTS. OUR GOAL IS TO TRAIN 90 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR ONE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS TRAINED PER YEAR (YEAR 2:180, YEAR 3: 250, YEAR 4: 250, AND YEAR 5: 250) UNTIL WE REACH OUR TOTAL GOAL OF 1020 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED. THE GRANT WILL COMPRISE 4 PHASES TO THE TRAINING PLAN. PHASE 1 WILL WORK TO BUILD AWARENESS AMONG THE TARGET POPULATION, PHASE 2 WILL CONSIST OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAM MODULES, PHASE 3 WILL IMPLEMENT THE SPECIALIZED TRAINING BASED ON REGIONAL NEEDS, AND PHASE 4 WILL SPREAD THE TRAINING PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE. WE EXPECT TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRAINING THE TOOLS TO HANDLE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY KNOWING WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO IT, AND WHEN TO DO SO. THIS ALSO INCLUDES DIMINISHING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING TREATMENT FOR THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF TRAUMA AND MENTAL ILLNESS. FINALLY, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE THAT CITY AND COUNTY LEADERSHIP HAS IN ENGAGING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND INCREASE RESOURCE ALLOCATION THAT IMPROVES AND SUSTAINS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

PROJECT REDIRECT: AN EARLY DIVERSION CIRCUIT - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT, WILL WORK TO CREATE AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM, PROJECT REDIRECT, DESIGNED TO BETTER AVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE AND/OR LEGAL IMPACT IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. COBB COUNTY IS LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER OF ATLANTA, GA. COBB COUNTY HAS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE POPULATION WITH 51.1% WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKING UP THE SECOND MOST PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION AT 28.8%. IT IS THE 3RD MOST POPULATED COUNTY IN GEORGIA WITH 771,165 PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE . IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 114,332 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN COBB HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS, 30,488 OF THOSE ARE CONSIDERED SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE 78,955 INDIVIDUALS HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONAL FACTORS FOR SOCIOECONOMIC WELL-BEING APPEAR BETTER THAN US AVERAGES, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POCKETS OF POVERTY THAT MAKE UP 14 % OF THE POPULATION THESE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE MUCH LOWER. THE CENSUS TRACT WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTY IS 310.01 (34%) IN FAIR OAKS, AN AREA ALONG SOUTH COBB DRIVE BETWEEN SMYRNA AND MARIETTA . THAT TRACT ALSO HAS THE LOWEST MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE COUNTY AT JUST OVER $29,000. THE TOTAL POPULATION IN COBB COUNTY COMBINED THAT HAD POVERTY RATE HIGHER THAN THE US AVERAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 115,000 . AS THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER WITHIN ITS REGION, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IS PART OF A PUBLIC SAFETY NET OF PROVIDERS IN GEORGIA, FUNDED TO SERVE THE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND VA BENEFITS POPULATION IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA WHO EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE USE AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON JAIL SYSTEMS, ED’S AND HIGHER END CRISIS SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MH/ SUD, AND COD, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. THIS WILL BE COMPLETED BY ESTABLISHING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP WORKGROUP, INCREASING TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIAL PARTNERS, AND INITIATING PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS THAT CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO RESOURCES AT THE RIGHT MOMENT IN TIME. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTENDS TO SERVE 50 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 65 IN YEAR 2, 75 IN YEAR 3, 74 IN YEAR 4 AND 85 IN YEAR 5 TOTALING TO 350 THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TIMEFRAME.

