Bridges Healthcare Inc

PROJECT ENGAGE - BRIDGES HEALTHCARE’S PROJECT ENGAGE WILL EXTEND THE REACH OF CCBHC SERVICES TO BRIDGES’ NEW SERVICE LOCATIONS IN WEST HAVEN AND STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, AND IMPLEMENT TWO NEW STRATEGIES – A WELLNESS-ON-WHEELS MOBILE VEHICLE PROGRAM AND A DEDICATED COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST – IN ORDER TO MAKE BOTH PRIMARY CARE SCREENINGS AND MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES MORE ACCESSIBLE TO LOW-ACCESS AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN THOSE AREAS. POPULATIONS SERVED/CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS. THE PROGRAM’S FOCUS IS ON THE RESIDENTS OF WEST HAVEN AND STRATFORD (POPULATION 107,000), AND IN PARTICULAR ON HEALTH DISPARITIES EXHIBITED BY THEIR HISPANIC, BLACK, AND LOW INCOME POPULATIONS (OVER 28,000, 22,000, AND 10,000, RESPECTIVELY). EACH OF THESE POPULATIONS EXHIBIT LOW ACCESS TO CARE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, AND CONSEQUENTLY ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES. IN THE CASE OF THE HISPANIC POPULATION, AT LEAST FOUR BARRIERS TO CARE RESULT IN INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE AND CREATE ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES – A HIGH UNINSURED RATE, FINANCIAL INSECURITY, A LANGUAGE BARRIER, AND, IN MANY CASES, CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH NON-CITIZENSHIP STATUS. RESULTING HEALTH DISCREPANCIES INCLUDE HIGH RATES OF HIV FOR ALL THE TARGET POPULATIONS, AS WELL AS HIGH RATES OF HYPERTENSION, OBESITY, DIABETES, AND DEPRESSION. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE DRUG MORTALITY RATE AMONG NON-HISPANIC BLACK RESIDENTS MORE THAN DOUBLED AND NOW IS HIGHEST AMONG ANY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP. AMONG HISPANIC RESIDENTS, THE RATE INCREASED BY 40%. FINANCIAL INSECURITY IS A FACTOR FOR ALL. COST IS THE REASON FOR NOT GETTING NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH CARE CITED BY NEARLY HALF OF THOSE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. PROPOSED STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS. THE PURPOSE OF THE WOW MOBILE VEHICLE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CARE TO CLIENTS AT LOCATIONS CONVENIENT TO THEM. TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS MIGHT INCLUDE GROUPS WHO ARE WITHOUT INSURANCE, HOMELESS, NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING, OR, FOR OTHER REASONS, NOT COMFORTABLE IN A TRADITIONAL OFFICE SETTING. SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S CITIZENSHIP OR ABILITY TO PAY. IN YEAR 1, THE VEHICLE WILL CONDUCT A VARIETY OF HEALTH SCREENINGS, MONITOR KEY HEALTH INDICATORS, AND IDENTIFY CHRONIC DISEASES AND COMORBID CONDITIONS; OFFER CLIENT EDUCATION, COUNSELING, AND SUPPORT AS NEEDED; AND PROVIDE A WARM HAND-OFF TO EITHER CASE MANAGEMENT OR TREATMENT AS NEEDED. STARTING IN YEAR 2, WE WILL PROVIDE SUBSTANCE USE/MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING AND HARM REDUCTION SERVICES (E.G., SYRINGE EXCHANGE). THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST (CES) WILL PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE UNDERSERVED OR DIFFICULT-TO-ENGAGE CLIENTS, BY ESTABLISHING INFORMAL AND FORMAL COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, OUTREACH IN INFORMAL SETTINGS LIKE CHURCHES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, OR IN OTHER COMMUNITY SETTINGS, AND HELPING CLIENTS FIND RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THEIR RECOVERY PROCESS. GOALS/OBJECTIVES. GOAL I: TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH THE WELLNESS-ON-WHEELS (WOW) PROGRAM AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. OBJECTIVES 1-3: THE WOW PROGRAM SERVES 100 CLIENTS PER YEAR, 50% RECEIVING REFERRALS TO PRIMARY OR SPECIALTY CARE, 23% HISPANIC AND 19% BLACK. OBJECTIVE 4: STARTING IN YEAR 2, ADD MENTAL HEALTH/ADDICTION SCREENINGS FOR 90% OF THOSE SERVED. OBJECTIVE 5 AND 6: THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST PARTICIPATES IN 40 EVENTS AND MEETS WITH 50 CLIENTS PER YEAR. GOAL II: TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED AT OUR WEST HAVEN AND STRATFORD LOCATIONS. OBJECTIVES 1-2: STRATFORD AND WEST HAVEN LOCATIONS SERVE 100 CLIENTS IN YEAR ONE AND 125 IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, 23% HISPANIC AND 19% BLACK. UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS SERVED. WE PROJECT THAT THE PROJECT WILL SERVE 250 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 275 FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD IS 1075.

