Thursday, October 10, 2024
10/10/2024
Breaking Waves: Navigating Life's Journey Breaking Waves: Navigating Life's Journey is an inter-generational program to support Unangax (Aleut) youth who are at risk for suicide and substance misuse. The project will be comprised of 3 regional contractual partners from 10 of the tribal communities of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. (APIA) serviceable catchment area: Atka, Akutan, King Cove, False Pass, Nelson Lagoon, Nikolski, Sand Point, St. George, St. Paul, Unalaska and simultaneously operate project activities in the agency's urban hub of Anchorage, AK. Breaking Waves: Navigating Life's Journey will use modified Healing of the Canoe Project curriculum, an evidence-based suicide and substance use prevention curriculum created between the Suquamish Tribe, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington. Through extensive technical assistance from Suquamish Tribe in the past several years, APIA is well placed and mobilized to address youth suicide, substance use and the stigmatization that surrounds mental health by utilizing our Unangan adapted version titled "Breaking Waves: Navigating Life's Journey". The project will expand opportunities for youth to incorporate the use of Breaking Waves: Navigating Life's Journey curriculum and the traditional iqyax, ulutux, and nigilax (kayaks) for strengthening pride, identity, and build community connectedness. Connection is wellness, and this is the spirit of our project. Traditional stories, tribal history, significant current events, cultural activities and Unangan language are integrated into the curriculum to help develop skills, values, beliefs and practices that are meaningful and relevant in manner. The goal of this project is to increase psychological well-being of youth by utilizing evidence-based and cultural relevant approaches that weave in healthy mental, physical, social and cultural traditions tied to Unangax ancestry through impactful partnerships with regional communities. Three contracted community partners will be selected to hire Community Wellness Coaches (CWC's) to deliver the Breaking Waves: Navigating Life's Journey curriculum within their respective communities. These CWC's will be trained facilitators of in the Breaking Waves: Navigating Life's Journey curriculum and also undergo L2-L3 Sea Kayaking certification through existing qualified APIA staff. CWC's will be responsible in hosting monthly workshops coupled with cultural and physical activities through the use of existing iqyaxs' or ulutaxs', for an annual total of 12 workshops, to integrate 14 skill-building lessons with 16 attendees. A combined total of 48 workshops and 64 youth will decrease their risk for suicide and increase their skills needed to travel their life's journey without being pulled off course by alcohol or drugs. A lifetime of 320 youth will be served by the five-year project. Certified project staff will host virtual and/or in person evidence-based trainings in one or more of the following monthly: Teen Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Adult Mental Health First Aid, Prime for Life, and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR). Twelve trainings with 10 participants to total 120 participants annually. A lifetime total of 240 CWC's and community partners will be trained by the five-year project. A Southwest Regional Steering Committee for Health and Resilience Programming and Regional Youth Advisory Committee members will convene to directly impact our target population by guiding practices aimed to decrease youth suicide rates, increase awareness of mental health and suicide prevention programming. Members will use their personal experience, skills and knowledge of specific sector topics to help make strategic decisions.
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).