HIGHLAND RIVERS TRAINING INSTITUTE, A COLLABORATION WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF MENTAL ILLNESS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AND LGRMS, IS DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING SERIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS, ITS PREVALENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE SO THAT INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS ARE BETTER SERVED BY THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE INTEND TO DO THIS BY USING EXISTING BEST PRACTICE MODELS, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) AND THE QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING NEW MODULES BASED ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE TARGETED POPULATION TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF RELEVANT RESPONSES TO CITIZENS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. GEORGIA HAS MANY SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING HIGH RATES OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS (RATES OF UNINSURED: 13% GEORGIA VS. 8.9 US, CENSUS 2018), INCREASED RATES OF POVERTY (16% GEORGIA VS. 8.9% US, CENSUS 2018), AND A SIZEABLE INCOME DISPARITY (MEDIAN INCOME: GEORGIA $36,624 VS. US $42,861 CENSUS 2018). THESE SOCIETAL INDICATORS HAVE BEEN AMPLIFIED IN THE PAST YEAR WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THAT HAS ALSO INCREASED ISOLATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. THIS TRAINING WILL AIM TO INCREASE THE TARGET POPULATION'S CONFIDENCE IN USING DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND CULTIVATE A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION SHARING, WHICH WILL ALSO BE USED TO TRACK REFERRALS MADE BY TRAINING PARTICIPANTS. OUR GOAL IS TO TRAIN 90 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR ONE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS TRAINED PER YEAR (YEAR 2:180, YEAR 3: 250, YEAR 4: 250, AND YEAR 5: 250) UNTIL WE REACH OUR TOTAL GOAL OF 1020 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED. THE GRANT WILL COMPRISE 4 PHASES TO THE TRAINING PLAN. PHASE 1 WILL WORK TO BUILD AWARENESS AMONG THE TARGET POPULATION, PHASE 2 WILL CONSIST OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAM MODULES, PHASE 3 WILL IMPLEMENT THE SPECIALIZED TRAINING BASED ON REGIONAL NEEDS, AND PHASE 4 WILL SPREAD THE TRAINING PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE. WE EXPECT TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRAINING THE TOOLS TO HANDLE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY KNOWING WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO IT, AND WHEN TO DO SO. THIS ALSO INCLUDES DIMINISHING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING TREATMENT FOR THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF TRAUMA AND MENTAL ILLNESS. FINALLY, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE THAT CITY AND COUNTY LEADERSHIP HAS IN ENGAGING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND INCREASE RESOURCE ALLOCATION THAT IMPROVES AND SUSTAINS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

CHEROKEE PATH PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHEROKEE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE GEORGIA STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER (GASAC) WILL CREATE CO-RESPONSE CRISIS TEAMS, CHEROKEE PATH, TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVEL OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE METRO ATLANTA, CHEROKEE COUNTY IS THE 8TH LARGEST COUNTY IN GEORGIA, AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING, WITH THE POPULATION INCREASING BY 20% FROM 2010 TO 2019. THE EIGHTH MOST POPULOUS STATE, GEORGIA’S POPULATION HAS GROWN BY 8.7% DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD. BY 2050 THE POPULATION OF CHEROKEE IS PROJECTED TO BE 401,622, A 52.8% INCREASE. . CURRENTLY, CHEROKEE COUNTY HAS A 44.72% MEDICAID PENETRATION RATE INDICATING INCREASED RATES OF SATURATION WITHIN THE MARKET. IN ADDITION, OPIOID DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE NEARLY TRIPLED OVER TEN YEARS IN GEORGIA, INCREASING FROM A DEATH RATE IN 2009 OF 5.8 PER 100,000 (456 DEATHS) FOR ALL OPIOIDS TO 9.7 (1,007 DEATHS) IN 2017. THE OPIOID-INVOLVED DEATH RATE IN CHEROKEE FOR 2020 WAS 18.8 PER 100,000 COMPARED TO 17.7 FOR GEORGIA, WITH OVERDOSE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) VISITS AT 85.2 PER 100,000 TO 111.8 FOR GEORGIA. ADDITIONALLY, CHEROKEE HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATIONS IN THE STATE, REPRESENTING 7% OF THE COUNTY’S POPULATION. THE COUNTY ALSO HAS THE 3RD HIGHEST HOMELESS VETERAN POPULATION. HRBH IS EXPANDING ITS EFFECTIVE CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM INTO CHEROKEE COUNTY TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. CHEROKEE PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) IS A CO-RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP THAT PAIRS A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN WITH A UNIFORMED CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OFFICER TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS IN A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS. TO ENHANCE GEORGIA’S STATE-WIDE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL EXPAND ITS CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, THE FOLLOWING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE USED TO ORGANIZE AND EVALUATE THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: CREATING TWO CO-RESPONDER UNITS WITHIN CHEROKEE COUNTY, INCREASING 24/7 ACCESS, AND DATA IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES THAT SET UP SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED DATA PROGRAM. HRBH INTENDS TO SERVE 75 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 150 IN YEAR 2, AND 300 IN YEARS 3 AND 4 FOR A TOTAL OF 825.

