Westcare Texas Inc

FY 19 CBCR PROGRAM

PROMISE ZONE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS (PZ SPF PS)

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS PROMISE ZONE PREVENTION NAVIGATORS HELPING HIGH-RISK YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND RELATED HIV TRANSMISSION

WESTCARE TEXAS, INC., WILL USE FUNDING TO DEVELOP COORDINATED PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY OPIOIDS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES. THE WESTCARE TEXAS EMBRACING PROJECT (WTEP) WILL EXPAND EXISTING MENTORING ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEER SERVICES TO YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY OPIOID USE DISORDER (OUD) AND THOSE AT-RISK FOR SUBSTANCE USE, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, VICTIMIZATION, AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT.

BRIDGES TO CARE WILL PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR FAITH-BASED LEADERS IN BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS - WESTCARE TEXAS, INC. (WCTX), A NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION IS SUBMITTING THIS PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN BRIDGES TO CARE TO 1) EDUCATE FAITH COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY AND AWARENESS; 2) EQUIP CONGREGATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH MINISTRY; 3) ENGAGE FAITH COMMUNITIES AS PARTNERS IN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM ACCESS, AVAILABILITY, AND PERFORMANCE; AND 4) EMBED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN FAITH COMMUNITIES. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS TO RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING FOR THE PROPOSED BRIDGES TO CARE INITIATIVE ARE FAITH-BASED LEADERS IN BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON AFRICAN AMERICAN FAITH LEADERS. AN EMPHASIS ON ENGAGING AFRICAN AMERICAN FAITH LEADERS IS BECAUSE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS THE LOWEST USAGE RATE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER RACES EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF EMERGENCY ROOM AND JAIL ADMISSIONS O PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS ACCORDING TO DR. ROBERTO VILLARREAL, MD, MPH AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM ROBERT B. GREEN HOSPITAL THAT PROVIDES SERVICES PREDOMINANTLY TO THE MEDICALLY INDIGENT. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS FOR WHICH THE TRAINING IS INTENDED TO HELP IS ADULT FAITH LEADERS OVER THE AGE OF 18 LIVING IN THE EASTSIDE PROMISE ZONE AND OTHER FAITH LEADERS IN BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS. INCLUDED IN THIS POPULATION ARE RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITIES OF HISPANIC/LATINOS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHER RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN THE SAN ANTONIO EASTSIDE PROMISE ZONE ZIP CODES OF 78202, 78203, AND 78218. THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: GOAL 1: TRAIN FAITH-BASED LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR CONGREGATIONS TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS, PARTICULARLY PERINATAL DEPRESSION, SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, AND/OR SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES AND MAKE EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE REFERRALS. OBJECTIVE 1.1: PROVIDE MHFA AND CPI TRAINING TO 100 FAITH LEADERS (500 LIFE OF GRANT). OBJECTIVE 1.2: 80% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WILL INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AND UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AS MEASURED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY SCALE (MHLS). OBJECTIVE 1.3: 80% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WILL SHOW A DECREASE IN STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE OPENING MINDS SURVEY (OMS). GOAL 2: INCREASE COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF AND ESTABLISH REFERRAL LINKAGES TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH OR EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES. OBJECTIVE 2.1: STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE EXISTING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WC-TX AND THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES WHICH IS THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE AUTHORITY FOR BEXAR COUNTY BY IMPLEMENTING AND MAINTAINING THE SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES DEFINED IN THE LETTERS OF COMMITMENT. OBJECTIVE 2.2: 100% OF FAITH PARTNERS WILL DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE AND TREATMENT AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THEIR CONGREGATIONS. OBJECTIVE 2.3: 90% OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IDENTIFIED BY PROGRAM COMPLETERS AS HAVING A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS OR EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE WILL BE REFERRED TO A TREATMENT PROVIDER FOR TREATMENT/COUNSELLING SERVICES.

REDUCING ALCOHOL, SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS, AND MARIJUANA USE BY WEBB COUNTY YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATION PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND ENVIORNMENTAL CHANGE.

REDUCING ALCOHOL, SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS, AND MARIJUANA USE BY WEBB COUNTY YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATION PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE.

