Male mental health MHS 6900- USF
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Daryl GASTON
NOVEMBER 25, 2024.
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DR. TAORMINA - PROFESSOR
Final​​ Project
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Black Growth
Initiative
Behavioral
Therapy
Program Goal
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The Growth Initiative is a therapy institution that addresses and caters to the needs of Formerly incarcerated Black men aged 20–60, focusing on individuals within their first two years post-release, as this period is critical for successful reintegration.
We focus on individuals with a history of mental health conditions, substance use, or
trauma. We realize that those with limited family support or unstable housing situations
may need care to address those needs.
We encourage you to apply if you are a Black
man with limited formal education and work experience. Some of the special
considerations are cultural factors such as stigma around mental health, mistrust of institutions, and the impact of systemic racism and discrimination on reentry experiences.
INTERVENTION ​
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Our team offers compassionate multilevel intervention combining individual and group therapy, mentorship, vocational training, and community engagement—a community-based, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed approach. The intervention will be a 12-month intensive individual/ group program with optional continued support through an alum network. We will provide a strengths-based model intervention program to build on participants’ strengths and resilience. We will implement the trauma-informed care principle to ensure safe, transparent, and supportive services.
We will also utilize CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy). Our trained, licensed Black male therapists will focus on your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions to change negative energy into positive outcomes.
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Our weekly individual therapy sessions will focus on trauma, emotional regulation, and personal goals. Our group therapy sessions will be peer-led, where participants can share experiences in a supportive environment. We will provide substance use counseling focusing on harm reduction and coping mechanisms if required.
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We hope our interventions will address your needs so that our clients can cope with behavioral health issues such as clinical depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, dementia, or PTSD.
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As part of our intervention strategy, we will incorporate Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and Natural therapy into our services. Animal-assisted intervention aims to improve a patient's social, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Using animals for treatment has shown positive results in many cases, such as post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD), depression, anxiety, dementia, and autism. AAT can also improve many aspects of a patient's life, such as improving their overall mood or reducing feelings of isolation.(Charry-Sanchez et al., 2018).
We will also incorporate Nature therapy or Ecotherapy. Nature therapy is a therapeutic practice that involves elements of nature ( walks, exercising, plants, outdoor activities). Once a week, we will venture to a local horse farm, ride and feed horses, and conduct our therapy sessions. At the farm, we will sit with nature for a week to connect with the trees, water, and animals. This therapy aims to reduce stress through nature and reconnect with the earth.
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Outcomes
The Behavioral Health Improvement intervention will reduce the symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Our behavioral support plan will equip our participants with job skills relevant to the local job market. Our programs will promote healthy family relationships and community connections, focusing on self-efficacy and resilience. Our peer-led mentors will assist with job readiness training, which includes resume building, interviewing, and professional behavior training. They will also teach life skills like time management, conflict resolution, and self-care practices.
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EVALUATION/ADAPTION​
For program evaluation, we will use pre- and post-intervention assessments, such as surveys, mental health scales, and job placement tracking. The stories our clients, mentors, or family members share will be a part of our qualitative feedback. Key performance indicators will help us gauge how we approach our behavioral health support division- for improvement.
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The assessment process is not just about evaluation but also about adaptation. It will help us continuously improve our Behavioral Therapy approach. Team members will be able to readjust our programming based on lived experiences and real-time data, ensuring that we are always providing the most effective support.