Resilience Through Culture Initiative - Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC) is a 501(c)(3) community-based, non-profit Urban Indian Health Program that serves more than 10,500 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals each year from over 130 tribes. Many families receive multigenerational care, making IHCRC a trusted provider of culturally responsive wellness services in northeastern Oklahoma. Suicide among AI/AN youth is a major public health concern and the second leading cause of death among ages 8 to 24. Contributing factors include depression, trauma, substance use, social disconnection, and access to lethal means. Poverty, housing instability, and systemic gaps in behavioral health services increase risk, while cultural connectedness, belonging, and self-worth serve as key protective factors. IHCRC’s Resilience Through Culture Initiative will reduce suicide and injury risk by combining cultural education, prevention training, and access to basic resources. The five-year project will expand youth and community programs to include culturally grounded prevention strategies. Through monthly Culture and Creativity classes, IHCRC will teach traditional arts, storytelling, and Indigenous knowledge to strengthen identity and resilience. The clinic will distribute 1,000 prevention resources that include hygiene supplies, firearm locks, and medication lock boxes, each paired with culturally tailored education on self-care and safe storage. Annual Wellness Backpack Drives will provide backpacks containing hygiene items and cultural materials that promote self-esteem and support school participation. To ensure ongoing support, hygiene packs will also be distributed quarterly. Safe storage devices will be available year-round to encourage responsible firearm and medication safety. IHCRC will train staff and community members through QPR or ASIST gatekeeper sessions and provide continuing education credits when possible. Educational materials and public service announcements developed by IHCRC’s Marketing Department will promote suicide prevention awareness through culturally authentic messaging. IHCRC will also participate in at least two community education events per year to expand outreach and engagement. Evaluation will combine quantitative and qualitative methods to assess changes in cultural connectedness, suicide prevention knowledge, and access to safety resources. Pre- and post-event surveys, distribution logs, and participant feedback will measure program impact. Evaluation results will guide improvements throughout the project and ensure that activities remain culturally relevant and effective. Short-term outcomes include improved awareness and access to prevention tools. Medium-term outcomes will show stronger community systems and reduced stigma around suicide. Long-term outcomes will demonstrate reduced suicide risk, strengthened cultural identity, and sustained systems that promote wellness and safe storage. Program oversight will be provided by the Pediatric Behavioral Health Director with day-to-day coordination by the Youth Support Coordinator, supported by IHCRC’s Behavioral Health and Marketing teams, cultural instructors, and subject matter experts. IHCRC’s interdisciplinary model integrates behavioral, medical, and wellness services to deliver holistic, patient-centered care. The organization’s history of managing complex grants such as the Special Diabetes Program for Indians and the Domestic Violence Prevention Grant demonstrates strong fiscal accountability and capacity. Certified in Standards for Excellence, IHCRC ensures transparency and adherence to best practices. IHCRC will sustain this important work through partnerships with community organizations, tribal nations, and schools, and by pursuing continued funding from federal, state, and private sources. This initiative will strengthen cultural identity, promote safety, and empower AI/AN youth and families to build lasting resilience.