PROJECT CONNECT

MATT VAN EXPANSION INITIATIVE - BRIDGES HEALTHCARE’S BRIDGES MATT VAN EXPANSION INITIATIVE WILL EXPAND ITS PILOT MOBILE ADDICTION TREATMENT TEAM (MATT) VAN PROGRAM, WHICH HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN ITS FIRST TWO YEARS SERVING PERSONS AT HIGH RISK OF OPIOID ADDICTION OR OVERDOSE, TO COVER EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS, INCREASE VAN DEPLOYMENT LOCATIONS AND SUBPOPULATIONS SERVED, AND INCREASE OPTIONS FOR GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, SO AS TO IMPROVE SIX-MONTH CLIENT OUTCOMES. POPULATIONS SERVED/CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES IN MILFORD, WEST HAVEN, AND NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT TO CLIENTS WHO COME FROM A LARGE REGION. THE PROGRAM’S FOCUS IS ON (1) PERSONS IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, WHO STATISTICALLY HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF OPIOID USE DISORDER, (2) INDIVIDUALS RECENTLY RELEASED FROM PRISON, (3) PERSONS IDENTIFIED WITH RECENT OPIOID-INVOLVED MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, AND (4) INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED OR PREFER THE KIND OF IMMEDIATE, ANONYMOUS CARE THE VAN PROVIDES. THE THREE TOWNS TARGETED HAVE SUSTAINED A LEVEL OF OPIOID OVERDOSE IN RECENT YEARS THAT TYPICALLY EXCEEDS BOTH CONNECTICUT AND NATIONAL RATES, OFTEN BY A FACTOR OF 2 OR 3. THE NEED FOR MAT AMONG THOSE RECENTLY RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION IS CLEAR: THE CONNECTICUT DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT 25% OF JAIL AND PRISON INMATES HAVE OPIOID ABUSE DISORDER (OUD) -- ABOUT 225 PER YEAR IN THE GREATER NEW HAVEN AREA. SAMHSA ESTIMATES THAT “WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF RELEASE FROM CUSTODY, 75 PERCENT OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH AN OUD RELAPSE TO OPIOID USE.” A RECENT STUDY OF PERSONS WHO PRESENTED TO HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WITH A NON-FATAL OPIOID OVERDOSE AND WERE DISCHARGED FOUND THAT 5.5% WERE DEAD WITHIN A YEAR, WITH A FIFTH OF THOSE DYING WITHIN A MONTH. THE POPULATION OF LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN THESE TOWNS IS HIGH (ALMOST 50% IN NEW HAVEN). LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE TARGETED BY THE VAN, ALONG WITH KNOWN SITES OF HIGH DRUG TRAFFICKING. PROPOSED PROJECT: THE PROGRAM’S GENERAL STRATEGY IS TO DEPLOY THE VAN, STAFFED BY A PRESCRIBER AND A PEER RECOVERY COACH, IN LOCATIONS OF HIGH NEED – INCLUDING PRISON RELEASE AND HOSPITAL LOCATIONS -- WHERE IT OFFERS PEER ENGAGEMENT (WITH MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING), ANONYMITY, IMMEDIATE SUPERVISED BUPRENORPHINE INDUCTION AS APPROPRIATE, AND ASSISTANCE IN ENROLLMENT IN LONG-TERM CLINIC-BASED MAT. CLIENTS RECEIVE CONTINUED MAT SUPPORT UNTIL LONG-TERM TREATMENT IS ESTABLISHED. GOALS/OBJECTIVES. GOAL I. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITH OUD RECEIVING MAT AMONG AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS IN THE TARGETED AREA. OBJ. 1. ENGAGE AN ADDITIONAL 100 CLIENTS FIRST YEAR, THEN 150 ANNUALLY (TOTAL 700). OBJECTIVE 2. INITIATE TREATMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 50 CLIENTS FIRST YEAR, THEN 75 ANNUALLY (TOTAL 350). GOAL II. DECREASE ILLICIT OPIOID DRUG USE AND PRESCRIPTION OPIOID MISUSE AT SIX-MONTH FOLLOW-UP. OBJ. 1. RETAIN 35% OF CLIENTS IN TREATMENT SIX MONTHS. OBJ. 2. 50% OF CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN AND 30% COMPLETE AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM USING IDDT. OBJ. 3. 40% OF FAMILY CONTACTED THROUGH VAN OUTREACH WILL PARTICIPATE IN A SMART RECOVERY FRIENDS AND FAMILY GROUP. OBJ. 4. 50% OF CLIENTS ARE ABSTINENT AFTER 6 MONTHS. OBJ. 5. FEWER THAN 25% OF CLIENTS HAVE AN OVERDOSE WITHIN SIX MONTHS.

