Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
Rural Strategies for Mitigating Costly Effects of Substance Abuse in Bering Strait Region - Alaska’s Bering Strait region of 10,046 people has high rates of substance abuse interfering with basic living needs. Resultant of abuse is lack of employment and housing, a recidivist population moving through emergency services and the correctional system that is disproportionately Alaska Native, and a youth population introduced to substance abuse at an increasingly early age. Norton Sound Health Corporation’s (NSHC) Behavioral Health Services’ (BHS) “Rural Strategies for Mitigating Costly Effects of Substance Abuse in Bering Strait Region” project proposes to reduce regionally prevalent substance abuse through increased access to treatment and collaboration with partners to implement deliberate and effective prevention, intervention, and aftercare services. Working with regional organizations and individuals to develop a collaborative strategic plan is a key project activity. The Coalition will conduct assessments to gather attitudes, usage, and understanding of substance abuse through interviews, surveys, and focus groups; the group will create a plan based on the data that directs a coordinated response to the substance abuse concerns. BHS will use the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) evidence-based screener with individuals at locations where more people with substance use concerns congregate. These include correctional institutes, shelters, schools, the streets, and Norton Sound Regional Hospital’s primary care, in-patient unit, emergency department. BHS staff members will offer and provide intake, assessments, and substance use disorder treatment services for all individuals with a positive score on the SBIRT and will utilize outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization levels of care. All services are culturally attuned and afford people the opportunity for individual, group, and family services. Project staff members and individuals will offer training and education routinely for partners, students, and community members. Sessions include alcohol abuse/dependence symptomologies, responding to someone under the influence with self-harm intentions, seeking safety, prevention strategies, and compassion fatigue. The team will develop a student peer support system and a youth council to address substance concerns and disciplinary actions among the student body. The community coalition will develop plans for and conduct training sessions and dry runs for a multi-disciplinary mobile crisis response unit by Year Four of the project. At the conclusion of the project, the Coalition expects that participating individuals from the target populations will have greater understanding of substance use concerns, treatment, and prevention; move into recovery; restore basic living needs; have access to peer supports inside the schools; remain free from the prison system; and/or decrease dependency on emergency services. Title: Rural Strategies for Mitigating Costly Effects of Substance Abuse in Bering Strait Region Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2022-IHS-SAPTA-0001
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).