Shasta County’s Mental Health Services Act (MSHA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Plan includes Triple P® and is dedicated to bringing mental health awareness into the entire community through universal and targeted education initiatives and dialogue. As an early intervention program, Triple P® assists Shasta County residents at the earliest possible signs of mental health problems and concerns. Residents receiving services include the underserved population and rural communities having at-risk children and youth in stressed families ages 0-18 years old.
Prevention in mental health involves reducing risk factors or stressors, building protective factors and skills, and increasing support to prevent the onset of mental illness. Prevention programs like Triple P® promote positive cognitive, social, and emotional development and encourages a state of well-being that allows a child or youth to function well in the face of changing and sometimes challenging circumstances.
Triple P® early intervention is directed toward caregivers and families for whom a short duration and relatively low-intensity intervention is appropriate to measurably improve a mental health problem or concern very early in its manifestation, thereby avoiding the need for more extensive mental health treatment or services, or to prevent a mental health problem from getting worse. Triple P® is an evidence-based multi-level parenting and family support strategy that aims to prevent severe behavioral, emotional, and developmental problems in children by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and confidence of parents.
NVCSS has been serving families in the community with various levels of Triple P® for the past seven years and have a well-established history of success. In 2017 NVCSS served 57 caregivers which is a 64% increase in new clients. They hold an average program completion of 87%, marking a 5% increase from 2016. For those served in the Triple P® Level 4 Group, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale assessment demonstrates caregiver improvement in all areas with depression symptoms resulting in a decrease by 53%. In a recent competitive procurement that ended September 2017, their proven ability to utilize Evidence Based programs, maintain cultural and trauma informed practices as well as their well-trained personnel has merited this amendment to extend the term of the existing agreement for one more year.
The amendment is retroactive due to the negotiation needed with NVCSS to finalize terms and conditions.