S.O.S. - SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS - BRIDGES' TRAUMA - BRIDGES' SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS (SOS) INITIATIVE WILL ESTABLISH SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN 5 LOCAL SCHOOLS WHICH INCLUDE LARGE HISPANIC/LATINO, FOREIGN-BORN, LGBTQ, AND OTHER POPULATIONS AT HIGH RISK OF TRAUMA AND RESULTING EMOTIONAL AND CONDUCT ISSUES. TO ADDRESS THESE, BRIDGES WILL COLLABORATE WITH CHILD HEALTH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (CHDI) TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF TRAUMA-INFORMED STRATEGIES OF IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT, AND WITH A NETWORK OF CHILD-SERVING LOCAL AGENCIES. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS CONSISTS OF 3 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN WEST HAVEN AND A HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MILFORD, BOTH LOCATED IN THE GREATER NEW HAVEN AREA OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT. WEST HAVEN SCHOOLS HAVE LARGE MINORITY POPULATIONS, WITH NEARLY A THIRD OF STUDENTS SPEAKING A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME, AND NEARLY A FIFTH CLASSIFIED AS "ENGLISH LEARNERS" AT SCHOOL. OVER A FIFTH OF THE WEST HAVEN POPULATION IS FOREIGN BORN. IF WE ACCEPT THE PEW INSTITUTE ESTIMATE THAT ONE-FOURTH OF FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS ARE UNDOCUMENTED, OVER 5% OF WEST HAVEN IS UNDOCUMENTED, AS IS 2.75% OF MILFORD. THE MILFORD SCHOOLS ARE A LITTLE OVER 20% MINORITY, WITH FEWER LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. BUT DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT IS OCCURRING IN BOTH TOWNS; IN 12016-2021 THE HISPANIC POPULATION ROSE BY 25% IN WEST HAVEN AND 17% IN MILFORD. INDICATORS OF TRAUMA IN THE WEST HAVEN SCHOOLS INCLUDE FIGURES FOR SUBSTANTIATED CHILD/ABUSE NEGLECT REPORTS, PERCENTAGE OF TEENS WHO CONSIDERED SUICIDE IN THE PAST YEAR, AND RATE OF JUVENILE ARRESTS THAT EXCEED STATE RATES BY 70%, 64% AND 51% RESPECTIVELY. AT SUBSTANTIAL RISK IN MILFORD ARE LGBTQ STUDENTS (AT 12%, SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE). OF HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH WHO IDENTIFY AS GAY, LESBIAN, OR BISEXUAL, 46.8% SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, OVER TRIPLE THE RATE FOR HETEROSEXUAL YOUTH PER NATIONAL DATA. OUR PROPOSED PROJECT WILL HIRE 4 FULL TIME CLINICIANS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES IN THE TARGET SCHOOLS. CHDI, THE STATE-DESIGNATED PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT CENTER, WILL SUPPLY STAFF TRAINING AND SUPPORT. BRIDGES' COLLABORATIVE NETWORK WILL INCLUDE ADAM'S HOUSE, AN INDEPENDENT GRIEF EDUCATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN; THE MILFORD RAPE CRISIS CENTER, INTEGRATED REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SERVICES, TO SUPPORT UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES; THE MILFORD AND WEST HAVEN PREVENTION COUNCILS, MILFORD-ANSONIA INTER-AGENCY MEETINGS ON INVESTIGATION/MANAGEMENT OF CHILD ABUSE CASES; THE JUVENILE REVIEW BOARD; AND MONTHLY TRUANCY REVIEW MEETINGS. TRAINING FOR SCHOOL STAFF WILL INCLUDE TRAUMA SCREENTIME, A CHDI SPONSORED TRAINING ON TRAUMA SCREENING IN CHILDREN. CLINICIANS WILL BE TRAINED IN 5 TRAUMA-INFORMED EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES; THE MODULAR APPROACH TO THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, TRAUMA AND CONDUCT PROBLEMS (MATCH-ADTC) WHICH SYNTHESIZES ELEMENTS FROM SEVERAL TREATMENTS IN ONE FLEXIBLE MODEL TO BETTER ADDRESS COMORBIDITY COMPLEXITY; THE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION FOR TRAUMA IN SCHOOLS (CBITS) GROUP INTERVENTION FOR 5-12TH GRADERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA; BOUNCEBACK, A VERSION OF CBITS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN; TRAUMA FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (TF-CBT), A CHILD/PARENT TREATMENT FOR YOUTH; AND EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR), USED WITH CHILDREN/ADOLESCENTS WITH TRAUMA WITH CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS. THE GOALS ARE TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF THE TWO SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE SCREENING/TREATMENT FOR YOUTH WITH TRAUMATIC STRESS, WITH OBJECTIVES TARGETING SCHOOL PERSONNEL TRAINED, STUDENTS REFERRED TO BRIDGES' CLINICIANS, STUDENTS RECEIVING SERVICES, STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE CBITS/BB COURSES, AND STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE A COURSE OF INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGES OF BLACK/HISPANIC AND LGBTQ STUDENTS; AND INCREASE POSITIVE OUTCOMES AMONG YOUTH IN THE TWO SCHOOL SYSTEMS, WITH OBJECTIVES TARGETING STUDENTS WHO SEE A DECREASE IN SYMPTOMS PER CPSS-V MEASURES. PROJECTED NUMBERS SERVED ARE AS FOLLOWS: YEAR 1 - 100; YEARS 2-5 - 160; FOR A TOTAL OF 740.

HEALTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR RECOVERY

STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK

MILFORD PREVENTION COUNCIL INITIATIVE

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT ADDRESS IS 949 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE IN MILFORD, CONNECTICUT VALERIE FERRANTE IS PROJECT DIRECTOR (203) 878-6365 X416 WORK OR (203) 668-6476 CELL VFERRANTE@BRIDGESMILFORD.ORG HTTPS://WWW.BRIDGESCT.ORG FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL COME FROM THE FOLLOWING: NOFO NO. HRSA-22-134 IN THE AMOUNT OF $849,000 ARPA FUNDING FROM CT DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION SERVICES $175,000 CT DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT $600,000 CITY OF MILFORD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $60,000 CT DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES $33,796 BRIDGES HEALTHCARE, INC. DIRECTLY SERVES MORE THAN 2,000 CHILDREN, FAMILIES, ADULTS, AND YOUNG ADULTS IN MILFORD, ORANGE, AND WEST HAVEN AND SEVERAL VALLEY TOWNS ANNUALLY. WE HAVE OPERATED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, PROVIDING VITAL MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION RECOVERY SERVICES FOR NEARLY 65 YEARS. THE COMFORT, SAFETY, AND HEALTH OF OUR CLIENTS AT ALL TIMES, INCLUDING WHEN THEY VISIT OUR CLINIC IS IMPORTANT TO SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY OUTCOMES. WE ALSO WANT TO MAINTAIN A SAFE, COMFORTABLE, AND HEALTHY WORKPLACE FOR OUR STAFF. WITH LIMITED RESOURCES FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WE HAVE BECOME EXPERTS IN KEEPING OUR FACILITIES RUNNING ON A VIRTUAL SHOESTRING. REPAIRS ARE COSTLY, AND CAN DEVASTATE A BUDGET WITH ONE BREAKDOWN. OUR FURNACE FAILED THIS YEAR, AND THANKFULLY WE WERE AWARDED EMERGENCY FUNDS FROM CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION RECOVERY SERVICES TO REPLACE IT. WHILE WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RAISED SOME PRIVATE FUNDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS BECOME DIFFICULT IN THESE TIMES TO RAISE ENOUGH TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS AND EXPENSES. OUR MOST URGENT NEED IS TO REPLACE THE CONTINUALLY FAILING HVAC SYSTEM, WHICH HAS LONG EXCEEDED ITS LIFE EXPECTANCY, DESPITE CAREFUL, REGULAR MAINTENANCE OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. ANNUAL REPAIRS ARE ESCALATING AT A RAPID RATE. THE SYSTEM IS NO LONGER ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT HEAT OR COOLING TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE TWO FLOORS AND MULTIPLE OFFICES AND COMMON SPACES IN OUR MAIN CLINIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FAILING TO MEET OSHA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WORKPLACE. THE SCOPE OF WORK IS TO FURNISH MATERIAL AND LABOR TO INSTALL NEW SPLIT SYSTEM FOR THE COMPUTER SERVER ROOM, REPLACE CARRIER PARKER SYSTEM FOR THE MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM, KITCHEN AREA, SECOND FLOOR OFFICES TO INCLUDE NEW VVT CONTROLS AND SIXTEEN (16) REPLACEMENT AIR HANDLERS/LINE SETS AND COILS. ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE SERVED AS A RESULT OF THE AWARD OF THIS GRANT 1,200 SERVED OUT OF 949 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE MILFORD, CT

