Connect Summit County

TO CREATE A WELL-INFORMED AND STIGMA-FREE COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF SUMMIT COUNTY, UTAH.

ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IMPROVING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IS CORE TO CONNECT SUMMIT COUNTY'S MISSION OF CREATING A WELL-INFORMED AND STIGMA-FREE COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ALL. THIS MEANS THE NECESSARY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES MUST BE IN PLACE; PEOPLE MUST BE ABLE TO EASILY FIND THESE SERVICES; THE SERVICES MUST BE HIGH QUALITY; AND THE SERVICES MUST BE AFFORDABLE AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT. CONNECT'S TEAM IS ACUTELY AWARE OF THE URGENCY OF ADDRESSING MENTAL ILLNESS. WE WORK TO PROVIDE SUMMIT, WASATCH, AND SALT LAKE COUNTY, UTAH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING, ASSISTANCE IN NAVIGATING THE MENTAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THERAPY, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, ACCESS TO PROVIDERS, ACCESS TO SUPPORT GROUPS, AND ADVOCACY FOR SYSTEM CHANGES. THESE SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. ONE OF CONNECT'S SIGNATURE SUCCESSES IS THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE. THIS GUIDE IS AVAILABLE IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH, AND HAS VERSIONS ONLINE AND IN-PRINT. THE GUIDE CONSISTS OF A FLUID DIRECTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ALONG WITH MENTAL HEALTH TOOL KITS THAT HELP PEOPLE SELF-NAVIGATE. LAUNCHED IN THE BEGINNING OF 2022, THE DIRECTORY FEATURES A LISTING OF LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, SUPPORTS, AND RESOURCES IN SUMMIT COUNTY. WE CONTINUOUSLY UPDATE THE GUIDE SO THAT IT REFLECTS THE MOST RELEVANT AND CURRENT INFORMATION. ANOTHER ONE OF CONNECT SUMMIT COUNTY'S UNIQUE SERVICES IS ITS MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICES, CREATED IN 2018. OUR MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES RESPOND TO BOTH PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEEKING ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH. THIS SERVICE IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE THAT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT WITH SERVICES, EXTEND CLINICAL IMPACT, AND EXPAND CLINICAL CAPACITY. IT HAS ALSO BEEN SHOWN TO HELP DECREASE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS. FROM JANUARY 1, 2022-DECEMBER 2022, CONNECT'S MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE LINE AVERAGED 5-7 CALLS PER MONTH. ONE YEAR LATER, THE PHONE LINE RECEIVED 18 CALLS PER MONTH. CURRENTLY, IN 2023, WE HAVE SERVED AROUND 200 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE LINE IN 2023. WE MEASURE THIS OBJECTIVE BY UTILIZING THE GOOGLE FORMS TRACKING SHEET THAT WE CURRENTLY USE TO MONITOR THE NUMBER OF CALLS RECEIVED PER MONTH, IN ADDITION TO THE ZIP CODE WHERE THE CLIENT IS LIVING, THE CONTACT METHOD (PHONE/EMAIL/TEXT), WHO THE PERSON IS CALLING FOR (SELF/FAMILY/FRIEND/BUSINESS ASSOCIATE/SCHOOL ADVISOR/OTHER), THE REASON FOR THE CALL (BASIC NEEDS/CRISIS/SEEKING MEDICATION/SEEKING TREATMENT, ETC.), TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN (SUICIDE IDEATION/STRESS/ANXIETY/DEPRESSION/BI-POLAR, ETC.). THIS DATA TRACKING IS USED BY ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ASSISTS IN GUIDING THE STRATEGIES AND TACTICS SET BY THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

PROGRAM 4 MENTAL WELLNESS ALLIANCE CONNECT CURRENTLY COORDINATES THE MENTAL WELLNESS ALLIANCE (MWA). MWA IS A COALITION FOCUSED ON BRINGING TOGETHER SUMMIT COUNTY'S KEY STAKE HOLDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO CREATE A POWERFUL AND COORDINATED APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY'S MENTAL WELLNESS CHALLENGES. ONE OF THE COMMITTEES THAT MAKE UP THE MWA IS THE EQUITY COMMITTEE WHICH ENSURES EQUITY OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR LATINO AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 10 LATINX LEADERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND REPRESENT SUMMIT COUNTY NON-PROFITS, THE PARK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SUMMIT COUNTY BEHAVIORAL DEPARTMENT, AND THE PARK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE WILL RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS