This Pawnee Nation Domestic Violence Prevention Program grant proposal is submitted for purposes of supporting the goals and objectives of the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health, Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, Indian Health Service.
The Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, through the Ti-Hirasa Domestic Violence Program, has overseen a Department of Justice grant for (11) years as well as a Family Violence Prevention & Services grant for (5) years. We would like to expand our efforts initially developed by our Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI).
The Ti-Hirasa Domestic Violence Program will work collaboratively with Stillwater Wings of Hope, Pawnee Police Department, Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Pawnee Public Schools, Pawnee Indian Health Center, Pawnee Nation District Court, and various tribal programs. These vital partnerships will help (1) establish a coordinated community response (CCR) system to address domestic and sexual violence; (2) increase educational awareness including various trainings and a community education and prevention campaign; (3) expand victim advocacy services; (4) integrate trauma informed approaches to facility the social and emotional well-being of victims and their families; (5) integrate community-based culturally appropriate practices to facilitate the social and emotional well-being of victims and their children; and (6) program sustainability.
The goal of the Domestic Violence Prevention Program is to maintain and expand the previous Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI). We plan to provide domestic and sexual violence prevention, advocacy, case management, crisis intervention, education, trainings, and coordinated community response to victims and their families of domestic and sexual violence while incorporating Pawnee culture and traditional practices. We will increase family as well as community involvement by providing opportunities to participate in trainings as well as culturally relevant activities. We would like to update the tribal codes for the Pawnee Nation Tribal Court which will allow us to prosecute offenders more effectively. We would like to see the reporting statistics increase as well.
Moreover, the CCR Team and the Advisory Board will be integral in making sure community needs are being met as well appropriate referrals are made for supportive services. In addition, collaborative partners will have the opportunity to receive training to better assess and identify at-risk individuals and families and make appropriate referrals for supportive services. The key element to sustainability of this program is collaboration and partnership with local resources and existing programs that provide prevention activities and victim services.
Studies show that healing projects and cultural activities (including group, beading, jewelry making, sewing, and cooking), can have favorable outcomes that include positive outlook and learning to become more self-sufficient and independent. The desired outcomes are for long term improvements in decision making that will result in reduced prevalence of domestic and sexual violence.