Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
Family Wellness Warriors Expansion - Project Title: Family Wellness Warrior Program Expansion Applicant Name: Southcentral Foundation Address: 4501 Diplomacy Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508 Website: https://www.southcentralfoundation.com/ Project Director: Lu-Anne Haukaas, Senior Learning & Development Advisor Grant Funds Requested: $200,000 Overview: Southcentral Foundation (SCF) is an Alaska Native 501(c) (3) nonprofit health care organization established under the Tribal authority of Cook Inlet Region, Inc. in 1982. SCF's vision is "A Native Community that enjoys physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness." To reach this vision, SCF is committed to addressing the devastating impact of domestic violence, abuse, neglect. Project Need: According to the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center, Alaska Native adults experience higher rates of domestic and sexual violence than Alaska Non-Native adults. Target Population: The target population for the proposed project is Alaska Native people who have experienced domestic and sexual violence. The project focuses on rural communities to address traumatic experiences as the root cause of family violence. One of the primary rural areas is the region represented by Cook Inlet Region, Inc., (CIRI), an Alaska Native Corporation created by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). The CIRI region is in south-central Alaska, and it includes seven federally recognized tribes spread out in rural, remote areas. Proposed Project: Expand the implementation of the FWW model for Alaska Native and American Indian people in rural Alaska and within the prison system to prevent domestic and sexual violence through the promotion of safety, resilience, and protective factors necessary to foster mental health and respond to the effects of historical, intergenerational, and complex trauma. FWW uses peer leaders and a non-hierarchical, strength-based approach that can lead to a growing level of self-awareness and acceptance. SCF partners with the communities to increase the project's sustainability. Through both small groups and larger multi-day training intensives, safe "learning circle" environments offer the opportunity to share story, interrupt cycles of trauma, and practice healthy relationship skills while building connections to a positive network of support. Throughout a five year project period, FWW will achieve the following goals 1) The Community Based Taskforce supports the implementation of the evidence-based, culturally responsive Family Wellness Warrior model to promote wellness and address domestic violence in communities within the CIRI region; 2) Increase community awareness and participation in prevention efforts for domestic and sexual violence, child maltreatment, and sexual exploitation/human trafficking; and 3) Develop a culturally responsive victim advocacy service. The FWW program is evidence-based. Evaluation data has shown statistically significant results for improved health outcomes for participants. Participants have demonstrated increases in protective factors and decreases in factors negatively affecting the quality of life. Substantial reductions in unhealthy substance use, trauma symptomology, depression, and anxiety were also observed.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).