Breakthrough &
Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT)

Breakthrough

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Breakthrough, operated in partnership with Orange County Government, uses a peer support model to improve outcomes for families with youth, ages 9 to 16, who are experiencing significant mental or behavioral health needs.

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Breakthrough is a robust navigation and care coordination model that is rooted in sound assessment, links families to evidence-based supports, and is augmented by trusting relationships between families and our Breakthrough team. Breakthrough families are identified when children present with significant mental health needs. Once the family joins the program, they are paired with a Family Support Navigator a person with lived experience who partners with families to ensure that they are able to link to appropriate services and community supports.

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Breakthrough connects kids and families with support groups and other resources that the family will benefit from long after their time with Breakthrough has ended. The Navigators serve as a liaison, connecting the family to the therapeutic and other providers that they are referred to, based upon on an evidence-based assessment.

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RISE Community Solutions operates Breakthrough in partnership with the Orange County Youth Mental Health Consortium, and with funding from Orange County, Orange County Public Schools, and Florida Dept. of Children and Families.

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Mental Health Awareness Training

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The Mental Health Awareness Training project raises awareness for identifying and responding to mental health needs in youth. Approximately half of all mental health disorders develop by the age of 14, and suicide is currently the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24. This project offers caring adults who work with youth ages 12 to 18 the opportunity to proactively learn about mental health needs, dispelling myths and reducing stigma, through a free Youth Mental Health First Aid certification course.

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The goal of the Mental Health Awareness Training project is to raise awareness for identifying and responding to mental health needs in youth. Approximately half of all mental health disorders develop by the age of 14, and suicide is currently the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24. It is critical that our community proactively learns about mental health needs, dispelling myths and reducing stigma. We invite you to join us at a free Youth Mental Health First Aid certification course.

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Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring individuals how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. The course is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people and introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. Participants will earn a three-year Youth Mental Health First Aid certificate from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

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MHAT works with a team of community trainers to offer sessions in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole. Trainers are made available via a grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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If you are interested in taking the course, you may register online or contact Bethany Audette, program coordinator, at Bethany.Audette@RISEcs.org. If you represent at least 10 participants, you can also reach out to discuss scheduling a class just for your group.