Tuesday, April 16, 2024
4/16/2024
The Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan Project LAUNCH Initiative seeks to promote wellness among tribal children age 0-8 through culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies to reduce behavioral risk factors. The project is a consortium of four federally recognized tribes in the remote Upper Peninsula of northern Michigan, which face significant issues related to access to services. Community issues such as poverty, historical and intergenerational trauma, as well as an epidemic of opiate and other substance-exposed infants and children make the need for high quality supportive services all the more critical. The project has a special emphasis on strengthening partnerships between health and mental health departments, and will bring together all child-serving programs including home visiting, Head Start, child care, child health, social services, and elementary education to increase collaboration, share resources and build integration. The strategy features a dual focus on infrastructure development, particularly in workforce and professional development to maximize and mobilize existing community assets, as well as on enhancing direct service delivery within the 4 pilot communities. Infrastructure development activities will also seek to engage community leadership and mobilize cultural practices and traditions as protective strengths for young children. Direct services are expected to reach approximately 1,300 individuals over the life of the project, or about 300-320 per year. Services will feature increased focus and integration of developmental and behavioral screening into the early childhood system in order to provide the earliest interventions and support as possible. Screening will be followed up with coaching and supports for parents and caregivers. Culturally based curricula, materials, events, and public awareness will also be developed to enhance and strengthen evidence based approaches already in place. The project will be guided by a diverse group of staff and tribal community representatives, as well as by early childhood professionals with extensive experience working successfully with tribal communities.
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).
