2 . Strategies Foundational research results ( i . e ., Stage 1 ), the list of prioritized needs , Themes / Strategic Objectives , initial ideas about strategies , and other matters were shared with local providers , consumers of behavioral health services , public safety officials , public health leaders , general community members , and others . Based on their insight , five core strategies were developed . The strategies listed below are designed to : ( 1 ) address the most urgent behavioral health needs , ( 2 ) implement strategies to break the cycle of high acuity service use and change the trajectory of people at-risk of entering the behavioral health care system , ( 3 ) enhance long-term capacity issues and improve utilization of existing behavioral health resources , and ( 4 ) establish a sustainable , ongoing body that can manage integrated services throughout Polk County and , in doing so , improve the efficiency of services while
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achieving the ultimate project goal : To improve the quality of life of Polk County residents by addressing the behavioral health needs in the community .
The five core strategies identified in the research and conveyed by project leaders are listed below .
1 . Expand crisis services , mobile health care , and centralized care coordination ( including awareness and early intervention ) for youth and adults .
2 . Create a Polk County behavioral health coalition ( or assign the oversight to an existing entity ) to coordinate diverse activities designed to address area behavioral health initiatives emerging from this and similarly focused projects .
3 . Expand the capacity of behavioral health services in Polk County .
4 . Expand criminal justice system services to reduce jail system recidivism and address the needs of highly acute inmates .
5 . Engage diverse community groups in immediate and ongoing activities to improve community health and wellness and to support efforts to enact behavioral health initiatives .
Each of the five strategies – as well as the goals , methodology , Stage 1 Research highlights , Stage 2 Research highlights , and the needs identification and prioritization processes – are described in detail in the following pages .
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All the needs identified in the assessment are important , and many are being addressed to some extent by existing community partners . That said , given the idea that the current public health environment has illuminated the need for behavioral health services while inspiring providers , community groups , healthcare consumers , and others to collaboratively address core issues , the timing of the Polk Vision strategies is crucial yet ahead of many initiatives seen statewide or in other counties . The following sections explore the work summarized in the Executive Summary in greater depth .
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