MINNESOTA: New Collaborative Project Targets Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Childhood Trauma in Becker County
September 20, 2019
A collaborative effort is working to expand access to mental health and substance abuse supports in Becker County. Project Hope is run by a committee representing every sector of the community, including schools, nonprofits, and health care organizations. Formed a few months ago, the group has identified seven action steps to address mental health and substance abuse issues in its community. These include expanding access to recovery programs, developing case management services for youth with substance abuse-related legal issues, and creating a plan to educate students and community members about mental health and substance use. “It’s about collective impact . . . connecting resources,” said Karen Pifher, west community health manager for Becker County Energize, which houses the project. “It’s about, ‘How can we work together to increase the capacity to serve?’”
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