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

WESTCARE TEXAS, INC. AND FACE COALITION COME TOGETHER TO TO PREVENT OPIOID, METHAMPHETAMINE USE, AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE/MISUSE AMONG YOUTH AGES 12-18 IN LAREDO, TX. - FAMILIES ASSISTANCE & COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (F.A.C.E.) COALITION IS FOCUSED WITHIN THE ZIPCODE AREA OF 78046 IN WEBB COUNTY OF LAREDO, TEXAS. THIS ZIP CODE IS CONSIDERED RURAL AND ENCOMPASSES 245 SQUARE MILES WITH A POPULATION OF 70,255. ALTHOUGH THE SQUARE MILES OF THE AREA ARE 245, THE MAJORITY OF THIS IS WOODED AREAS AND LAKES. DEMOGRAPHICS CONSISTS OF 97% HISPANIC/LATINO, 2% WHITE, <1% BLACK, <1% ASIAN, <1%, AMERICAN INDIAN, <1% NATIVE HAWAIIAN, <1% MULTI-CULTURAL. ONLY 10% OF THE POPULATION IN THIS AREA SPEAK ENGLISH. ONLY 40% OF ADULTS HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, 12% OF ADULTS HOLD A BACHELORS OR ASSOCIATE DEGREE, AND 1% HOLDS A GRADUATE DEGREE. THIRTY-NINE PERCENT (39%) OF THE POPULATION ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 17.THE FOCUS AREA OF ZIP CODE 78046 IS ACROSS THE BORDER FROM NUEVO LAREDO, MEXICO, AND IS ONE OFTHE MOST SIGNIFICANT DRUG SMUGGLING CORRIDORS ALONG THE U.S. ? MEXICO BORDER. TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS? WORTH OF DRUGS ARE CONFISCATED AT THIS POINT OF ENTRY ATTEMPTING TO ENTER LAREDO, TX EACH YEAR. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS? WORTH OF DRUGS ENTER LAREDO, TX EACH YEAR. F.A.C.E. COALITION IS VERY AWARE THAT YOUTH NEED DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE PREVENTION SERVICES IN THIS AREA MORE THAN EVER. WITHIN A 20 MILE RADIUS, THERE ARE OVER 20 LIQUOR STORES. THE NUEVO LAREDO, MEXICO DRINKING AGE IS 18 YEARS, AND RARELY CHECKS FOR IDENTIFICATION ON YOUTH. MANY LAREDO HIGH SCHOOLERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LAX ALCOHOL OVERSIGHT WITH MINORS AND MAKE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE BORDER TO DRINK.THE PURPOSE OF THE COALITION IS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM MULTIPLE SECTORS TO PREVENT OPIOID, METHAMPHETAMINE USE, AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE/MISUSE AMONG YOUTH AGES 12-18. THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS THAT THERE WILL BE A 25% REDUCTION IN OPIOID, METHAMPHETAMINE, AND/OR PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE/MISUSE AMONG YOUTH OF YOUTH AGES 12- 18 IN THREE GRADE LEVELS BETWEEN THE 6TH AND 12TH GRADES IN LAREDO AS MEASURED BY A REDUCTION IN PAST 30?DAY USE OF ALL DRUGS IN 3 GRADES OF STUDENTS BETWEEN 12-18 BASED ON A SURVEY (TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY) BY SEPTEMBER 2026.

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

WESTCARE TEXAS AND THE FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (FACE) COALITION WILL SERVE YOUTH AGED 12-20 YEARS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO LIVE IN LAREDO, TEXAS. - WESTCARE TEXAS, INC. (WCTX) AND THE FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (FACE) COALITION WILL SERVE YOUTH AGED 12-20 YEARS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, WORSHIP, AND ATTEND SCHOOL IN ZIP CODES 78040 AND 78046 IN LAREDO AND WEBB COUNTY, TEXAS. THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THIS AGE GROUP CONSIST OF 95% HISPANIC/LATINO, 4% WHITE, <1% BLACK, <1% ASIAN, <1% AMERICAN INDIAN, <L % NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND <1% MULTI-CULTURAL. DFC GOAL 1 AND STOP GOAL 1 – STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION BY ENHANCING AND EXPANDING CURRENT EFFORTS OF THE FACE COALITION TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS, WHICH ALIGNS WITH SAMHSA 'S RESOURCE GUIDE ENTITLED IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-LEVEL POLICIES TO PREVENT ALCOHOL MISUSE AND SAMHSA’S STRATEGIC PLAN FY2023-2026, PRIORITY 3, SPECIFICALLY TO DECREASE UNDERAGE DRINKING BY 40% AMONG YOUTH AGES 12-20 WHO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, WORSHIP, ATTEND SCHOOL IN ZIP CODES 78040 AND 78046 IN LAREDO AND WEBB COUNTY, TEXAS. DFC GOAL 2 AND STOP GOAL 2 – REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING AMONG 1200 YOUTH (300 ANNUALLY) AGES 12-20 WHO ATTEND MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS IN ZIP CODES 78040 AND 78046 BY 10% ANNUALLY AND 40% OVER THE PROJECT PERIOD, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 2023 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON THE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF UNDERAGE DRINKING. THE REQUIRED ACTIVITIES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK.

WCTX DFC STOP