OKCIC Emergency Response for Suicide Prevention Among American Indians in Central Oklahoma - The Central Oklahoma American Indian (AI) Health Center, Inc., doing business as Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC) is the nation’s largest urban Indian clinic, with more than 20,000 active patients. The population of focus is AIs age 25+. The geographic focus is central Oklahoma (OK). According to the US Census, nearly 100,000 AIs live in this area. OK has the second-largest concentration of AIs in the nation, with nine percent identifying as AIs (compared to one percent nationally). Like AIs nationally, they face serious challenges, including the highest suicide rate of any race or ethnicity.
OKCIC proposes this COVID-19 ERSP project to improve its capacity to help reduce the number of suicides among AI adults in central Oklahoma. This grant funding will allow OKCIC to improve follow-up for AIs being discharged after a suicidal crisis, ensuring they transition immediately into a coordinated care program that is culturally appropriate and based on evidence-based practices. OKCIC will establish protocols for follow-up and care transition to ensure patient safety, especially among high risk adults who have attempted suicide, experienced a suicidal crisis, have a severe mental illness or substance abuse disorder. As a respected medical home model in the central Oklahoma community, with extensive expertise in caring for the AI community, OKCIC will provide training to community and clinical service providers that serve adults at risk of suicide. OKCIC will utilize the skills of a Ph.D.-level health professional to serve as a liaison between OKCIC and community systems to increase collaborations in the community related to suicide prevention. This grant will also allow OKCIC to increase and improve suicide screening, assessment and treatment services within the Clinic, including outpatient services, intensive outpatient services, referral to residential care, group therapy and family services. OKCIC staff will provide community recovery supports to both adults who are at risk for suicide and their household members. Services will be available both onsite at the OKCIC clinic and through expanded telehealth services.
A key component of this grant program will be the expansion and enhancement for victims of domestic violence and dependents, including a safe place to stay if needed. OKCIC will also provide patients with an assessment of their eligibility for benefits coverage and provide technical assistance to apply for any coverage for which they may be eligible.
All programs will focus on using evidence-based practices and progress will be monitored by both OKCIC leadership and an on-staff epidemiologist as well as oversight of the finances by the Department of Finance. OKCIC has the capacity and experience to successfully manage this grant and measure its impact.
