SUBJECT
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Approve the First Amendment to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grant Subrecipient Agreement with Polk Vision, Inc. (total amount not to exceed $155,262)
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DESCRIPTION
In September of 2023, Polk County was awarded $999,996 from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the Polk County Behavioral Health Improvement Project to deploy core strategies that focus on current and future behavioral health needs more efficiently with the ultimate goal to improve the quality of life of Polk County residents.
The County contracted with Polk Vision, one of the multiple grant subrecipients effective October 1, 2023 at a not-to-exceed amount of $123,672 to launch a public awareness campaign to reduce the stigma of and raise awareness of mental health issues. Lack of awareness and lack of education about behavioral health symptoms, prevention, and available resources foster low levels of accessing behavioral health care by those who need it. Additionally, stigma can make people more likely to hide symptoms or illness, keep them from seeking health care immediately, and prevent individuals from adopting healthy behaviors.
In May 2024, Polk Vision held a Behavioral Health Summit and launched a public awareness campaign to reduce the stigma of and raise awareness of mental health issues. The campaign continues through social media platforms, email blasts, paid ads, and paid billboard advertising.
SAMHSA approved a no-cost grant extension through September 29, 2025, subsequently resulting in this First Amendment to the subrecipient agreement extending the term by one year to align with the grant extension and increase funding by $31,590 bringing the total funding to $155,262. Additional funding allows Polk Vision to provide in-depth behavioral health training on impacts of the digital and online world on child development relative to brain growth, cyber dangers, suicide, and human trafficking. Training will be provided to staff of Polk County Public Schools. Once trained, participants will be able to implement programmatic activities that will transfer acquired knowledge to students in grades K-12. A second Behavioral Health Summit is planned for May of 2025.
Polk Vision offers a framework for achieving sustained improvement. As the leading collective impact organization serving the entire Polk County community, Polk Vision provides central coordination to align the work of volunteers through partnerships of public, private and civic organizations working collectively to make the shared vision of improved community prosperity for Polk County a reality. The Polk Vision Behavioral Health alignment team works to improve the quality of life through the use of accessible, high-quality, comprehensive, prevention-based community health services designed to promote total well-being. The team has developed a strategic, tactical plan for improved community health and wellness.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the First Amendment to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grant Subrecipient Agreement with Polk Vision.
FISCAL IMPACT
Polk Vision will provide applicable invoices to the county requesting payment, and the County will then draw down the SAMHSA grant funds and pay the Polk Vision invoices.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Joy Johnson, Administrator, Health and Human Services, 863-534-5204