Growing Resilience in Adolescents and Children (GRACE) Project

With funding from HRSA's Rural Communities Opioid Response (RCORP) Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health program, we will establish a consortium that uses evidence-based practices to cultivate a coordinated continuum of care that is better equipped to address the complex behavioral health (BH) needs of children and youth in several communities in Pennsylvania. The project will establish and expand sustainable BH care services for children and adolescents aged 5-17 years from these communities. 

Funded by:

Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA)

Funding Amount:

$4,000,000

Project Duration:

September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2027

Project Location:

Communities throughout Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, and Union Counties in Pennsylvania 

Background

This project aims to enhance prevention, treatment, and recovery outcomes for children and adolescents aged 5-17 in the targeted counties through establishing new services, evidenced-based practice training and implementation support, and increasing community partnerships to improve the ability to identify and connect children, youth, their families, and caregivers with needed behavioral health services at every level.   

The consortium advising and implementing this work comprises stakeholders from the UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care; Community Care Behavioral Health Organization; Columbia, Montour, Snyder, and Union (CMSU) Behavioral Health and Development Services; Schuylkill County Office of Mental Health and Development Services; Northumberland County Behavioral Health/Intellectual and Developmental Services Program; and Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania (BHARP).

Healthcare Challenge

A growing number of children and adolescents in rural Pennsylvania experience emotional or behavioral difficulties. Logistical challenges related to accessibility of services and systemic challenges related to limited treatment capacity prevent them from accessing the care needed. 

Goals

Through this project, we will establish new BH prevention, treatment, and recovery services; improve the capacity of rural health care providers, paraprofessionals, non-clinical staff, and community members to care for and support children and adolescents, provide training and peer mentorship opportunities for multiple stakeholders; and enhance partnerships to improve BH outcomes for children in the targeted communities.