Thursday, June 5, 2025
6/5/2025
American Indian Center of Arkansas 988 Tribal Response Program - The American Indian Center of Arkansas (AICA) is seeking funding under Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) FY2023 Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements. AICA is a non-profit Urban Indian Organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas and serves Native Americans in Arkansas. For this project, AICA will have one key partner that will serve as a sub-grantee: Inter-Tribal Council of Louisiana (ITCLA). Through these key partnerships, AICA catchment area will include Arkansas, Louisiana, and Polk County in the state of Texas. Over the last several years, the need for improved services for mental health and suicide prevention has become a top priority for tribal communities in our catchment area due to the extremely high suicide rates in our state. In Arkansas, the 2022 suicide rate was 20.6 individuals per 100,000 individuals and 15.26 individuals per 100,000 individuals in Louisiana versus 14.21 per 100,000 individuals nationally (Centers for Disease Control). With a suicide rate 30% higher than the national average, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for ages 10-34, the fourth leading cause of death for ages 35-44, and the fifth leading cause of death for ages 45-55 in Arkansas. (CDC WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death, Multiple Cause of Death and CDC 2021 Fatal Injury Report). Mental health disorders have proven to be a major issue among tribal members in our area. Goal 1. Increase the number of 988 emergency staff that are trained in providing culturally appropriate emergency response to Native Americans in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Polk County. Goal 2. Improve the integration of 988 crisis centers with tribal organizations and tribal treatment providers in the catchment area to assist tribal members in navigating mental/behavioral health resources to ensure comprehensive wrap-around care including case management and follow-up care. Goal 3. Develop formal partnerships, that align with tribal sovereignty, with key stakeholders including tribal service providers, local non-tribal service providers, state agencies, local agencies, and first responders that will result in improved access and treatment for tribal members with mental health issues and/or co-occurring mental health/substance abuse issues including those at risk of suicide.
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).