The South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center serves U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 6, including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
One of the goals of this project is to increase the capacity of the mental health workforce to provide culturally sensitive, effective interventions that enhance the quality of life of individuals experiencing mental health disorders. It also aims to increase the number of organizations implementing evidence-based practices to promote mental health, intervene early, prevent suicide and serious mental illness, and effectively treat individuals with mental health and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
The purpose of the the center is to build the capacity of the mental health workforce, organizations, and systems to deliver effective, evidence-based promotion, prevention, treatment, and recovery supports. A goal of the project is to strengthen the region’s capacity to support the recovery of individuals with serious emotional disturbance and serious mental illness.
This project will provide technical assistance in quality improvement models to enhance the outcomes of mental health services within the region.
The content of the training and technical assistance services will be responsive to the needs of the region, including areas such as school-based mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention; early childhood provider competencies; zero suicide practices and suicide prevention; trauma responsive systems and practices; social determinants of mental health; CLAS standards; recovery-oriented systems and implementation of peer support; and adult, youth, and family peer practices. This project may also offer best practices for partnering with special populations, such as LGBTQ, veteran, or homeless populations. Service topics will be developed to effectively reach underserved ethnic/cultural groups.
Researcher(s):
- Molly Lopez, Ph.D.
Project Sponsor(s):
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