WEST HAVEN PREVENTION COUNCIL - THE CITY OF WEST HAVEN (CT) IS ON THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, BETWEEN MILFORD AND NEW HAVEN, EIGHTY MILES FROM NEW YORK CITY, CONNECTED BY RAIL AND MAJOR HIGHWAYS. WEST HAVEN SITS IMMEDIATELY ON THE I-95 INTERSTATE DRUG CORRIDOR. WEST HAVEN IS A MID-SIZED CITY WITH AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 55,044 (CT ECONOMIC RESOURCE CENTER [CERC], 2017). THE CITY IS RELATIVELY LOW MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME ($55,299) SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE STATE ($73,781) AND COUNTY ($64,872). (CERC 2009) CORRESPONDINGLY, ITS POVERTY RATE IS HIGHER: 13.2% COMPARED TO 10.1% FOR THE STATE AND 12.1% FOR THE COUNTY. THE CITY IS RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE WITH A BREAKDOWN OF 51.8% WHITE; 22.4% BLACK; 21.0% HISPANIC; AND 3.9% ASIAN (LOCAL DATA IS DRAWN FROM UDSMAPPER.ORG). WEST HAVEN HAS A LARGE FOREIGN BORN POPULATION OF 15.9%, COMPARED TO 13.7% FOR THE COUNTRY. WITH REGARD TO LANGUAGE 72% OF THE POPULATION SPEAK ONLY ENGLISH, AND 28% SPEAK SOME OTHER LANGUAGE. THE MOST PROMINENT NON ENGLISH SPEAKING LANGUAGE IS SPANISH AT 18%. THE WEST HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS APPROXIMATELY 6,091 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ONE HIGH SCHOOL (WITH AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SCHOOL), ONE SCHOOL HOUSING 5TH AND 6TH GRADERS, ONE SCHOOL HOUSING 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS, AND SIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE CITY ALSO HAS TWO PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND ONE PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL. THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS ARE THE VA MEDICAL CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN AND YALE UNIVERSITY. WHILE THERE IS NO BREAKDOWN OF RELIGIOUS DATA THAT COULD BE FOUND FOR THE CITY, THE COUNTY DATA REFLECTS THAT 51.2% REPORT NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION, 35.3% CATHOLIC, 11% PROTESTANT, AND 2.3% OTHER. THE WEST HAVEN DRUG & ALCOHOL TASK FORCE WAS INCORPORATED IN 1985 THROUGH THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT'S OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE. THE COMMITTEE WAS FORMED AS A RESULT OF CONCERNS VOICED AT FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM'S PTA AROUND ISSUES OF YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. OVER THE YEARS, THERE WAS NEVER SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE DATA DRIVEN APPROACH TO THE REDUCTION OF YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, NOR DID THE COALITION MAINTAIN BROAD REPRESENTATION OR RECOGNITION. THE RECENT APPROACH HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE STRATEGIES AND EVENTS TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS, AND AGAIN THE LACK OF ANY PAID, DEDICATED STAFF AND FUNDING PREVENTED THE COALITION FROM CREATING A STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE ON THE VARIETY OF PLATFORMS THAT YOUTH ACCESS. DESPITE THE LONGSTANDING PRESENCE OF THE COALITION, THE LACK OF RESOURCES DID NOT AFFORD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY LEVEL CHANGE.THE WEST HAVEN PREVENTION COUNCIL (WHPC) WILL EMPLOY ITS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, AND THE KEY GRANT PERSONNEL TO EFFECT COMMUNITY LEVEL CHANGE. THE MECHANISM TO ACHIEVE THIS IS THE UTILIZATION OF SAMHSA'S STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF) AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY LEVEL CHANGE TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN WEST HAVEN. THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO INCREASE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND TO REDUCE YOUTH USE OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA. THE COALITION WILL INCREASE ITS MEMBERSHIP BY 25% AND ITS LEADERSHIP BY 100%. THE USE OF ALCOHOL WILL BE REDUCED BY ADDRESSING LOCAL ROOT CAUSES OF AVAILABILITY AND FAVORABLE ATTITUDES; THE USE OF MARIJUANA WILL BE REDUCED BY ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF LOW PERCEPTION OF HARM AND AVAILABILITY.

