AID modification no. 7 of cooperative agreement to the People to People Health Foundation no. 7, Inc. for a mental health services program

Project HOPE will supply a team of medical specialists for approximately 60.5 person months (P/M"s) of TA. A psychiatric nurse will upgrade MHS nursing skills, with an emphasis on community (outpatient) care. The nurse will train 5 mental health nurses and 58 nursing attendants, using an adaptation of an already completed Caribbean curriculum. He/She will also expand MHS clinics to include mini daycare centers (to help ensure integration of the family and community in patient care), create radio and video public information programs on mental health, and help develop psychiatric nursing policies and procedures, as well as job descriptions for the nursing staff. A plan to regionalize the Grenadian experience will be developed. A psychiatric social worker will work with a Grenadian counterpart to enhance the ability of the MOH to deal with deinstitutionalized mental patients and maintain patients in the community. The social worker will train 7 community MHS social workers (one per parish) in how to provide support to discharged patients and their families, and handle crises as they arise. Thirdly, a psychiatric therapeutic activities specialist will design a therapeutic activities program (e.g., crafts, dance, arts) for both inpatients and community daycare clients. The specialist will also conduct seminars on therapeutic activities for hospital staff. Various short-term consultants will be provided also. A medical records administrator will develop model patient medical records, establish a uniform MHS data collection reporting system, and lead workshops on psychiatric care documentation. A pharmacist will help to establish a safe, efficient drug procurement, storage, and distribution system. In addition, 4 psychiatric registrars from the University of the West Indies will participate in all MHS services, but especially in community services, on a 3-month rotational basis. This is seen as a key element in the phase-over of project activities to West Indian physicians.