Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Bay Mills Indian Community Title: Native Connections Author: Tremblay, T. The Bay Mills Indian Community (BMIC), a federally recognized tribal government, in collaboration with the Bay Mills Health Center (BMHC), is dedicated to the continued efforts of addressing health disparities to the designated patient population of youth to age 24. BMIC will create a program focused on prevention and the reduction of suicidal behavior, substance use, and trauma. BMIC is determined to overcome the indifferences within the community by uniting efforts and establishing partnerships between the Behavioral Health Department, Boys and Girls Club of Brimley and Bay Mills, and the local school districts. These partnerships will allow BMIC to appropriately address the identified concern by uniting its internal agencies to focus on the vast raise of suicide, substance use disorders, mental health concerns and complex trauma. BMIC has determined that mental health and substance use disorders adversely and permanently affects the physical, mental, social, spiritual, and economic well-being of the members of the BMIC as well as others who reside and/or work within the community. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, Region 8 (including Chippewa County) is 1.5 times the state rate (11.5 per 1000,000) annually for suicide. On average 8 individuals within region 8 die from suicide. Approximately 83% of those individuals who die by suicide identify as the male gender. Further studies have shown that persons of Native American race have a significantly higher ratio of mental illness and/or suicidal ideations. BMHC’s 2018 UDS reported above 3,035 patients served and 18,023 total visits. According to the U.S. Census, Chippewa County has a population of 38,038 (BMHC serving 8% of total population). In 2018, the Upper Peninsula Community Health Assessment documented Chippewa County to have an unemployment rate of 7.4%, poverty rate of 18.9% (100% Poverty Level), and only 19.1% of higher education. With increasing environmental factors and growing barriers to accessing mental health care services, BMIC will need additional resources to address the serious concerns of substance abuse and mental health across the serve area. Bay Mills Indian Community has developed a plan to include the following goal and objectives: Goal 1: Develop a comprehensive plan throughout the Bay Mills Indian Community that reduce the significant risks of adolescents to the age of 24 years old in suicide, substance use, and mental health stigmas with designated evidence-based practice programs. The objectives to reach this goals include: evaluation of service area condition, establish partnerships, development in strategies for prevention and education,policy and procedure implementation, and the decrease in risks of substance abuse and mental health. BMIC is seeking funding in the amount of $250,000 per year for five years from the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program: Native Connections.
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).
