Tuesday, March 18, 2025
3/18/2025
Since 1974, Central Oklahoma American Indian Health dba Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC), has met the health needs of American Indians (AIs) living in central Oklahoma, one of the nation's largest urban areas. The Clinic serves nearly 23,000 patients from some 220 tribes and has a staff of more than 300, completing over 50,000 outpatient visits each year. Because our patients do not live on traditional reservations. OKCIC is the cultural and health hub of AIs in central Oklahoma. OKC is the state capital and largest city in Oklahoma, with a population of some 681,054, with AIs making up 3% of the population. Based on research from the National Congress of AIs, it is likely that more than half the women we serve at OKCIC have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lives. This is a rate higher than any other race or ethnicity and the results are tragic - these victims lose an average of 38.3 years of their lives. In addition to IPV, these women also suffer disproportionately from sexual assault, bullying, elder abuse, murder and abduction, and human trafficking. OKCIC is the ideal provider of services to fill the gap and reduce the horrific outcomes of abuse again AI women. This project is tantamount to the AI community in central Oklahoma. OKCIC will strengthen our interventions, referrals, and treatments for patients experiencing OR at-risk of IPV, sexual assault, bullying, elder abuse, and human (sex) trafficking. The Clinic already has developed strong relationships with community partners, and this grant project will provide resources required to strengthen, deepen, and expand those relationships, referrals, and partnerships. Additionally, the behavioral health department at OKCIC will expand interventions and treatments internally through greater awareness of the issues and training to recognize symptoms of abuse. These steps are vital to ensure the health of our community and this grant will allow us to continue to strengthen the Clinic's (and community's) response to such critical issues. Because we know behavioral health is closely linked to physical health and overall well-being, this project will lead to better overall health outcomes for our patients and, in turn, for the entire community.
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).