Friday, April 26, 2024
4/26/2024
Wabanaki Health and Wellness/Wabanaki Public Health (WPH) is a collaborative organization that works with Tribes and other tribal non-profit organizations to deliver public health services to Wabanaki people (Maine tribal people). Each tribal nation partners with WPH, to deliver critical culturally centered public health services, while identifying health inequities and policy solutions. The Wabanaki tribal communities in Maine, (Aroostook Band of Micmacs, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy – Indian Township, Passamaquoddy – Pleasant Point, and Penobscot Nation) experience deep impacts and needs that stem from opioid misuse within the community. From a quantitative data perspective, Native Americans/Indigenous people in Maine have a much higher rate of mortality due to drug use than other racial groups. According to the CDC WONDER system, the drug-induced mortality rate for Native American in Maine is 29.9 per 100,000 as compared to 13.9 per 100,000 for White Mainers. (1) The Center for Wabanaki Healing and Recovery (Substance Use Treatment Center) is envisioned as a place where indigenous people can heal, connect to culture, and receive the services needed for their recovery journey. The Center will offer intensive outpatient services, medication assisted treatment, and culture-based practices to indigenous men and women from all over Maine, and ultimately from other parts of the region and country. A program like the one described above, has never been developed before and in this way. This Center would be the first of its kind. The Tribes in Maine, along with WPH and partners, hope to open the doors to the campus The Center for Wabanaki Healing and Recovery early to mid-2021. This proposed project has been a long-held dream (far longer than a decade) of tribal leadership and one that has been actively worked on in collaboration with Wabanaki Public Health. The goals of this application are consistent with the priorities of all five tribal governments and the governing board, which is the tribal chiefs, for this organization. The Center program plan is based core goals developed by this Planning consortium, which aligned with the three following grant priorities for this pilot project: COIPP Objective 1: Increase public awareness and education about culturally appropriate and family-centered opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery practices and programs in AI/AN communities. COIPP Objective 2: Create comprehensive support teams to strengthen and empower AI/AN families in addressing the opioid crisis in tribal and urban Indian communities COIPP Objective 3: Reduce unmet treatment needs and opioid overdose related deaths through the use of MAT. This project creating a place where Wabanaki people have led and envisioned from the inception of this concept many years ago. A place that feels safe, comfortable, and culturally centered. A place where one can receive the recovery and cultural services needed to be well.
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).