PROJECT REDIRECT: AN EARLY DIVERSION CIRCUIT - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT, WILL WORK TO CREATE AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM, PROJECT REDIRECT, DESIGNED TO BETTER AVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE AND/OR LEGAL IMPACT IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. COBB COUNTY IS LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER OF ATLANTA, GA. COBB COUNTY HAS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE POPULATION WITH 51.1% WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKING UP THE SECOND MOST PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION AT 28.8%. IT IS THE 3RD MOST POPULATED COUNTY IN GEORGIA WITH 771,165 PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE . IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 114,332 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN COBB HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS, 30,488 OF THOSE ARE CONSIDERED SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE 78,955 INDIVIDUALS HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONAL FACTORS FOR SOCIOECONOMIC WELL-BEING APPEAR BETTER THAN US AVERAGES, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POCKETS OF POVERTY THAT MAKE UP 14 % OF THE POPULATION THESE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE MUCH LOWER. THE CENSUS TRACT WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTY IS 310.01 (34%) IN FAIR OAKS, AN AREA ALONG SOUTH COBB DRIVE BETWEEN SMYRNA AND MARIETTA . THAT TRACT ALSO HAS THE LOWEST MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE COUNTY AT JUST OVER $29,000. THE TOTAL POPULATION IN COBB COUNTY COMBINED THAT HAD POVERTY RATE HIGHER THAN THE US AVERAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 115,000 . AS THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER WITHIN ITS REGION, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IS PART OF A PUBLIC SAFETY NET OF PROVIDERS IN GEORGIA, FUNDED TO SERVE THE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND VA BENEFITS POPULATION IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA WHO EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE USE AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON JAIL SYSTEMS, ED’S AND HIGHER END CRISIS SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MH/ SUD, AND COD, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. THIS WILL BE COMPLETED BY ESTABLISHING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP WORKGROUP, INCREASING TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIAL PARTNERS, AND INITIATING PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS THAT CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO RESOURCES AT THE RIGHT MOMENT IN TIME. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTENDS TO SERVE 50 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 65 IN YEAR 2, 75 IN YEAR 3, 74 IN YEAR 4 AND 85 IN YEAR 5 TOTALING TO 350 THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TIMEFRAME.

HIGHLAND RIVERS TRAINING INSTITUTE, A COLLABORATION WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF MENTAL ILLNESS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AND LGRMS, IS DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING SERIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS GEORGIA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS, ITS PREVALENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE SO THAT INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS ARE BETTER SERVED BY THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE INTEND TO DO THIS BY USING EXISTING BEST PRACTICE MODELS, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) AND THE QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING NEW MODULES BASED ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE TARGETED POPULATION TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF RELEVANT RESPONSES TO CITIZENS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. GEORGIA HAS MANY SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING HIGH RATES OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS (RATES OF UNINSURED: 13% GEORGIA VS. 8.9 US, CENSUS 2018), INCREASED RATES OF POVERTY (16% GEORGIA VS. 8.9% US, CENSUS 2018), AND A SIZEABLE INCOME DISPARITY (MEDIAN INCOME: GEORGIA $36,624 VS. US $42,861 CENSUS 2018). THESE SOCIETAL INDICATORS HAVE BEEN AMPLIFIED IN THE PAST YEAR WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THAT HAS ALSO INCREASED ISOLATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. THIS TRAINING WILL AIM TO INCREASE THE TARGET POPULATION'S CONFIDENCE IN USING DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND CULTIVATE A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION SHARING, WHICH WILL ALSO BE USED TO TRACK REFERRALS MADE BY TRAINING PARTICIPANTS. OUR GOAL IS TO TRAIN 90 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR ONE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS TRAINED PER YEAR (YEAR 2:180, YEAR 3: 250, YEAR 4: 250, AND YEAR 5: 250) UNTIL WE REACH OUR TOTAL GOAL OF 1020 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED. THE GRANT WILL COMPRISE 4 PHASES TO THE TRAINING PLAN. PHASE 1 WILL WORK TO BUILD AWARENESS AMONG THE TARGET POPULATION, PHASE 2 WILL CONSIST OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAM MODULES, PHASE 3 WILL IMPLEMENT THE SPECIALIZED TRAINING BASED ON REGIONAL NEEDS, AND PHASE 4 WILL SPREAD THE TRAINING PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE. WE EXPECT TO GIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRAINING THE TOOLS TO HANDLE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY KNOWING WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO IT, AND WHEN TO DO SO. THIS ALSO INCLUDES DIMINISHING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING TREATMENT FOR THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF TRAUMA AND MENTAL ILLNESS. FINALLY, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE THAT CITY AND COUNTY LEADERSHIP HAS IN ENGAGING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND INCREASE RESOURCE ALLOCATION THAT IMPROVES AND SUSTAINS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