PROJECT AWARENESS - WE PROPOSE TO IMPACT POPULATIONS IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND REFERRAL BY REACHING OUT TO GROUPS (E.G. TEACHERS/SCHOOL STAFF, LAW ENFORCEMENT) IN A POSITION TO HELP THEM. WE WILL THEN OFFER MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND CRISIS DE-ESCALATION TRAINING TO THESE GROUPS. OUR STRATEGY IS TO LEVERAGE THREE 12-SECTOR PREVENTION COUNCILS WE ARE CREATING/EXPANDING WITH A NEW SAMHSA GRANT, TARGETING DIFFERENT SECTORS IN DIFFERENT YEARS THROUGH SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COUNCILS. THE PROJECT - PROJECT AWARENESS - WILL THUS TARGET BOTH YOUTH AND ADULT SUBPOPULATIONS IN A FIVE-TOWN ARE IN NEW HAVEN COUNTY. DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL DATA: WEST HAVEN, THE LARGEST OF THE COMMUNITIES, HAS LARGE MINORITY POPULATIONS, WITH LOW INCOME AND POVERTY RATES WELL ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE. NEARLY 65% OF WEST HAVEN STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE STATE'S FREE/REDUCED PRICE LUNCH (FRL) PROGRAM, A STANDARD INDEX OF LOW INCOME. THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE LARGELY WHITE AND MIDDLE-INCOME. THE YOUTH FOCUS POPULATION TARGETED (IN YEAR 1 OF OUR PROJECT) IS GRADES 7-12 IN THE AMITY REGION 5, MILFORD AND WEST HAVEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COMPRISING SLIGHTLY OVER 8,000 STUDENTS. SCHOOL SURVEY METRICS INDICATE WORRISOME RATES OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN SOME SCHOOLS, BUT EVEN MORE CLEARLY A CONSISTENT AND STRIKING LINK BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. FOR EXAMPLE, STUDENTS WHO REPORTED FEELING "SAD OR HOPELESS" DURING THE PAST YEAR HAD TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA USE RATES MORE THAN DOUBLE THOSE OF OTHER STUDENTS. THE SEGMENTS OF THE ADULT FOCUS POPULATION TO BE ACCESSED WILL VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR. THE FOCUS POPULATION IN YEAR 2 WILL BE INDIVIDUALS ENCOUNTERING LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, OR FIRST RESPONDERS. THE TARGET POPULATION HERE IS QUITE LARGE. GIVEN OVER 45,000 POLICE CALLS IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR, AND ESTIMATES OF THE PERCENTAGES OF THESE INVOLVING MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN 5 AND 10%, THE FOCUS POPULATION FOR POLICE ALONE IS BETWEEN 2,717 AND 5,434. THE FOCUS POPULATION CORRESPONDING TO SUBSTANCE USE ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH WE TARGET IN YEAR 3, WILL POTENTIALLY BENEFIT ANYONE WITH SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES, AND THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES (DMHAS) IN THE 5-TOWN AREA IS 3,550. THE FOCUS POPULATIONS OF OTHER GROUPS TARGETED FOR TRAINING - E.G. RELIGIOUS/FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES, IN YEAR 4 AND 5 - ARE HARDER TO DEFINE STATISTICALLY, BUT OFFER ACCESS A LARGE, WIDER SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY FALL UNDER THE ABOVE CATEGORIES. INTERVENTIONS, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE TO HIRE A PROJECT DIRECTOR AND TRAIN AND CERTIFY FOUR STAFF MEMBERS TO CONDUCT TRAININGS USING THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) AND, FOR CRISIS DE-ESCALATION, THE NONVIOLENT CRISIS INTERVENTION (NCI) MODELS. YOUTH COORDINATORS AT EACH OF THE THREE PREVENTION COUNCILS WILL ACTIVELY COLLABORATE WITH OUR PROJECT AND A PROGRAM EVALUATOR WILL SUBMIT REPORTS AND DEVELOP FEEDBACK SURVEYS. OUR 5-YEAR TARGETS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1,200 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED IN MHFA (240 PER YEAR), 260 TRAINED IN NCI (USUALLY 40 PER YEAR, BUT 100 IN YEAR 2), AND 3,360 PERSONS REFERRED BY RECIPIENTS OF TRAINING (480 IN YEAR 1 AND 720 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER).

MENTORING PROGRAM GRANTS

WEST HAVEN OPIOID PREVENTION PROGRAM - BRIDGES HEALTHCARE INC., OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT, AND THE RECENTLY CREATED WEST HAVEN PREVENTION COUNCIL (WHPC) OF NEIGHBORING WEST HAVEN, PROPOSE TO USE CARA FUNDING TO SUPPLEMENT A DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT RECEIVED BY THE WHPC LAST YEAR, WHICH FOCUSED ON BUILDING INITIAL CAPACITY AND REDUCING THE USE OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA. THIS GRANT TARGETS THE MISUSE OF OPIOIDS AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS BY WEST HAVEN (WH) YOUTH AND SEEKS TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF THE WHPC AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL. ONE SOURCE OF CONCERN DRIVING THIS INITIATIVE IS THE RISE IN THE RATE OF FATAL OPIOID OVERDOSES THAT WH HAS SUSTAINED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. BETWEEN 2013 AND 2018, THE RATE OF OPIOID-INVOLVED DEATHS IN WH EXCEEDED THE NATIONAL RATE IN EVERY YEAR EXCEPT 2018, WHEN THE RATES WERE THE SAME. MORE RECENT DATA ON NON-FATAL OVERDOSES DISCLOSES THAT DURING 2018-20, THE WEST HAVEN RATE INCREASED BY 22%, AND EXCEEDED THE STATE RATE IN THE TWO YEARS FOR WHICH DATA ARE AVAILABLE. IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, PREVENTION EFFORTS IN SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY ARE CRITICAL, SINCE THEY ARE THE BEST WAY TO CURB MORE SERIOUS OPIOID DISORDERS BEFORE THEY START. THE FIRST OF THE RISK FACTORS STUDENTS FACE, ACCORDING TO SCHOOL SURVEYS, IS THAT NEARLY A QUARTER OF THEM DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS POSED BY OPIOIDS. A SECOND RISK FACTOR IS EASY ACCESS TO OPIOIDS AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES NOT PRESCRIBED TO THEM. ONE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT WH IS LOCATED IN THE NEW ENGLAND HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA, OFFERING DIRECT ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST/I-95 DRUG CORRIDOR. HOTELS AND MOTELS ADJACENT TO THESE HIGHWAYS ARE OFTEN HOT SPOTS OF DRUG USE AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THE LARGE BEACH AREA (OVER 14 MILES OF SHORELINE) MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO LIMIT DRUG ACTIVITY AND RELATED BEHAVIOR, ACCORDING TO POLICE. ANOTHER REASON FOR READY ACCESS IS THAT NEARLY A THIRD OF STUDENTS REPORT NO CLEAR PARENTAL RULES OR RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. A THI RD RISK FACTOR IS THE HIGH LEVEL OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES STUDENTS REPORT. NEARLY 40% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTED BEING “SAD OR HOPELESS SO MUCH THAT IT STOPPED ME FROM DOING MY USUAL ACTIVITIES” IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, COMPARED TO 30.5% AND 31.5% IN CONNECTICUT AND THE U.S., RESPECTIVELY. MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AGGRAVATE SUBSTANCE MISUSE ACROSS THE BOARD. THE STUDENTS WHO REPORTED FEELING “SAD OR HOPELESS” ABOVE HAD A RATE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE 3.5 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE. FINALLY, THE LIFETIME RATES OF PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICINE MISUSE OF BLACK AND HISPANIC STUDENTS, WHO COMPRISE 62% OF THE STUDENT BODY, EXCEED THE NON-HISPANIC WHITE RATE BY 60% & 78%, RESPECTIVELY. TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM THESE RISKS, OUR PROGRAM HAS TWO GOALS: THE FIRST IS TO REDUCE ABUSE OF OPIOIDS AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS BY WEST HAVEN YOUTH, WITH A FOCUS ON REDUCING ACCESS, INCREASING PERCEPTION OF HARM, AND ENHANCING PARENTAL GUIDANCE. THE SECOND IS TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF THE WHPC AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. WE WILL REDUCE ACCESS BY PROMOTING DRUG TAKE-BACK DAYS, DISPOSAL KIT DISTRIBUTION, MEDICINE DROP BOXES, AND BY EDUCATING WH PROVIDERS ON THE STATE-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE MONITORING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE DANGER OF OVERPRESCRIBING. WE WILL DELIVER OPIOID RISK AND HARM INFORMATION TO STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND WH RESIDENTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS, AND INITIATE AN SBIRT SCREENING PROGRAM FOR 9TH GRADERS TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT YOUTH IN NEED. TO ENHANCE PARENTAL & ADULT GUIDANCE OF STUDENTS, WE WILL CONDUCT SEVERAL ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS AND RESIDENTS ON OPIOID HARM AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT. TO ACHIEVE THE SECOND GOAL – CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT – WE WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO COALITION SECTOR LEADERS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT OPIOID-RELATED PREVENTION INITIATIVES WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITY SECTORS, AND REACH OUT TO REGIONAL AND MUNICIPAL AGENCIES TO EDUCATE AND STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION, INCLUDING WEST HAVEN CITY

