THE ROUNDTABLE OF ST LUCIE COUNTY INC

THE ROUNDTABLE OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, SUPPORTED BY THE SAMHSA STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK-PARTNERSHIP FOR SUCCESS GRANT ESTABLISHED THE ST. LUCIE RISE MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AIMING TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTION EFFORTS FOR HIGH-RISK AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. GROUNDED IN PUBLIC HEALTH PRINCIPLES AND THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK, THE INITIATIVE PROMOTES RECOVERY-ORIENTED, TRAUMA-INFORMED AND EQUITY-BASED APPROACHES TO BEHAVORIAL HEALTH. KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDE TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING, EXPANDED PEDIATRIC INTEGRATED CARE, FUNCTIONAL FAMILY THERAPY FOR UNDERSERVED FAMILIES AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE PROMOTION. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DRUG FREE ST. LUCIE, THIS INITIATIVE ACTS AS A FORCE-MULTIPLIER, ADVANCING YOUTH-LED SOCIAL NORMS CAMPAIGNS AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, AND TOGETHER TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSES OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

KIDS AT HOPE: KIDS AT HOPE IS THE ROUNDTABLE'S PRIMARY MEANS OF INCREASING, SUPPORTING AND SUSTAINING PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR YOUTH IN ST LUCIE COUNTY. IT IS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES A UNIQUE, MEANINGFUL WAY OF TEACHING ADULTS WHO ARE NOT EXPERTS IN RESILIENCY RESEARCH THE KEY COMPONENTS OF WHAT SCIENCE SHOWS KIDS NEED TO SUCCEED (I.E. THE SOCIAL DEVELOPEMENT STRATEGY). SINCE 2007, THE ROUNDTABLE HAS TRAINED THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STAFF, AND CITY AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN KIDS AT HOPE. ALL ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN AND ADOPTED KIDS AT HOPE, AS WELL AS 150 ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING NUMEROUS CHILDCARE FACILITIES. THE CITIES OF PORT ST LUCIE AND FT PIERCE AND ST LUCIE COUNTY HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS TO BECOME KIDS AT HOPE COMMUNITIES.