East Harris County Empowerment Council

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING INITIATIVE - EHCEC IS A COMMUNITY HUB LEVERAGING A STRONG NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND CARING CORPORATIONS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE UNDERSERVED EASTERN REGION OF HARRIS COUNTY. EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES HAVE PRIORITIZED THE IMMEDIATE NEED FOR EVIDENCE-BASED SUICIDE PREVENTION AND TRAINING SERVICES THAT COULD REDUCE THE PERCEIVED STIGMA OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND BUILD A TRAINED SAFETY NET OF MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WITH FUNDING, EAST HARRIS COUNTY EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL WILL IMPLEMENT A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING INITIATIVE, BRINGING DESPERATELY NEEDED TRAINING RESOURCES TO THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES OF EASTERN HARRIS COUNTY, DELIVERING EIGHT-HOUR EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING SESSIONS TO AT LEAST 500 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. MONTHLY TRAINING SESSIONS, HELD AT EHCEC FACILITIES, SHELDON ISD, TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL NORTHEAST HOUSTON AFT, MT. ROSE CHURCH, RHODES SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PRECINCT2GETHER, INC. WILL RECRUIT APPROXIMATELY 45 INDIVIDUALS EACH. ANNUAL PROJECTED POPULATIONS INCLUDE: NON-PROFIT STAFF (30); POLICE / FIRE / EMT (45); EDUCATORS (70); HEALTHCARE WORKERS (50); COMMUNITY MEMBERS (320); AND STUDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 16 (100). EAST HARRIS COUNTY EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL HAS ESTABLISHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, FACILITATING REFERRALS FOR ADULT, ADOLESCENT, AND CHILDREN COUNSELING; FAMILY PROGRAMS; CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES; AND WELLNESS EDUCATION GROUPS. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ARE OFFERED IN AN EVIDENCE-BASED FORMAT TO MEMBERS OF ALL COMMUNITY SECTORS, TO LESSEN THE STIGMA OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND TO BUILD A SAFETY NET OF TRAINED INDIVIDUALS PREPARED TO IDENTIFY PERSONS IN CRISIS AND RESPOND IN A TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.

THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES ELIGIBLE GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WITH THE FUNDING AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND PARTICIPATION IN THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM AMONG THOSE ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS MOST IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY.