About Us

F.A.S.T. GRANT  (Families and Supports Together)

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT

Department of Development Services

Fiscal Years 2020/2021 through 2022/23

WHAT IS IT?

The Department of Developmental Services distributes Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds to Regional Centers in three-year cycles utilizing a competitive application process.   The Mental Health Services Act (2004 Proposition 63) focuses on “wellness; recovery; and resilience”.  Projects are evaluated and awarded based on how (in collaboration with key stakeholders) they address prevention, early intervention, and treatment for children, families, and adult consumers with mental health diagnosis.  GOAL:  To promote inter-agency collaboration; improved clinical capacity; and enhanced effectiveness of direct services.    This is the first MHSA Grant for which RCRC applied. Our F.A.S.T. Grant was written to address the DDS priorities of (1) early mental health/social and emotional development in infants and toddlers in coordination with Family Resource Centers and/or other Community Partners and (2)  projects that develop and/or use technological applications to increase access to services for underserved populations.   Former  RCRC Clinical Director, Dr. Lucille Esralew, submitted our Grant application on  2/12/20 (pre-Covid)  with broad-based letters of community support and the  F.A.S.T.  Grant for Early Intervention was one of only 3 grants awarded by the State of California  on 8/13/20 in this Grant Cycle.

 

 

A “FAST TRIP” THROUGH THE F.A.S.T. GRANT

 

PURPOSE  – To increase social/emotional competencies of children (ages 0-5) and their families for Status 1 and Status 2 eligible children within the Redwood Coast Regional Center catchment area.  Building upon the existing SSIP (State Systemic Improvement Plan), RCRC has identified the need to extend intervention services focused on social/emotional health  for children 3-5, so that we are targeting services for children 0-5 across all four counties for the period of the grant.   We anticipate service providers to be equipped to provide these services according to evidence-based practices; that families’ knowledge base and resiliency will be increased and strengthened;  and that the children involved in this grant project will demonstrate measurable progress in social/emotional competencies.

 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES –

  1. To host events and training’s to build workforce capacity in supporting social/emotional development
  2. To promote evidence-based initiative-programs to increase the social/emotional skills of young children 0-5
  3. To increase our network of parents and collaborative partners with shared goals and strategies for building the social/emotional skills of young children.

 

APPROACH —

Following the Person-Centered approach of “What’s working and what’s not?” identify  existing  specific strengths within our catchment area  and seek to expand them  — while  also identifying  existing barriers and plan ways to overcome them.

To build upon existing structures in current counties of service in Year One of Grant, begin to  expand  to additional counties in Year Two, and expand catchment wide by Year Three (contemporaneous flow from North to South and South to North).

 

STRENGTHS TO EXPAND AND SHARE CATCHMENT WIDE BY END OF GRANT CYCLE:

  1. Dr. Robin Kissinger’s work at the North Coast Nurture Center in Humboldt County – grant will provide $ for Dr. Kissinger to purchase, provide training, and implement “The Incredible Years” evidence-based mental health curriculum for children 0-5 making it available to more children and families.
  2. Easter Seals of Northern California’s work in Early Intervention in Lake County – grant will provide $ to establish Early Intervention Services and Social Learning Groups ages 0-3  utilizing  Family Guided  Routines-Based Intervention (FGRBI) evidence-based approach and expanding those services to children 0-5.
  3. RL Therapies – providing OT, PT, and Speech in Lake and Mendocino counties by POS  according to to FGRBI evidence-based practices through teletherapy – grant will provide $ for RL Therapies to purchase apps, wi-fi-, and hot spots for families who cannot access Early Start Services due to barrier of low-income rural communities.
  4. Autism Intervention Professionals — 10 clients per year Northern Counties and 10 clients per year Southern Counties

funded by POS — grant will provide $ for behavioral consultation in implementing FGRBI strategies with behavioral services clients utilizing technological applications through curriculum/program development, parent consultation,  and data review and analysis

 

 

 

PROGRESS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS –

  1. All assessors in the catchment area will be trained in best practice administration of the Developmental Assessment of Young Children (DAYC2) to insure consistency of administration catchment wide.
  2. Baseline data will be gathered at Entry Assessment (DAYC2); goals and measurable criteria to be included on IFSP/IPP; progress monitored routinely through Intervention;  Review Assessments at regular IFSP/IPP Meetings; and Exit Assessment (DAYC2) performed when child turns 3 and 5 (or termination of Grant).  IY progress to be measured according to Dr. Kissinger  and  Clinical Staff designated tool.

 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER — FIND OUT MORE!!!

Please “check-out” our Padlets of Resources for Parents and Providers including information on past and upcoming Parent and Provider Academies offered by top experts in their fields – strengthening  and encouraging families and building  up the skill-sets of our providers according to evidence-based practices (proven effective child-centered, family-friendly strategies and techniques).