Acenda Inc

Acenda CMHC Service Expansion - Acenda Proposes to Expand the Reach of the Agency’s Existing Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) Services in Gloucester and Cape May Counties. the Expansion Allows the Agency to Reach Populations Which Have Not Only Historically Been More Impacted by Severe and Longer-term Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders, But for Whom COVID-19 Has Been Significantly More Damaging in Terms of Overall Health and Access to Treatment. These Populations Include 1) Older Adults Living With Serious Mental Illness 2) Black and Latinx Communities and 3) Persons Experiencing Homelessness, or Who Are at Risk for Homelessness. With Additional CMHC Funding, Acenda Will Address Gaps in Services and Expand the Reach of Much-needed Supports and Treatment for Vulnerable Individuals in the Communities Being Served. the Agency Proposes to Serve 800 Individuals Over the Course of the Grant Period (400 in Year 1 and 400 in Year 2) in Addition to Community Educational Initiatives, Acenda Will Also Implement Multiple Engagement Activities Which Directly Address Care Barriers Including 1.) Subcontracting With Black and Latinx Therapists to Expand the Agency’s Existing Care Network to Be Even More Diverse and Responsive to the Needs of Vulnerable Communities 2.) Temporary “pop-up” Assessment and Treatment Locations in High-need Communities 3.) Peer Outreach Champions 4.) Mobile Treatment Unit 5.) Expansion of Mobile Crisis Programming 6.) Community Nutrition Events. the Project Goals Include: a.) Restore the Delivery of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services for Communities Most Adversely Affected by COVID-19 B.) Improve the Timely Access of Early Intervention and Mental Health Services for Highly Vulnerable Populations. C.) Expand Awareness of, and Access to, Emergency Mental Health and Mobile Crisis Services for Individuals in Identified Communities D.) Implement a Mental Health Outreach and Education Strategy Which Utilizes a Local Community-based Workforce to Help Overcome Real and Perceived Treatment Barriers Created by COVID-19. E.) Increase Access to an Integrated Treatment Network for Persons Experiencing Homelessness or Individuals at Risk of Homelessness Screened as Having an Smi, Sud And/or Co-occurring Disorder.