Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
Project Iksho - The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) is a sovereign-land-based, federally recognized Native American reservation located in southeastern Oklahoma. The land that makes up the Choctaw Nation spans approximately 10,992 square miles; within the boundaries of the CNO are the following 10.5 counties: Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Pittsburg, and Pushmataha. The southeastern region of Oklahoma struggles with poverty, unemployment, low educational attainment, and a lack of major metropolitan areas. The NO sees the loss of Native lives due to suicide as detrimental to the future of our Native culture and population as well as an indicator by which we can measure our success or failure in providing mental and physical healthcare to our tribal members. Project Iksho, "zero" in the Choctaw language, will act as a beacon to combat the complex traumas often associated with Native suicide and ensure that the stigma surrounding suicide is approached with cultural sensitivity and the utmost care. The overarching purpose of Project Iksho is to have the opportunity to implement integrated suicide prevention and intervention services, for individuals who are 10 years of age and older, designed to raise awareness of suicide, establish referral process, and improve care and outcomes for individuals who are at risk for suicide. The Zero Suicide model, a comprehensive, multi-setting approach to suicide prevention and intervention in health systems, will be the driving force of this project. Project Iksho will be inclusive of all elements of the Zero Suicide model throughout the five year funding cycle. We expect that the long-term impact will be the complete transformation of the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority (CNHSA) and CNO Behavioral Health (BH) systems to enhance our ability to identify, treat, refer, and ensure continuity of care for individuals at risk for suicide and suicidal behaviors. Services from the Licensed Mental Health Provider/Therapist will be primarily based out of CNHSA's clinic in Hugo, OK. Although the Project Director/RN Case Manager will be based out of the CNO hospital in Talihina, OK, he/she will be available to travel to the other clinic sites for oversight, training, and collaboration purposes, ensuring that all Natives will benefit from increased suicide awareness and support services. Project Iksho will ensure that every individual has a pathway to care that is both timely and adequate to meet his/her needs, including Suicide Care Management Planning and restriction of lethal means. The CNO has always had a primary focus or providing quality services. In summary, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and its healthcare affiliates have a documented history of successful grant management, data collection and evaluation, and ensuring that all services/programs put the well-being of tribal members and other Natives first. The basis for project Iksho is the comfort and care of those at risk for suicide,and the families of those lost to suicide. CNO will build a system-wide, Zero Suicide-based model to encircle our people, families, providers and our community with compassionate care, culturally-based education, and the highest grade of healthcare to be woven throughout Project Iksho.
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).