The Dennis Center for Active Living has been awarded a grant of $50000 by the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, to train and deploy a corps of behavioral health “coaches” within the Town of Dennis. The Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) is a community based intervention for individuals with depression, social isolation, or dysthymia that helps reduce symptoms and suicidal ideation. Gerontologist and DCAL Director, Brenda Vazquez, has been an advocate and practitioner for evidence based health promotion for older adults since 2004. “I’m so pleased to be awarded this pilot grant to build capacity and offer behavioral health support to Dennis elders, so terribly affected by the quarantines and effects of the pandemic.” The grant will cover the costs to train up to 10 individuals as PEARLS Coaches and a hire a licensed mental health professional to execute the pilot. Recruitment for coach trainees begins November 1 and training will begin November 10. For more information, please call the DCAL Outreach Office at (508) 694-2004.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up