Trauma-Informed Care (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention training (QPR) programs are existing programs being utilized and promoted by our Substance Use Prevention Alliance (SUPA) coalition. Coalition partners recommend continuing these programs and think that when combined with other actions in our community, they have a reasonable chance of making a difference to improve mental health and mental health care in our community.  

The priority population/customers for Trauma-Informed Care and QPR-Suicide Prevention Training are health care and social work professionals. The goal is to make a difference at the individual/interpersonal behavior level for staff and the clients they serve.  The intent of this goal is to develop a community-wide workforce skilled at recognizing suicidal ideations and individuals affected by adverse outcomes, resulting in quick, appropriate services and care for at-risk populations they serve. 

2022 update:

The SUPA scheduled local National Alliance on Mental Illness members for an early 2023 training.  The program, 'In Our Own Voice,' shared lived experiences of presenters.  Vaya Health (MCO) staff presented at a SUPA meeting about training options available to the community.  Sessions include Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade, Refer.    

2023 update:

Haywood County Health and Human Services (HHSA) partnered with coalition member Vaya Health MCO to offer two sessions of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).  Sessions were open to HHSA staff/board members and community partners.  Leaders from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (Haywood chapter) offered In Our Own Voice, where two adults shared their lived experiences with mental illness.  Other coalition members offered sessions sharing the benefits of Qi Gong and Somatics; these took place during health coalition meetings. 

For most sessions, follow-up surveys were administered asking three questions: 1) Has this training positively influenced your life or the lives of those you serve? 2) Do you recommend this training for co-workers or other agencies? 3) Please explain your answers (optional).  

Data limitations- There is some duplication in the count of individuals attending trainings, as some participated in multiple sessions.  Some individuals did not complete follow-up surveys.  A survey was not administered following the Somatics training.  

The partners for Trauma-Informed Care and mental health trainings include:

Evaluation Plan:

We plan to evaluate the impact of QPR and other mental health trainings and Trauma-Informed Care/ACES through the use of Results-Based AccountabilityTM to monitor specific performance measures. We will be monitoring How Much, How Well and/or Better Off Performance Measures. Our evaluation activities will be tracked in the Work Plan table, above.

Sustainability Plan:

The following is our sustainability plan for QPR and Trauma Informed Care/ACES trainings: 

• Sustainability: Performance measures will be used to assess the effectiveness of the programs to communicate to community partners and leaders that advocating for and investing in a workfoce trained to recognize and quickly provide appropriate mental health care improves the well being of all residents.  
  • Numbers of professional staff attending training will be maintained as well as assessing
    • Staff acknowledgement that training enhanced their ability to recognize and care for clients with mental health concerns
    • Staff satisfaction with the training
    • Their willingness to recommend other staff and agencies for this training
    • Six-month follow up that programs have made a difference in their behavior and the behavior of clients they serve