FROM SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS IN WASATCH COUNTY, AND WE WILL INVITE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO JOIN THE COMMITTEES, AS WELL. THE MENTAL WELLNESS ALLIANCE BRINGS TOGETHER PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SUMMIT COUNTY TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AND IDENTIFY GAPS IN SERVICE AND SUPPORT. THIS COLLABORATIVE APPROACH ENSURES EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO INCLUDES LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COUNTY'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS. CONNECT HAS HIRED A MENTAL WELLNESS ALLIANCE COORDINATORL TO COORDINATE THE MENTAL WELLNESS ALLIANCE AND ITS PARTNERS. MENTAL WELLNESS ALLIANCE PARTNERS THAT OFFER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND WELLNESS SERVICES INCLUDE: CHRISTIAN CENTER OF PARK CITY, THE COUNCIL ON AGING, HOLY CROSS MINISTRIES, JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF UTAH, LATINO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, LIVE LIKE SAM FOUNDATION, PEOPLE'S HEALTH CLINIC, PEACE HOUSE, SUMMIT COUNTY CLUBHOUSE, SUMMIT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION, SUMMIT COUNTY RECOVERY FOUNDATION AMONG OTHERS. PROGRAM 5 SUPPORT GROUPS CONNECT RECENTLY HIRED A SUPPORT GROUP COORDINATOR WHO LEADS TWO, ON-GOING SUPPORT GROUPS FOR CAREGIVING AND GRIEF IN SUMMIT COUNTY. THESE GROUPS MEET MULTIPLE TIMES A MONTH, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS, WHILE ALSO OFFERING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AS NEEDED USING AFOREMENTIONED PROGRAMS. AS THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM FOR CONNECT, WE WOULD LIKE SEE SUPPORT GROUPS OF ALL TYPES-GRIEF, CAREGIVERS, AGING POPULATION, AND PARENTS-MEET AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A MONTH FOR AT LEAST NINE MONTHS, WITH APPROXIMATELY EIGHT PARTICIPANTS PER GROUP SESSION. WE WILL TRACK THIS USING GOOGLE FORMS. ADDITIONAL INFO WHICH CAN HELP CONNECT IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN SUMMIT COUNTY, UTAH THAT WORKS TO DE-STIGMATIZE MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH COMMUNITY WIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, TO INCREASE ACCESS TO EXISTING BEHAVIORAL-HEALTH SERVICES, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING FOR LOCAL BEHAVIORAL-HEALTH SERVICES. DURING THE GRANT PERIOD, CONNECT STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS RE-ENGAGED OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, WHICH INCREASED OUR VISIBILITY, THUS INCREASING THE USE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE PHONE LINE, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND DISTRIBUTION OF OUR 1000+ MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDES. WE OFFER ALL OF THESE SERVICES AND PRINTED MATERIALS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE OUR PROGRAMMING EFFORTS TO INCLUDE SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RURAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY BEING PRESENT AT MORE LOCAL TOWN EVENTS LIKE THE JULY 4TH RODEO IN OAKLEY, THE "ASK ME ANYTHING" YOUTH PANEL PRODUCED AT THE KAMAS LIBRARY, AND VARIOUS OTHER EVENTS IN HEBER AND COALVILLE. OUR INTENTIONAL EXPANSION OF THE LOCATION OF OUR EVENTS HAS ALLOWED US TO EXTEND REACH AND PROVIDE OUR SERVICES TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF SUMMIT COUNTY AND INTO WASATCH COUNTY AND SALT LAKE COUNTY. AS A RESULT, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE ARTS COUNCIL OF SUMMIT COUNTY AND PARK CITY FOR THE LATINO ARTS FESTIVAL, A THREE-DAY EVENT IN JUNE 2023. OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS ALSO ALLOWED US TO INCREASE THE USE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE LINE BY 50% AND A 100% INCREASE IN THE PARTICIPATION OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS AS OUTLINED IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE INCREASED OUR RACIAL EQUITY LENS AND CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF OUR ORGANIZATION; WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR OWN OFFICE IN A PROMINENT LOCATION IN PARK CITY, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXPAND OUR CAPABILITIES AS A DATA- DRIVEN ORGANIZATION WITH A GRANT TO LAUNCH A NEW MENTAL HEALTH DATA SYSTEM AT THE END OF 2023-24. