Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
The Zunis are a resilient Native American tribe of 10,000 people in the high-desert plateau of Western New Mexico. Despite their rich history they face many challenges resulting from centuries of historical trauma including high suicide rates and substance dependence with over 500 emergency room visits for these issues per year. The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project (ZYEP) will implement a comprehensive program to address these issues that will focus on service coordination and multi-tiered service provision. There are many youth-involved organizations working in Zuni, but they do not currently collaborate in a coordinated and effective manner. ZYEP is a local 501c3 non-profit tribal organization that has worked to increase the resiliency, physical, and mental health of Zuni youth for the past ten years. Through this grant, ZYEP will address these gaps. Our first goal is to increase the capacity of Zuni organizations to prevent and reduce suicidal behavior and substance use, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health. Our second goal is to develop a Zuni-specific model that incorporates evidence-based practices to reduce and respond to the impact of trauma and mental and substance use disorders. Third, we will develop a more efficient system of collaboration and referral between Zuni youth-involved organizations. Additionally, we have the following objectives: 80% or more of staff in Zuni youth-involved organizations will: 1) complete trainings as mental health first aid responders; 2) complete a training in trauma informed care. Other objectives include that we will convene a consortium of Zuni leaders and a Youth Tribal Council where we discuss evidence based practices and how to adapt existing models for use in Zuni. Third, we will disseminate our findings to partnering organizations and the Zuni Tribal Government and develop and implement a three-tiered action plan. Our final objectives are to hold a meeting of all partnering Zuni organizations to discuss available resources and to develop a referral path. In accomplishing these goals and objectives, we will first conduct a community system analysis, needs assessment, readiness assessment, and asset map. We will develop a set of protocols for Zuni youth involved organizations to implement standards of care, transitions of care, incorporating evidence based clinical practices, and local traditional healers and leaders and will work with local youth-involved organizations to implement these protocols. Finally, we will develop an action plan to provide three tiers of prevention strategies. These will include a first tier for all youth with year-round youth programing. The second tier for higher risk youth will consist of 12-week internship programs. The third tier will be for high-risk youth and will consist of the services provided in the other two tiers in addition to access to a comprehensive multi-disciplinary case management program that will provide highly coordinated primary care, mental health, nutrition, legal assistance, and social work services. All activities will be conducted closely with a native youth tribal council, as well as consultation with local Zuni leaders. We will serve 500 youth in year one and annually.
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).
