The Fort Peck Tribes (FPT) are located in northeastern Montana on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation (FPIR), home to two Indian Nations, the Assiniboine and the Sioux. The Reservation is 2.1 million acres and represents about 1% of Montana's total population and 8% of the state's Native American community. We are requesting a 1-year grant in the amount of $47,677 to implement the Bridging Healthcare Gaps Initiative (BHGI) Initiative on the FPIR.
The total tribal enrollment is 13,115, with 6,306 members living on or adjacent to the Reservation. Of these 6,306 Tribal members, 32.9% of are between the ages of 0 to 17 and 35.6% are between the ages of 18-39. 68.5% of the Tribal membership is below the age of 39. (Source: Fort Peck Tribal Enrollment, January 2024) The User Population for the Fort Peck Service Unit for FY 2022 was 8,296 (4,221 females and 4,075 males). (Source: Rocky Mountain Tribal Epidemiology Center report, January 2023)
Currently, the FPIR is underserved for optometry (1 optometrist to serve our catchment area) and unserved for audiology (no audiologist). Our project will position the FPTHD to enter into Title I ISDEAA contracts with IHS. At the end of the project, we will have submitted applications to IHS for contracts for optometry and audiology services locally.
Once funded, the following objectives will be completed by this project:
Objective 1: During the project period of June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2025, the FPTHD will have conducted the necessary planning activities to enter into a Title I ISDEAA contract with the IHS to provide optometry services on the FPIR, as measured by the creation of 1 needs assessment, 1 feasibility study, 1 operational plan, 1 recruitment plan, and 1 application to IHS to contract optometry services.
Objective 2: During the same project period, the FPTHD will have conducted the necessary planning activities to enter into a Title I ISDEAA contract with the IHS to provide audiology services on the FPIR, as measured by the creation of 1 needs assessment, 1 feasibility study, 1 operational plan, 1 recruitment plan, and 1 application to IHS to contract audiology services.