MILFORD PREVENTION COUNCIL INITIATIVE

COMMUNITY ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROGRAM (CAP)WEST HAVEN PREVENTION COALITION (WHPC)

WEST HAVEN COMMUNITY ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROJECT - THE WEST HAVEN COMMUNITY ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE RECENTLY CREATED WEST HAVEN PREVENTION COALITION TO REDUCE UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE IN A DIVERSE AND HIGH-NEED CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A YOUTH-LED VIRTUAL TOWN HALL, IN-PERSON PRESENTATIONS IN SPANISH TO PARENTS, OUTREACH TO HISPANIC, BLACK, AND LGBTQ YOUTH, AND STEPS TO REDUCE YOUTH ALCOHOL ACCESS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. SCHOOLS TARGETED SERVE 3,550 STUDENTS. WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, IS A CITY OF 55,000 LOCATED IN THE GREATER NEW HAVEN AREA OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT, WITH A POPULATION JUST OVER 50% MINORITY, ALMOST A FIFTH FOREIGN-BORN, AND A PER CAPITA INCOME LESS THAN $35,000. OUR FOCUS IS ON THE WEST HAVEN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT POPULATION, WHICH IS 76% MINORITY, 33% LOW INCOME, AND 13% LGBTQ. SOME CURRENT MEASURES OF ALCOHOL USE FOR 9TH AND 11TH GRADERS INCLUDE: NO CLEAR PARENTAL RULES ON ALCOHOL USE 37%; EASY ACCESS TO ALCOHOL 33%; AND PERCEPTION OF HARM ONLY 66%. THE FIRST PROJECT GOAL IS TO INCREASE COALITION CAPACITY BY MEANS OF QUARTERLY PRESENTATIONS BY YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES, INCLUDING BLACK, HISPANIC, MUSLIM AND LGTBQ YOUTH, AT COALITION MEETINGS (OBJECTIVE 1.1); TRAIN COALITION MEMBERS THROUGH CADCA, PTTC, AND SPTAC, AS WELL AS LOCAL SUPPORTIVE AGENCIES (1.2); AND NEGOTIATING AN ALLOCATION OF REVENUE FROM NIP BOTTLE DEPOSITS TO YOUTH PREVENTION ACTIVITIES WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT (1.3). THE SECOND GOAL IS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO TARGET POPULATIONS, BY MEANS OF AT LEAST TWO VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS PER YEAR, ONE LED BY YOUTH (2.1); REACHING OUT TO MINORITY YOUTH GROUPS IN TARGET SCHOOLS, INCLUDING HISPANIC, BLACK, MUSLIM AND LGBTQ+ STUDENT GROUPS, TO LEARN WHAT PROGRAMMING WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE AND TO SECURE COLLABORATION ON JOINT ACTIVITIES (2.2); HOSTING TWO SPRING SPEAKERS - ONE FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AND ONE BEFORE PROM AND GRADUATION (2.3); HOSTING AT LEAST TWO INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS FOR PARENTS/ADULTS ON TOPICS RELATED TO UNDERAGE DRINKING, ONE IN ENGLISH AND ONE IN SPANISH (2.4); ORDER COMMUNITY BILLBOARDS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH ON SOCIAL HOST AND SOCIAL NORMS ON UNDERAGE DRINKING. THE THIRD GOAL IS TO REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING AMONG WEST HAVEN YOUTH BY LIMITING UNDERAGE ACCESS TO ALCOHOL, TO BE ACHIEVED BY HOSTING TIPS TRAININGS AT A CENTRAL LOCATION TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO SMALL RETAILERS AND INCREASE CURRENTLY LOW MERCHANT RESPONSE (3.1); EXPANDING OUR CURRENT #MENTIONPREVENTION PROGRAM WITH LOCAL LIQUOR RETAILERS BY TRANSLATING ALL PROPER ID CHECKING AND CT LIQUOR LAWS INFORMATION TO SPANISH AND ARABIC FOR USE BY LOCAL LIQUOR RETAILERS (3.2); AND COLLABORATING WITH THE WEST HAVEN POLICE AND DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION LIQUOR CONTROL DIVISION TO INCREASE ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE CHECKS DURING INCREASED ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION TIMES, LIKE WINTER BREAK, SPRING WEEKEND AT UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN, GRADUATIONS, AND PROMS (3.3). THESE MEASURES WILL PARTICULARLY BENEFIT LOW INCOME AND MINORITY YOUTH, SINCE LOWER INCOME AND MINORITY YOUTH EXPERIENCE DISPROPORTIONATELY GREATER EXPOSURE TO ALCOHOL MARKETING, AND TOGETHER WILL SUPPORT OBJECTIVE 3.4, WHICH IS A REDUCTION IN THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUTH WHO REPORT EASY ACCESS TO ALCOHOL. THESE PROGRAMS WILL TARGET ALL YOUTH AT WEST HAVEN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, TOTALING 3,550 STUDENTS PER YEAR AND 7,100 UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS OVER THE TERM OF THE GRANT. OF COURSE, THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO SERVE THE FAMILIES OF THESE STUDENTS AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING UNDERAGE DRINKING IN THE COMMUNITY.

