Saturday, October 5, 2024
10/5/2024
Kenaitze Indian Tribe (Kenaitze) is a federally recognized tribal government reorganized in 1971 under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, as amended for Alaska in 1936. Kenaitze serves 1,717 Tribal members and approximately 4,410 Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) residents of the central Kenai Peninsula—a geographical area spreading across more than 15,000 square miles of rural Alaska. Kenaitze’s Yinihugheltani (Dena’ina word meaning “respect for oneself and spirit”) Project seeks to improve and expand infrastructure and opportunities to prevent suicide and substance misuse among the target population of “Native Youth”, to include all AN/AI persons age 24 and younger living in our service area. Suicide rate data specific to all AN/AI youth ages 15 to 24 in Alaska suggest suicide mortality rates for Native Youth are significantly higher than the 10-year average of all service area residents, with approximately 30-35% of Tribal members reporting some degree of substance abuse. Native Youth with strong connections to their cultural identities and practices are more resilient and likely to overcome adversity; empowering Native Youth drives outreach messaging, practicing our Native culture and ways of life connects our people, working together strengthens community bonds and resilience, and fostering strong relationships among Native Youth reduces substance misuse and suicide. Project objectives include the following: 1. Develop one (1) comprehensive Suicide Prevention and Postvention Plan by the end of year 1. 2. Facilitate two (2) outreach events in year 1 and four (4) events per year in years 2 through 5 to reach and share Yinihugheltani Project opportunities with 50 unduplicated Native Youth during year 1, and 100 unduplicated Native Youth per year in years 2 through 5. 3. Design, develop, and distribute at least two (2) outreach materials in year 1, and four (4) outreach materials per year in years 2 through 5 using print and digital media. 4. Plan, coordinate, and implement ten (10) cultural activities for at least ten (10) participating Native Youth each performance year. The FY21 Yinihugheltani Project will serve 450 unduplicated Native Youth throughout the 5-year performance period, including 50 Native Youth served in year 1, and 100 Native Youth served each year in years 2 through 5. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) used by the Project will include the PHQ-9, SBIRT, the Alaska Screening Tool, C-SSRS, MI, the Matrix Model, CBT, QPR Gatekeeper, ASIST, SafeTALK, and Healing of the Canoe. Kenaitze’s integrated approach is guided by the Dene’ Philosophy of Care, a client-driven holistic approach to physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health that aligns with foundational elements of the Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (TBHA). The Yinihugheltani Project is structured as a partnership between Kenaitze’s Behavioral Health and Education Departments, utilizing authentic cultural activities to mitigate risk factors and strengthen protective factors among Native Youth to prevent and respond to substance misuse and thoughts/acts of suicide.
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).
