Wednesday, April 2, 2025
4/2/2025
DHHS IHS Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center - To enhance the Zero Suicide Initiative’s (ZSI’s) efforts to improve care and outcomes for those at risk for suicide in Indian Country, the RTI International/Kauffman and Associates (KAI) team proposes to serve as the Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center (ZSICC) through the Indian Health Service (IHS). As the ZSICC, the RTI/KAI team will use its combined scientific expertise, logistical support, and substantial knowledge of the ZSI model to provide a comprehensive cross-site evaluation and effective training and technical assistance (TTA) in data collection, program reporting, and implementation of the seven elements of the Zero Suicide model in all ZSI projects in Indian Country. Specifically, we will (1) build capacity of IHS ZSI projects to improve the system of care for those at risk of suicide (Goal 1); provide TA in the areas of data collection, reporting, training resources, and implementation of the Zero Suicide approach in Indian Country (Goal 2); (3) develop a ZSICC that coordinates ZSI grantees’ data reporting and disseminates information on grantees’ implementation progress (Goal 3); and (4) identify impacts of and lessons learned from the ZSI model in Indian Country as part of a crosssite evaluation (Goal 4). The RTI/KAI team will use a sequential mixed-methods integrated evaluation approach in which we will (1) conduct a systematic document review of IHS ZSI grantee project applications and proposed work plans; (2) develop and administer an annual web-based implementation survey to understand grantees’ implementation progress, sustainability plans, and program fidelity to the ZSI model; (3) conduct virtual grantee interviews; (4) conduct two in-person site visits with four in-person interviews and one focus group at each site; (5) acquire secondary data, such as community-level Government Performance and Results Act data and project site data reports, and use meta-analytic methods to measure ZSI impacts; and (6) write a cross-site Evaluation Report. The RTI/KAI team has specific strengths that will enhance the scientific productivity and cultural integrity of IHS’s ZSI. We will apply previously tested procedures and policies, based on our experience as the coordinating center for more than 40 multisite projects, to enhance the implementation of the ZSI at all sites. Our team, led by Dr. Arnie Aldridge (Project Director) and Rebecca Perry (Associate Project Director), has experience leading behavioral health prevention coordinating centers, conducting cross-site evaluations, and managing complex projects. Monica Desjardins, our dedicated Data Manager, will liaise with the ZSI grantees to create data maps so that the team is knowledgeable of data collection, approval and review processes that may be inherent to the IHS facilities, and the communities served by these facilities. Ms. Desjardins will also serve as Project Manager for our ZSICC. We will draw on five subject matter experts—Dr. Anna Kawennison Fetter, Holly Echo-Hawk, Anna Whiting Sorrell, Dr. Adam Bryant Miller, and Dr. Kiersten Johnson—to review the evaluation plans and Evaluation Report and to deliver suicide prevention TTA specific to Indian Country or American Indian/Alaska Native communities. We will leverage our extensive team of in-house suicide prevention experts and experience conducting cross-site evaluation to provide IHS with an efficiently run and wellmanaged ZSICC that produces a rigorous Evaluation Report and effective TTA.
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).