MILFORD COMMUNITY ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROJECT - BUILDING UPON A LONG RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, THE MILFORD COMMUNITY ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROJECT WILL FORGE CONNECTIONS WITH NEW GROUPS OF YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO REFLECT CHANGING COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS; ENGAGE THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH IN COALITION ACTIVITIES MORE FULLY THAN AT PRESENT; AND SUSTAIN COALITION CAPACITY AND PROGRAMMING NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A STRONG PREVENTION PROGRAM. SCHOOLS OF FOCUS SERVE 1,644 STUDENTS. MILFORD, CONNECTICUT, IS A CITY OF 51,000 LOCATED IN THE GREATER NEW HAVEN AREA OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT, WITH A POPULATION ABOUT 17% MINORITY AND PER CAPITA INCOME LESS THAN $60,000. OUR TARGET SCHOOL POPULATIONS ARE LARGELY LOW INCOME, WITH A MINORITY RACIAL/ETHNIC POPULATION WHICH HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN RECENT YEARS. SOME CURRENT MEASURES OF ALCOHOL USE FOR GRADES 7, 9, 11 GRADERS IN MILFORD AS A WHOLE INCLUDE: EASY ACCESS TO ALCOHOL 40%; PERCEPTION OF PEER DISAPPROVAL (OF "DRINKING ONE OR TWO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NEARLY EVERY DAY") 80% (ONLY 69% FOR 11TH GRADERS), AND PERCEPTION OF HARM ONLY 67%. THE FIRST PROJECT GOAL IS TO INCREASE COALITION CAPACITY BY MEANS OF QUARTERLY PRESENTATIONS BY YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES, INCLUDING BLACK, HISPANIC, AND LGTBQ YOUTH, AT COALITION MEETINGS (OBJECTIVE 1.1); RECRUITING AT LEAST ONE YOUTH AND ONE MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY TO BECOME MPC MEMBERS TO PROVIDE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INITIATIVES (1.2); TRAINING COALITION MEMBERS THROUGH CADCA, PTTC, AND SPTAC, AS WELL AS LOCAL SUPPORTIVE AGENCIES (1.3); AND NEGOTIATING AN ALLOCATION OF REVENUE FROM NIP BOTTLE DEPOSITS TO YOUTH PREVENTION ACTIVITIES WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT (1.4). THE SECOND GOAL IS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO TARGET POPULATIONS BY MEANS OF AT LEAST TWO VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS PER YEAR, ONE LED BY YOUTH (2.1); REACHING OUT TO MINORITY YOUTH GROUPS IN TARGET SCHOOLS, INCLUDING HISPANIC, BLACK, AND LGBTQ+ STUDENT GROUPS, TO LEARN WHAT PROGRAMMING WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE AND TO SECURE COLLABORATION ON JOINT ACTIVITIES (2.2); COLLABORATING WITH MILFORD SCHOOLS TO HOST TWO SPRING SPEAKERS - ONE FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AND ONE BEFORE PROM AND GRADUATION (2.3); HOSTING AT LEAST TWO IN-PERSON INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS FOR PARENTS/ADULTS ON TOPICS RELATED TO UNDERAGE DRINKING, INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE IN SPANISH (2.4); ORDER COMMUNITY BILLBOARDS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH ON SOCIAL HOST AND SOCIAL NORMS ON UNDERAGE DRINKING. THE THIRD GOAL IS TO REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING AMONG MILFORD YOUTH BY LIMITING UNDERAGE ACCESS TO ALCOHOL, TO BE ACHIEVED BY HOSTING AN ANNUAL ALCOHOL RETAILER FORUM IN THE SPRING (3.1); PROVIDING TIPS TRAINING TO 100 SELLERS OF ALCOHOL, PRIORITIZING LOW INCOME OR MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS IN MILFORD (3.2); PROVIDING LOCAL LIQUOR RETAILERS WITH ENGLISH AND SPANISH RETAIL GUIDES WITH THE LAWS AND GUIDANCE FOR PREVENTION OF UNDERAGE DRINKING (3.3); AND COLLABORATING WITH MILFORD POLICE TO RENEW IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ANNUAL SCHEDULE OF COMPLIANCE CHECKS ON ALCOHOL MERCHANTS (3.4). THESE MEASURES WILL PARTICULARLY BENEFIT LOW INCOME AND MINORITY YOUTH, SINCE LOWER INCOME AND MINORITY YOUTH EXPERIENCE DISPROPORTIONATELY GREATER EXPOSURE TO ALCOHOL MARKETING. OBJECTIVE 3.4 IS A REDUCTION IN THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUTH WHO REPORT EASY ACCESS TO ALCOHOL. THESE PROGRAMS WILL TARGET ALL YOUTH AT THREE MILFORD MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, TOTALING 1,644 STUDENTS PER YEAR AND 3,288 UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS OVER THE TERM OF THE GRANT. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO SERVE THE FAMILIES OF THESE STUDENTS AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING UNDERAGE DRINKING IN THE COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT ADDRESS IS 949 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE IN MILFORD, CONNECTICUT WILLIAM ORAVECZ IS THE PROJECT DIRECTOR (203) 301-2377 WORK OR (203) 788-4292 CELL WORAVECZ@BRIDGESMILFORD.ORG HTTPS://WWW.BRIDGESCT.ORG FUNDING FROM NOFO NO. HRSA-22-134 IN THE AMOUNT OF $151,000 NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED - OUR CURRENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CYBERSECURITY SYSTEMS ARE WELL OVER 7 YEARS OLD. GIVEN THE RESTRICTIONS THAT COVID HAS IMPOSED ON OUR CLIENTS AND CLINICAL STAFF, WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE A RAPID TRANSITION TO REMOTE CLINICAL OPERATING PROCEDURES VIA TELEHEALTH; CLINICAL STAFF WORKING FROM A “HOME OFFICE” AND USE OF VIDEO CALLS WITH CLIENTS. DUE TO THE AGE AND INCREASING LOAD ON OUR TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, WE EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT TECHNOLOGY FAILURES THAT INTERRUPT THE WORK OF OUR REMOTE CLINICAL STAFF ENGAGED IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ENCOUNTERS WITH OUR CLIENTS. GIVEN THE NATURE OF A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICAL ENCOUNTER, IT IS UNACCEPTABLY DISRUPTIVE TO THE MISSION-CRITICAL CLINICAL ENCOUNTER, RESULTING IN A LESS THAN OPTIMAL CLINICAL SESSION DUE TO TECHNOLOGY FAILURES. WITH THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN REMOTE OPERATIONS SINCE COVID, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS OPEN TO MORE CYBERSECURITY VULNERABILITIES AS WELL AS THE EVER-EVOLVING INCREASE OF HEALTHCARE CYBERSECURITY THREATS. PROPOSED SERVICES – THIS IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND CYBERSECURITY MODERNIZATION WILL SUPPORT ALL OF OUR CLINICAL SERVICE PROGRAMS ESPECIALLY THOSE SERVICES BEING EXTENDED VIA A TELEHEALTH FACILITATED ENCOUNTER. POPULATION TO BE SERVED – SPECIFICALLY, BRIDGES HEALTHCARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS SERVE THE CENTRAL CONNECTICUT COAST TOWNS OF MILFORD, ORANGE, STRATFORD AND WEST HAVEN, CT. SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAMS EXTEND TO SERVE RESIDENTS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES OF ANSONIA, BETHANY, DERBY, SEYMOUR, SHELTON, AND WOODBRIDGE. MORE BROADLY, OUR CLINICAL SERVICE PROGRAMS BENEFIT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AS A WHOLE BY ENSURING ONE OF A NUMBER OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTICES IN THE STATE THAT SERVES THE MOST VULNERABLE (MEDICAID) IN OUR SOCIETY WITH RELIABLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT OFFERS RECOVERY-FOCUSED SERVICES TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE AND PROLONGED MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION PROBLEMS AND TO THOSE WHO ARE DEALING WITH SHORT-TERM EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT COME ABOUT DUE TO THE CHALLENGES AND STRESSES OF EVERYDAY LIFE TO SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS. ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE SERVED AS A RESULT OF THE AWARD OF THIS GRANT 1,200 SERVED OUT OF 949 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE MILFORD, CT

