Brooke Dawson requested a poster size image of my “Pair of Mules” to represent the state of Missouri.
The conference was a 3 day meeting of all States and Territories with PATH funding. PATH stands for Projects to Assist with Transition from Homelessness. Missouri has 9 Mental Health or Substance Abuse provider agencies with PATH programs. Primary to the program is outreach to homeless individuals and referral to medical, dental, mental health and housing services. Agencies identify individuals who are homeless and in need of Mental Health services and enroll them in mainstream services.
At the States Showcase, Brooke presented information about the Missouri Department of Mental Health effort at the Missouri State Fair each year. They staff a booth where individuals can get information and referral for help in their area. They also provide depression screenings and give people information about depression and treatment.
This conference and the PATH program are important because the people they serve are some of the folks who are using large amounts of emergency room services. When they do finally come in for services their needs are great and their illness is often quite progressed. It is much less costly on communities to get needed services to this population before they hit the hospital emergency room doors and need many thousand dollars of treatment and services. Once treated they often return to homelessness and the cycle starts again.
Thank you Brooke for choosing my “Pair of Mules” to represent Missouri!
