Sonoran Center Named in National Cooperative Agreement
The University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities is one of several organizations named in a cooperative agreement by the Administration for Community Living—totaling an estimated $3.25 million over five years—with the goal to create a national technical assistance and resource center that will improve support for people with co-occurring intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental health needs, so they can live and participate in their communities.
The grant was awarded to the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services in partnership with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed. Along with the Sonoran Center, other key partners include the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the Center for Systemic Therapeutic Assessment, Resources and Treatment (START) Services at the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, CommunicationFIRST, Green Mountain Self-Advocates, and Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University.
As part of the project, the Sonoran Center has committed to:
- Assist in the development of person-centered, culturally competent trainings for providers and practitioners who support individuals with co-occurring ID/DD and mental health;
- Assist in the development of plain language articles and one-pagers that support the development of person-centered, culturally competent, research-based materials for the community, providers and individuals who support individuals with co-occurring ID/DD and mental health; and,
- Provide resources related to policy development, service design and delivery, and service coordination.