Empower Somerset Inc

SOMERSET PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS

SOMERSET PARTNERS FOR PREVENTION - EMPOWER SOMERSET'S "SOMERSET PARTNERS FOR PREVENTION" (SPFP) PROJECT ADDRESSES THE CHALLENGES OF YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE AND ADULT MISUSE OF ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA, AND E-CIGARETTES WITHIN SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ, FOCUSING PARTICULARLY ON THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF BOUND BROOK AND NORTH PLAINFIELD. TARGETING YOUTH AGED 12-17 AND ADULT RESIDENTS 18+, THE SPFP PROJECT ASPIRES TO DIRECTLY SERVE MORE THAN 5,000 YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH SCREENING, BRIEF INTERVENTION, AND REFERRAL TO TREATMENT (SBIRT) SERVICES, PREVENTION EDUCATION, AND MULTIMEDIA CAMPAIGNS. THERE IS A FOCUS ON AT-RISK SUBPOPULATIONS, SUCH AS LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, PATIENTS OF FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS (FQHC'S), JUSTICE INVOLVED AND AT-RISK YOUTH, AS WELL AS HISPANIC POPULATIONS. THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE: (1) INCREASE COMMUNITY CAPACITY: TRAINING 100 PROFESSIONALS IN EVIDENCE-BASED MODELS SUCH AS SBIRT AND MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, ENHANCING COMMUNITY CAPACITY THROUGH PREVENTION EDUCATION INITIATIVES, AND FORTIFYING PARTNERS' CAPABILITIES TO DELIVER CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES; (2) REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE: IMPLEMENTING TAILORED EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES WITH YOUTH IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS, CONDUCTING 500 ANNUAL YOUTH SBIRT SCREENINGS, AND EXECUTING MULTIMEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO CURTAIL YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE; (3) REDUCE ADULT SUBSTANCE MISUSE: CONDUCTING 500 ANNUAL ADULT SBIRT SCREENINGS, HEIGHTENING AWARENESS THROUGH MULTIMEDIA CAMPAIGNS, AND EDUCATING 20 COMMUNITY LEADERS ANNUALLY ABOUT AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND THE PERILS ASSOCIATED WITH ADULT SUBSTANCE MISUSE; (4) IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING: ESTABLISHING A DATA COMMITTEE, ADMINISTERING SURVEYS, CONDUCTING FOCUS GROUPS, AND PREPARING BIENNIAL ASSESSMENT REPORTS TO ALIGN PREVENTION EFFORTS WITH LOCAL CONDITIONS. ALIGNED WITH THE SAMHSA STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK, THE SPFP PROJECT PLACES A SIGNIFICANT EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CULTURAL COMPETENCE, AND SUSTAINABILITY. THIS APPROACH ENCOMPASSES A THOROUGH COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT, MULTIFACETED CAPACITY-BUILDING INITIATIVES, CONTINUOUS PLANNING AND COMMUNICATION, THE TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS, AND A TRANSPARENT EVALUATION PROCESS. THROUGH THESE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES, EMPOWER SOMERSET ENDEAVORS TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL AND LASTING IMPACT ON THE PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE USE IN THE POPULATIONS OF FOCUS.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR YOUTH AND VETERANS - THROUGH THE PROJECT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR YOUTH AND VETERANS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION EMPOWER SOMERSET WILL TRAIN 3000 PEOPLE OVER FIVE YEARS IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. WITH A TEAM OF FORTY CERTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID INSTRUCTORS AND STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER TWENTY ORGANIZATIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE PROJECT WILL TRAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO REGULARLY INTERACT WITH YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS AND VETERANS INCLUDING SCHOOL PERSONNEL, PARENTS, YOUTH SERVICE PROVIDERS, VETERANS, VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH A FOCUS ON SOMERSET COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. INDIVIDUALS TRAINED AS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDERS THROUGH THIS EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL LEARN SKILLS TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND PREVENT SUICIDE. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDERS WILL ALSO BE ORIENTED TO LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND CALL/ TEXT HOTLINES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED OF SUPPORT. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO CONNECT A MINIMUM OF 125 INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS TO NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS THROUGH WARM REFERRALS PROVIDED BY THE PIONEER FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER, A DIVISION OF EMPOWER SOMERSET THAT CONNECTS FAMILIES TO VITAL RESOURCES IN THE COUNTY AND BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER THROUGH FREE LOCAL EVENTS.

DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) SUPPORT PROGRAM

SAFE COMMUNITIES COALITION OF SOMERSET COUNTY

THE BOUND FOR HEALTHY YOUTH COALITION'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE THROUGH EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY-WIDE CHANGE IN BOUND BROOK AND SOUTH BOUND BROOK, NJ.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR YOUTH AND VETERANS

SAFE COMMUNITIES 2021CARA LOCAL DRUG CRISES GRANT - YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FAMILY DISORGANIZATION INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE OF A PRIMARY CAREGIVER, PHYSICAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT OR CONTACT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM DUE TO AN ACT OF DELINQUENCY THAT OFTEN INVOLVES ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE. A NEED FOR INCREASED TRAINING HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR STAFF WHO WORK ON THE FRONT LINES WITH HIGH RISK YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS ARE FULLY INFORMED OF SAFE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF MEDICATIONS, DROP BOX LOCATIONS, LOCAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS THE RISK OF FENTANYL AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH SOMERSET PREVENTION INFORMATION & RESOURCES IN-SERVICE TRAINING, OR SPIRIT, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO EQUIP YOUTH SERVICE PROFESSIONALS WITH KEY INFORMATION, SKILLS AND A TOOLKIT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO PREVENT OPIATE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE /MISUSE AMONG THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES THAT THEY SERVE. WITH GREATER EXPERTISE, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, FRONTLINE WORKERS CAN EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT PREVENTION STRATEGIES WITH THE HIGH-RISK YOUTH AND FAMILIES THEY SERVE.

SAFE COMMUNITIES COALITION OF SOMERSET COUNTYMENTORING GRANT

SAFE COMMUNITIES COALITION OF SOMERSET COUNTY

SOMERSET COUNTY SAFE COMMUNITIES COALITION STOP ACT GRANT

SOMERSET COUNTY SAFE COMMUNITIES COALITION STOP ACT GRANT