Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
Hvshi Akucha (Ha-she Ah-koh-cha) translates to the Chahta word for sunrise and symbolizes the new dawn of recovery and suicide prevention for at-risk Native American (NA) youth on the Choctaw reservation. Project Hvshi Akucha will address the emerging mental health crisis on the reservation and overwhelming demands after the McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court decision’s historic jurisdictional shift. In Calendar Year (CY) 2020, CNO BH treated 554 unique tribal youth patients presenting with a PHQ9 score of 10 or higher (severe risk for suicide). In CY 2021, this number rose to 757 and in only the first three months of CY 2022 this number has already reached 329. If these rates continue, CNO can expect to treat approximately 1,316 tribal youth presenting as severe risk for suicide in CY2022. The Project will increase the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s capacity to provide trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, equity- based and culturally sensitive mental health care to tribal youth at risk for suicide (Goal 1). Project Hvshi Akucha will expand collaboration and partnerships with service providers across the Tribal Service Area (TSA) to increase resources for tribal youth at risk for suicide and center suicide prevention as a core component of health care services (Goal 2). Program efforts will also center on strengthening community education on suicide prevention and care to provide a comprehensive network of support for tribal youth at risk for suicide (Goal 3). The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) is a federally recognized Native American (NA) Tribe located in southeastern Oklahoma. The reservation hosts a NA population of at least 52,351, of which 45,547 are Choctaw. The target population for this program is tribal youth (ages 10-18) within the TSA. The number of Choctaw Tribal members living on the reservation from ages 10-18 is 8,153 people. In the first year of this Program, two (2) new Licensed Mental Health Professionals and one (1) Peer Recovery Support Specialist will be hired (Objective 1.1). Treatment providers will also provide education to CNO Juvenile Services and Judicial Branch staff (Objectives 1.2 - 1.5). In year one, Program staff will treat 50 tribal youth at risk for suicide (Objective 1.6). The Program will partner with CNO Juvenile Services and the CNO Judicial Branch for referrals (Objectives 2.1-2.2). These partners will be trained on various methods of tracking suicidal youth (Objective 2.3). The Program will also collaborate with local school districts to coordinate virtual sessions with CNO therapists for tribal youth throughout the TSA Chahta Himmitoa Aiahli Tohnochi Program to expand referral systems (Objectives 2.4 – 2.5). To promote a fully comprehensive suicide prevention program, treatment providers will also develop familial connections and support systems around at-risk tribal youth (Objective 3.1). Education on reducing access to lethal means and increasing protective factors will be provided (Objectives 3.2 – 3.3). Guidance and information will also be provided on how to access health care, how to develop and implement crisis protocol, and how to handle crises involving suicide (Objective 3.4). Cultural wellness will also be developed through a youth-led suicide prevention task force (Objective 3.5). Peers will also establish culturally-based “talking circles.” Treatment providers will maintain consistent program quality improvement efforts through collecting and analyzing various data sources on tribal youth suicide (Objective 3.6).
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).