Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
The Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk is a small Indian Tribe, re-organized on December 15, 1983. The Mathiesen Memorial Health Clinic (MMHC) was founded in 2007 and financed by the Chicken Ranch Rancheria. A Health Commission was formed as a sub-unit of the tribal government. Mathiesen Memorial Health Clinic is structured as a Tribal Health Organization per PL93- 638, via the Indian Self Determination Act. MMHC’s service area is located in and around Jamestown, CA, (zip 95327) and expands into the north-eastern sierra foothills (zip 95370). The target population is the Chicken Ranch Rancheria tribal membership of 32 members, 840 unaffiliated Native American Indians who reside in Tuolumne County, and an estimated 350 Native Americans who live outside the county in Mariposa County and Central Valley cities of Modesto, and Merced. Besides tribal members, MMHC’s target population also includes individuals and families that live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. In our service area there are an estimate of 35,335 total population of which 9, 821 live at or below 200% FPL, twenty-eight percent (28%). MMHC currently has a small MAT program using the Tribal Opioid Response grant funds we received in 2019. This MAT program functions with four MAT waived primary care providers, one MAT Care Coordinator and referrals to our Behavioral Health services when openings are available. MMHC offers the medication assistance treatment (MAT) to any individual (Tribal or non-Tribal) that self refers or to patients that are assessed by the primary care provider needing MAT services. MMHC’s program needs more resources to address the opioid problems in our target population and improve access and capacity. We want to enhance our current MAT program with additional licensed addiction professionals/s therapists as well as provide alternatives to opioid pain therapy. MMHC would utilize the COIPP funds to enhance our current MAT program by creating a comprehensive support team to empower Tribal and community families in addressing the opioid crises. A Tribal traditional/natural healer would be retained to contribute to a much-needed body of knowledge on improving recovery and promoting healing. The Tribal community and Jamestown communities will need to be aware of the MAT/substance abuse programs that are offered by MMHC. Thus, MMHC will actively have a public awareness and educational campaign which would include an outreach worker visiting community members and organizations and public broadcast announcements. MMHC is involved in a regional collaboration of healthcare partners, community partners, and public safety united to promote the prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery of harmful opioid use. Through these relationships, MMHC will be able to involve partners in collecting community-region-wide data and support improving our communities. MMHC is requesting $500,000 of COIPP funds.
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).
