Thursday, March 13, 2025
3/13/2025
The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Zero Suicide Initiative is a multi-Tribal collaborative of federally recognized Tribes to provide holistic and comprehensive suicide prevention care for all American Indian adults in three rural Oklahoma counties in Southwestern OK. Services include suicide surveillance, screening, clinical therapies, and client follow-up, plus work force development all emphasizing culturally appropriate Native values and Native participation. Our large project area of 3,479 square miles comprises all of Caddo, Comanche, and Grady counties where Natives live in racially mixed communities, not reservations. The Native population (alone or in part) is 25,791 of which an estimated 14,027 are over age 24. Six federally recognized Indian Tribes have headquarters in Caddo county, home of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, where Natives are 29% of the population of 29,173, the third highest ratio of Natives of any OK county. The county has one of the few Native boarding schools with about 600 Native youths enrolled. Nevertheless, there are significant Native health, behavioral health and economic disparities. Native suicide rates are higher than state and national averages and Caddo county is a Health Professional Shortage Area and a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, with no practicing psychologists or psychiatrists. Native poverty is twice (32.6%) that of Non-Hispanic Whites (14.1%). Median annual Native household income is $14,000 lower than Non-Hispanic Whites. Natives have double the rate of White uninsured. Goal #1: Provide suicide prevention- and treatment-related care to all Tribal and family members 25 years of age and older living in Caddo, Comanche, Grady and adjoining counties. Goal #2: Implement workforce development activities. Goal #3: Transform the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Health Services Administration to be a leadership-driven, safety-oriented culture committed to reducing suicide among Native people and to embed principles of the Zero Suicide framework within their agencies. Conclusion of a 5-year Garrett Lee Smith program leaves a tremendous gap in community capacity to blunt a recent 3-year history of suicide clusters. The GLS suicide surveillance program comprises a unique source of data for the 39 federally recognized Tribes in Oklahoma, for regional authorities, and for SAMHSA. Substance abuse and mental health services and follow up case management will be provided by a state Licensed Behavioral Health Drug Counselor (LPC, LCSW, or LADC). All participants will be screened for suicide ideation, substance use disorder (SUD), and will be given treatment plans according to their assessed needs. Culturally appropriate programs and treatment modalities will be used alongside evidence-based therapies. Grant funding will establish policy and create services to implement Zero Suicide at Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and in proximal counties. The program will serve approximately 100 clients annually (500 total) over a five-year period. Project goals align with the Zero Suicide model.
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).