HDI introduces new mental health project: Merge

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute introduces a new project: Merge. The project will strengthen the existing training framework serving Kentuckians with co-occurring mental health, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (MHIDD). By evolving current training, Merge aims to increase and improve the application of person-centered services and referral systems. 

Merge hopes to build stronger connections across systems in Kentucky, including state agencies, medical providers, medical service providers, LEND trainees, families, and individuals with MHIDD.

Merge will work with a team of state partners that includes people with lived experience. This team will identify existing resources, needs, gaps, and priorities. Existing resources will be strengthened and will address racial, health, and economic inequities in underserved communities. Once gaps and needs are identified, universally-designed supports will build a trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented framework for application. These efforts help fulfill Merge’s goal to increase understanding and improve the implementation of person-centered, culturally relevant services and referral systems.

For more information, contact Kristen Dahl at kristen.dahl@uky.edu.

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