Thursday, March 13, 2025
3/13/2025
ABSTRACT Native Directions is asking for support to continue IHS-funded OUD prevention and education services currently offered in San Joaquin and expand these services into Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties to better serve the Native communities in these high-need areas. Native Directions is one of two substance abuse treatment facilities in the region and works to fill gaps in access and care though direct services and through partnerships with other NA/AN and social support organizations. Agency staff have the expertise and experience to build capacity among Native and non-Native treatment providers and awareness within the NA/AN community to address opioid use disorder. The agency has a plan to increase care for Native communities by building upon their opioid use disorder prevention and outreach work in San Joaquin County by expanding their services to Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties. NA/AN communities will benefit through an increased knowledge and awareness of, and access to medically assisted treatment (MAT), increased referrals to needed services, and improved access to culturally competent providers. Among other successes, Native CORE has distributed 400 Narcan kits that resulted in 40 reversals! This three-county area is home to 69,292 Native American/Alaska Native (NA/AN) residents. The area includes rural and non-rural communities with the preponderance of the Native population living in non-reservation areas. Researchers comparing NA/AN living in urban areas with the general population in urban counties identified disparities in socioeconomic, maternal and child health, and mortality indicators. NA/AN are 35% more likely to experience homelessness than the non-Native population. Further, NA/AN are approximately twice as likely as the general population to be poor, unemployed, and lack a college degree. In this tri-county area in 2022, San Joaquin County experienced 315 emergency department visits related to any overdose, resulting in 93 hospitalizations and 113 opioid-related deaths. Stanislaus experienced 130 opioid-related overdose deaths and NA/AN had the highest age-adjusted death rate by race. Tuolumne, the smallest county, experienced ten opioid-related deaths and by race and NA/AN had the highest age-adjusted rate. The goal of the project is to provide prevention, treatment, aftercare, and recovery services to NA/AN in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties to address the impact of the opioid crisis. Objective 1. Increase NA/AN community awareness and education about culturally appropriate and family-centered opioid prevention by 25% by program end. Objective 2. Create comprehensive support teams for strengthening and empowering Native families in addressing the opioid and overdose crisis by implementing culturally appropriate approaches by collaborating with 3 new partners. Objective 3. Increase access to MAT treatment services that include Tribal values, culture, and treatments by developing a CME training module for physicians. Objective 4. Increase harm reduction activities in Tribal and Urban Indian communities by holding 2 annual events in each county in addition to other outreach activities.
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).