Culturally-Informed, Evidence-Based Direct Service for Native American Youth with Substance Use Disorders Impacted by COVID-19: The Tȟačháŋ na Tȟawáčhiŋ Zanípi Project - PROJECT NAME: T¿achá¿ na T¿awáchi¿ Zanípi Project (“Healthy Minds and Bodies”)
SUMMARY: The T¿achá¿ na T¿awáchi¿ Zanípi Project will provide direct services to Native American youth on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (and enrolled at Little Wound School, the largest district in the reservation’s eastern half) that are screened to have substance use disorders. Evidence-based services will be provided by licensed practitioners and supplemented with Lakota culture and spiritual activities and comprehensive case management.
POPULATION TO BE SERVED: Native American youth and adolescents (12–19 years old) living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and enrolled at Little Wound School District who have substance use disorders. (And healthcare practitioners working with this focus population.)
STRATEGIES & INTERVENTIONS: Evidence-based, Lakota culture-oriented, one-on-one and small group treatment strategies provided by licensed counselors. Including: cognitive behavioral therapy, relapse prevention therapy, group curriculum including Reconnecting Youth, and Lakota cultural activities, instruction, and ceremonies. Additionally, through comprehensive case management, linkage to third-party resources including tribal, state, and federal programs.
PROJECT GOAL: Decrease substance use and abuse in the community by expanding access to culturally-informed, evidence-based treatment programs for Native American youth.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES: To achieve the goal, the Project has three measurable objectives:
(1) By August 31, 2020, project still will have trained at least 150 adult community members about the signs of substance use disorder and distributed information to trainees about how to refer individuals for substance use disorder.
(2) By September 31, 2020, project staff will be offering at least once weekly small group counseling sessions to participants with substance use disorders.
(3) By September 31, 2020, project staff will be offering individualized counseling to at least 35 participants screened for substance use disorder, to include at-least weekly counseling sessions and culturally-oriented counseling.
(4) By September 31, 2021, project staff will have screened at least 200 individuals for substance use disorder and have developed and implemented at least 100 individualized counseling plans (ICP) for referred students screened and confirmed as eligible for substance use disorder direct service treatment.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE SERVED: By the end of the project period, we plan to have screened at least 200 Native American youth and adolescents and provided individualized substance use disorder treatment to 100 youth participants. We anticipate providing mental healthcare practitioner support to 10 practitioners. (110 individuals total)
