Chestnut Health Systems and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington are getting federal funding to improve mental health and substance use disorder programs, according to a hews release from Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen. Combined, the entities will receive just over $860,000 for research and training initiatives, with Chestnut receiving a bulk of the funding.
Chestnut’s plans
Chestnut, which has its headquarters in Bloomington, is getting $759,758 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] to pilot an online training program for peer recovery support specialist [PRSS]. These are specialists who use lived experience with substance use disorder to help others.
The virtual program is called PATH, which stands for Peer Advanced Training in Harm Reduction, and was designed for PRSS education.
Over the next six years, Chestnut’s Lighthouse Institute — the research arm of the group — will attempt to “enhance care, reduce burnout, and ultimately improve outcomes for both PRSS workers and the clients they serve” using PATH, according to the release.
“We’re excited to further research in peer recovery support,” said Lighthouse Director Michael Dennis. “This grant enables us to contribute meaningful knowledge to recovery efforts worldwide.”
In Bloomington-Normal, support specialists are used in a variety of settings, including the McLean County Center for Human Services’ peer support recovery community center, A New Horizon. McLean County courts also plans to get a specialist for its new Family Treatment Court.
Heartland Community College also offers a PRSS certification program, of which many of the area specialists are graduates.
IWU’s plans
IWU is receiving $100,876 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop mental health tools and suicide prevention strategies for students.
“This … grant allows us to support student success by expanding direct service, training faculty and staff, and educating students about mental health and suicide prevention strategies, especially for our most at-risk populations,” Karla Carney-Hall, IWU’s vice president of student affairs and dean of students, said in the release.