MILFORD OPIOID PREVENTION PROGRAM (MOPP)

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT ADDRESS IS 949 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE IN MILFORD, CONNECTICUT VALERIE FERRANTE IS PROJECT DIRECTOR (203) 878-6365 X416 WORK OR (203) 668-6476 CELL VFERRANTE@BRIDGESMILFORD.ORG HTTPS://WWW.BRIDGESCT.ORG FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL COME FROM THE FOLLOWING: NOFO NO. HRSA-22-134 IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,000 CITY OF MILFORD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $50,000 CITY OF WEST HAVEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $75,000 BRIDGES HEALTHCARE, INC. DIRECTLY SERVES MORE THAN 2,000 CHILDREN, FAMILIES, ADULTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN MILFORD, ORANGE, WEST HAVEN AND SEVERAL VALLEY TOWNS ANNUALLY. WE HAVE OPERATED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, PROVIDING VITAL MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION RECOVERY SERVICES FOR NEARLY 65 YEARS. THE COMFORT, SAFETY AND HEALTH OF OUR CLIENTS AT ALL TIMES, INCLUDING WHEN THEY VISIT OUR CLINIC IS IMPORTANT TO SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY OUTCOMES. WE ALSO WANT TO MAINTAIN A SAFE, COMFORTABLE HEALTHY WORKPLACE FOR OUR STAFF. WITH LIMITED RESOURCES FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WE ARE DILIGENT ABOUT THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, HOWEVER, AT SOME POINT, EVEN WITH THE BEST MAINTENANCE, STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT REACH THE END OF THEIR EXPECTED LIFE AND NEED REPLACEMENT TO AVOID COSTLY REPAIRS OR CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. AT THIS JUNCTURE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING COSTLY REPAIR EXPENSES TO THE ROOF AT OUR 949 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE BUILDING IN MILFORD. THE ROOF IS OVER 25 YEARS OLD AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. WITHOUT REPLACEMENT, WE HAVE CONCERNS THAT WE WILL BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE LEAKS WHICH WILL CAUSE MORE COSTLY DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND POTENTIALLY CREATE AND UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. THE SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF A LOW-SLOPE MEMBRANE ROOFING SYSTEM WITH A 20-YEAR WARRANTY 60 MIL WHITE EPDM LOW-SLOPE ROOF SYSTEM, INCLUDING RELATED SUBSTRATES, VAPOR BARRIER, INSULATION (MEETING CURRENT MODEL ENERGY CODE), FLASHINGS, AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY COMPONENTS. ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE SERVED AS A RESULT OF THE AWARD OF THIS GRANT 1,200 SERVED OUT OF 949 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE MILFORD, CT

DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) SUPPORT PROGRAM ? NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION. - DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) SUPPORT PROGRAM - NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION.

CDC-RFA-CE21-2106