Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Abstract: Sac and Fox 988 initiative The Sac and Fox Nation will support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Lincoln, Payne and Pottawatomie counties in central Oklahoma. The three-county area contains 26,000 Native persons from over ten Tribal Nations who are at high risk of suicide, depression and substance use. We will increase the number of Indigenous callers to the Lifeline, facilitate partnerships with local health organizations, and implement culturally appropriate suicide prevention strategies. Our project works with the Sac and Fox Tribe and its partners in the three-county area of central Oklahoma just east of Oklahoma city. The 988 project will provide a suicide and mental health specific Lifeline to Native callers. The new system offers callers a choice to select a counselor who is a Native person and has the life experience of what it means to be Native. National, state and local data highlight two populations where Native suicide disparities are particularly severe: the first is Native Males 15-30, the second are Natives who are LGBTQ in their sexual orientation. Suicide disparities are particularly severe among both groups. Native males between the ages of 15 and 30 have more than double the rate of suicide of Whites of the same age group. Data about the LGBTQ population has been obtained by the US Census in their Pulse Survey. It indicates that LGBTQ individuals are: • 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, • 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression; and, • 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs, The Sac and Fox Nation is joined in this effort by two Indigenous organizations working in the Central Oklahoma area: namely, the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) and the National Indian Education Association (NIEA). NIEA funds numerous programs throughout the nation and will provide its message of the importance of Native mental and spiritual wellness to schools, vocational centers and colleges in our Tribal Jurisdiction. AAIP funds scholarships for Native youth who wish to pursue biomedical careers and it convenes a yearly Cross Cultural Workshop that examines cultural influences in different societies. Both NIEA and AAIP will reach different sectors of Indigenous society. Individuals needing additional counseling or hospitalization will be referred to local mental health and substance abuse treatment centers. Native persons who request Native counselors will be offered culture classes to instill knowledge and pride of being Native. We will offer at least two major cultural events about Native history each year. These events will be the Gathering Of Native Americans and the Blanket Exercise. At this time most help calls from potential suicides are received by 911 dispatch centers, most of which are housed in County Sheriff’s offices. All current 911 personnel will be trained in the need for and the advantages of the 988 Lifeline over other help centers. Our work will also identify persons who are in crisis and will need a Crisis Intervention Team to perform an intervention. All information given to 988 calls are strictly confidential. We estimate we will receive over 150 new callers each year (450 over the 3 year project) and that over 10% (45 persons over the 3 year project) will be referred to further services as a result of this grant.
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).