TO ADDRESS BJA PRIORITY AREAS INVOLVING RISK OF HARM TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MI/CMISA AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE APPLICATION OF EVIDENCED-BASED INTERVENTION TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CATOOSA COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY SERVICES (LMCS) AND GEORGIAS STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER (GASAC), WILL WORK TO DEVELOP A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT IS AIMED AT SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THIS CONTINUUM WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY, PROCEDURE, AND RESOURCES FOR CO-RESPONSE BETWEEN LAW-ENFORCEMENT AND CLINICIAN. THIS INITIATIVE WILL INCORPORATE INCREASED TRAINING THAT ALLOWS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE TO AND OUTCOMES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (MI) AND CO-OCCURRING MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE (CMISA), AND INCREASED REFERRAL TO SERVICES REDUCING THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE JAIL SYSTEM OF CATOOSA COUNTY. THE CO-RESPONSE TEAM WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND JOINTLY TO SITUATIONS IN WHICH A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS IS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED USING A SPECIALLY TRAINED OFFICER AND A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN. THIS MODEL ALLOWS COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL LEADERS TO DEVELOP A CRISIS CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT FACILITATES THE REDUCTION OF HARM, ARRESTS, AND USE OF JAILS AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS. THIS SYSTEM PROMOTES THE DEVELOPMENT OF AND ACCESS TO QUALITY MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND SERVICES AND SERVES AS THE PRE-BOOKING PHASE OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE CYCLE. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON JAIL SYSTEMS, EDS AND HIGHER END CRISIS SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MI/ CMISA THROUGH THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED CO-RESPONDER TEAM. THE MAIN STRATEGIES OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS THE RESPONSE LEVEL AND NUMBER OF CASES OF MENTAL HEALTH CALLS; PROVIDE ENHANCED CIT, DE-ESCALATION, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING; AND, FACILITATE THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF OUR INTEGRATED PARTNERSHIP. TRAINING INITIATIVES WILL ENSURE MI/CMISA CALLS ARE HANDLED WITH A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND UNDERSTANDING TEAM FOCUSED ON ENSUING INDIVIDUALS ARE LINKED TO THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCE. WE INTEND TO MAINTAIN A CASE LOAD OF 30 IN YEAR 1, 6O IN YEAR 2 AND 90 IN YEAR 3.

PROJECT REDIRECT: AN EARLY DIVERSION CIRCUIT - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT, WILL WORK TO CREATE AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM, PROJECT REDIRECT, DESIGNED TO BETTER AVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE AND/OR LEGAL IMPACT IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. COBB COUNTY IS LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER OF ATLANTA, GA. COBB COUNTY HAS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE POPULATION WITH 51.1% WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKING UP THE SECOND MOST PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION AT 28.8%. IT IS THE 3RD MOST POPULATED COUNTY IN GEORGIA WITH 771,165 PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE . IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 114,332 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN COBB HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS, 30,488 OF THOSE ARE CONSIDERED SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE 78,955 INDIVIDUALS HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONAL FACTORS FOR SOCIOECONOMIC WELL-BEING APPEAR BETTER THAN US AVERAGES, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POCKETS OF POVERTY THAT MAKE UP 14 % OF THE POPULATION THESE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE MUCH LOWER. THE CENSUS TRACT WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTY IS 310.01 (34%) IN FAIR OAKS, AN AREA ALONG SOUTH COBB DRIVE BETWEEN SMYRNA AND MARIETTA . THAT TRACT ALSO HAS THE LOWEST MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE COUNTY AT JUST OVER $29,000. THE TOTAL POPULATION IN COBB COUNTY COMBINED THAT HAD POVERTY RATE HIGHER THAN THE US AVERAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 115,000 . AS THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER WITHIN ITS REGION, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IS PART OF A PUBLIC SAFETY NET OF PROVIDERS IN GEORGIA, FUNDED TO SERVE THE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND VA BENEFITS POPULATION IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA WHO EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE USE AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON JAIL SYSTEMS, ED’S AND HIGHER END CRISIS SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MH/ SUD, AND COD, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. THIS WILL BE COMPLETED BY ESTABLISHING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP WORKGROUP, INCREASING TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIAL PARTNERS, AND INITIATING PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS THAT CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO RESOURCES AT THE RIGHT MOMENT IN TIME. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTENDS TO SERVE 50 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 65 IN YEAR 2, 75 IN YEAR 3, 74 IN YEAR 4 AND 85 IN YEAR 5 TOTALING TO 350 THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TIMEFRAME.