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE MENTAL WELLNESS ALLIANCE WHICH IS THE REGIONAL INITIATIVE THAT IS A TOWN COUNCIL AND COUNTY COUNCIL-APPROVED STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH WILL BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONNECT'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS A NEWER INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THERAPY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO OTHERWISE CANNOT AFFORD IT DUE TO A LACK OF INCOME OR INSURANCE. THIS PROGRAM, AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH, ALLOWS APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY EXPLAINING THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION AND MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLE. OUR MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES THEN REVIEW THE APPLICATION AND GENERALLY APPROVE THE APPLICANT TO RECEIVE FUNDING AT A RATE OF 85/SESSION FOR UP TO 12 SESSIONS. IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AN APPLICANT MAY APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. THIS PROGRAM BENEFITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE SOUGHT HELP FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. FROM THE INCEPTION OF CONNECT'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN MARCH 2022 - MARCH 2023, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30 APPLICATIONS. WE STRIVE TO INCREASE THIS NUMBER TO 60 PER YEAR, A 50% INCREASE. ALREADY IN 2023, WE HAVE HAD OVER 40 APPLICANTS, AND PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR THERAPY FOR SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK THIS NUMBER IN AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET THAT IS UPDATED EACH TIME A PERSON FILLS OUT AN APPLICATION AND IS ACCEPTED. WE ALSO TRACK IF THE CLIENT IS A FIRST-TIME APPLICANT OR IS REQUIRING AN EXTENSION OF SERVICES.

EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY BY RESPONDING TO THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OF SUMMIT COUNTY TO INCREASE ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND INFLUENCE MENTAL HEALTH PUBLIC POLICY, CONNECT SUMMIT COUNTY HAS ADDRESSED UNMET MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. CONNECT SUMMIT COUNTY ACTIVELY ENGAGES COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BRAND AMBASSADORS, AND VOLUNTEERS TO ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS TO CHAMPION MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND PARTICIPATES IN ONGOING ADVOCACY TO CITIZENS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. COLLABORATION HAS BEEN KEY TO OUR GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE NOW CONSIDERED THE "HUB" FOR CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE VAST AMOUNT OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN SUMMIT AND WASATCH COUNTIES. OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS RELY ON US TO HELP PROMOTE THEIR PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, AND THIS HAS ALSO FOSTERED THE EXPANSION INTO THE LATINX COMMUNITY. THANKS TO OUTREACH BY OUR SPANISH SPEAKING MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE AND OUR PREVIOUS SPANISH SPEAKING PROGRAM DIRECTOR FROM ARGENTINA, WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE NOT FELT COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH NOR SEEKING SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, AND WE ARE NOW WORKING TO EMBED CULTURALLY COMPETENT INFORMATION IN ALL OF CONNECT'S MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING. THIS JUNE WE PARTNERED WITH PC ARTS COUNCIL FOR THE LATINO ARTS FESTIVAL IN PARK CITY. THIS EVENT BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF ENGLISH AND SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE LATINX ARTS AND ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. CONNECT HOSTED THE FIRST "BIEN E ESTAR" (WELL BEING) TENT WHICH INCLUDED COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HAVE AT LEAST ONE SPANISH-SPEAKING PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT THEIR RESOURCES TO FESTIVAL ATTENDEES. IT INCLUDED WELLNESS EVENTS FOCUSED ON DE-STIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH WHILE ENCOURAGING SELF-CARE.