Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
The Cherokee Nation's Native Connections project will service the reservation's 14-counties focusing on youth (Ages 10-24), their parents and extended family members. The project seeks to address the high prevalence of psychological distress. A barrier is that most communities are rural, resulting in many individuals feeling isolated geographically, socially, and economically. Mental health and substance use disorders are frequently seen as the consequences of culture loss among American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. There is growing research to support that maintaining ties to one's culture can help to prevent and treat substance use and mental disorders; thus, healing can come from reconnecting. Cherokee Nation's project will provide an innovative solution by providing access to evidence-based, culturally grounded programming to each county within the tribe's jurisdiction. It will utilize the Tribal Behavioral health Agenda (3) as a tool to help instill protective factors and prevent the loss of cultural identity for our youth, despite the challenging dynamics they face within the home. Our mission is "Culture as Prevention: Building Bridges Between Generations"--and our intention is to embed opportunity within each community so that cultural practices can serve as protective factors that are carried forward into future generations. For Cherokee Nation, we envision a community that can live free of suicide, substance abuse and its related harms, and a youth community that is proud of its history, can overcome the impact of historical trauma, and views mental health as key to overall health and well-being. The project aims to serve 1600 individuals over the course of five years, with the goals of: 1) Raising community knowledge of how suicide and alcohol/drug misuse impact our youth family systems, community systems and school systems. 2) Raising community knowledge of the accessible suicide prevention and intervention resources within tribal rural areas by promoting our departmental services and collaborating with the local communities and organizations to promote resources. 3) Providing opportunities throughout Cherokee Nation territory to learn from/participate in culture and traditional practices as a way of embedding protective factors within youth and their families. 4) Increasing cultural pride and self-awareness amongst youth in Cherokee Nation by facilitating youth group meetings and events which teach traditions and promote a sense of self, community, and well-being.
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).