CHEROKEE PATH PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHEROKEE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE GEORGIA STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER (GASAC) WILL CREATE CO-RESPONSE CRISIS TEAMS, CHEROKEE PATH, TO BETTER DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVEL OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE METRO ATLANTA, CHEROKEE COUNTY IS THE 8TH LARGEST COUNTY IN GEORGIA, AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING, WITH THE POPULATION INCREASING BY 20% FROM 2010 TO 2019. THE EIGHTH MOST POPULOUS STATE, GEORGIA’S POPULATION HAS GROWN BY 8.7% DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD. BY 2050 THE POPULATION OF CHEROKEE IS PROJECTED TO BE 401,622, A 52.8% INCREASE. . CURRENTLY, CHEROKEE COUNTY HAS A 44.72% MEDICAID PENETRATION RATE INDICATING INCREASED RATES OF SATURATION WITHIN THE MARKET. IN ADDITION, OPIOID DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE NEARLY TRIPLED OVER TEN YEARS IN GEORGIA, INCREASING FROM A DEATH RATE IN 2009 OF 5.8 PER 100,000 (456 DEATHS) FOR ALL OPIOIDS TO 9.7 (1,007 DEATHS) IN 2017. THE OPIOID-INVOLVED DEATH RATE IN CHEROKEE FOR 2020 WAS 18.8 PER 100,000 COMPARED TO 17.7 FOR GEORGIA, WITH OVERDOSE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) VISITS AT 85.2 PER 100,000 TO 111.8 FOR GEORGIA. ADDITIONALLY, CHEROKEE HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATIONS IN THE STATE, REPRESENTING 7% OF THE COUNTY’S POPULATION. THE COUNTY ALSO HAS THE 3RD HIGHEST HOMELESS VETERAN POPULATION. HRBH IS EXPANDING ITS EFFECTIVE CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM INTO CHEROKEE COUNTY TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY GEORGIA. CHEROKEE PATH (PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE, TREATMENT & HEALTH) IS A CO-RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP THAT PAIRS A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN WITH A UNIFORMED CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OFFICER TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS IN A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS. TO ENHANCE GEORGIA’S STATE-WIDE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL EXPAND ITS CO-RESPONSE PROGRAM TO DIVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, THE FOLLOWING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE USED TO ORGANIZE AND EVALUATE THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: CREATING TWO CO-RESPONDER UNITS WITHIN CHEROKEE COUNTY, INCREASING 24/7 ACCESS, AND DATA IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES THAT SET UP SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED DATA PROGRAM. HRBH INTENDS TO SERVE 75 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 150 IN YEAR 2, AND 300 IN YEARS 3 AND 4 FOR A TOTAL OF 825.

PROJECT REDIRECT: AN EARLY DIVERSION CIRCUIT - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT, WILL WORK TO CREATE AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM, PROJECT REDIRECT, DESIGNED TO BETTER AVERT ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FROM JAIL AND/OR UNNECESSARY HIGHER LEVELS OF INPATIENT CARE AND/OR LEGAL IMPACT IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. COBB COUNTY IS LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER OF ATLANTA, GA. COBB COUNTY HAS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE POPULATION WITH 51.1% WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKING UP THE SECOND MOST PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION AT 28.8%. IT IS THE 3RD MOST POPULATED COUNTY IN GEORGIA WITH 771,165 PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE . IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 114,332 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN COBB HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS, 30,488 OF THOSE ARE CONSIDERED SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE 78,955 INDIVIDUALS HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONAL FACTORS FOR SOCIOECONOMIC WELL-BEING APPEAR BETTER THAN US AVERAGES, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POCKETS OF POVERTY THAT MAKE UP 14 % OF THE POPULATION THESE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE MUCH LOWER. THE CENSUS TRACT WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTY IS 310.01 (34%) IN FAIR OAKS, AN AREA ALONG SOUTH COBB DRIVE BETWEEN SMYRNA AND MARIETTA . THAT TRACT ALSO HAS THE LOWEST MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE COUNTY AT JUST OVER $29,000. THE TOTAL POPULATION IN COBB COUNTY COMBINED THAT HAD POVERTY RATE HIGHER THAN THE US AVERAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 115,000 . AS THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER WITHIN ITS REGION, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (HRBH) IS PART OF A PUBLIC SAFETY NET OF PROVIDERS IN GEORGIA, FUNDED TO SERVE THE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND VA BENEFITS POPULATION IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA WHO EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE USE AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON JAIL SYSTEMS, ED’S AND HIGHER END CRISIS SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MH/ SUD, AND COD, HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THE COBB COUNTY SOLICITOR GENERAL, COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WARRIOR ALLIANCE AND MAGISTRATE COURT WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM IN COBB COUNTY GEORGIA. THIS WILL BE COMPLETED BY ESTABLISHING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP WORKGROUP, INCREASING TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIAL PARTNERS, AND INITIATING PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS THAT CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO RESOURCES AT THE RIGHT MOMENT IN TIME. HIGHLAND RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTENDS TO SERVE 50 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 65 IN YEAR 2, 75 IN YEAR 3, 74 IN YEAR 4 AND 85 IN YEAR 5 TOTALING TO 350 THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TIMEFRAME.

HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB DBA HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER - HIGHLAND RIVERS CSB, D.B.A. HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH (HRH), WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO CRITICAL TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON POPULATIONS WITH SMI, SED AND COD WHO ARE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED WITHIN OUR 12-COUNTY NORTHWEST GEORGIA SERVICE AREA. EVEN PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SYSTEMS WITHIN THESE COUNTIES WERE UNDER IMMENSE STRESS THAT OFTEN RESTRICTED THEIR ABILITY TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE ACUTE NEED FOR CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, SUPPORT AND RECOVERY SERVICES RESULTING FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND RESTORE AND ENHANCE THE DELIVERY OF THESE SERVICES TO THOSE WHO WERE BEING SERVED PRIOR TO MARCH 2020. IMPLEMENTATION WILL PRIORITIZE DEVELOPING AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO ADDRESS SERVICE FATIGUE AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF CMHC STAFF; PROVIDING ACCESS TO EARLY INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BY EXPANDING OUR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM (APEX) INTO MURRAY COUNTY; AND, REDUCING THE RELIANCE ON HIGHER-END CRISIS SERVICES AND HOSPITALIZATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SMI, SED AND COD THROUGH EXPANSION OF OUR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ED DIVERSION PARTNERSHIPS. HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH WILL EMPLOY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS TO WORK WITH STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE MORE THAN 35,000 CONTACTS OR TOUCH POINTS DURING THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD. BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, REFERRAL SPECIALISTS WILL PROCESS 2,800 DIRECT REFERRALS INTO HIGHLAND RIVERS’ SERVICES – OUTPATIENT, VETERANS, RESIDENTIAL, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT, SUBSTANCE USE AND OTHERS – ENSURING INDIVIDUALS ARE SERVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR LINKED TO PARTNERS, SO EACH MAY RECEIVE THE RIGHT SERVICES, FROM THE RIGHT PROVIDERS AT THE RIGHT TIME. IN ADDITION, SOAR AND EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS WILL SERVE AS ADVOCATES TO SUPPORT REFERRED INDIVIDUALS AND HELP THEM TO NAVIGATE SERVICES, APPLY FOR BENEFITS AND FIND EMPLOYMENT. CONCURRENTLY, OUR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM WILL EXPAND INTO A COMMUNITY WITH HEIGHTENED DEMAND DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, SERVING MORE THAN 300 NEW STUDENTS DURING THE GRANT PERIOD. FINALLY, THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF OUR ED DIVERSION PARTNERSHIPS, 2,600 INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ASSESSED WHEN PRESENTING WITH BH NEEDS; A HISTORICAL DIVERSION RATE OF 45% INDICATES MORE THAN 1,000 INDIVIDUALS WILL BE LINKED WITH SERVICES MOST APPROPRIATE TO THEIR NEEDS. ULTIMATELY, THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, 4,500 PEOPLE WILL BENEFIT DIRECTLY FROM THIS GRANT PROGRAM. EQUALLY AND VITALLY IMPORTANT, THIS GRANT WILL AFFORD HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND DIRECT ACCESS TO CARE FOR OUR FRONT-LINE CMHC TEAM MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK FOR COVID-19 IN ORDER TO ENSURE THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING MET WHEN THEY ARE READY TO BEGIN THEIR OWN RECOVERY JOURNEYS.