NM ReCAST - In August 2022, the community of Gallup, New Mexico experienced a collective trauma during which an intoxicated individual drove through a parade at the highly attended 100th Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial Celebration, a celebration of Native American ancestral cultural dances, prayers, and traditions. The crisis, resulted in 15 individuals injured, families separated during crisis, and community level trauma. Gallup is located in McKinley County (MC), the population of which is approximately 80% Native American and largely underserved, with a history of poverty, historical trauma, and heightened behavioral health problems. Despite significant community needs, MC remains chronically underserved with respect to emergency and behavioral health services. Recent years have seen sever local workforce shortages in emergency personnel, law enforcement officers, and behavioral health clinicians, and MC ranks among the worst counties statewide in its proportion of behavioral health clinicians to its population. Given Gallup's recent collective trauma and its citizens' chronic behavioral health needs, NM ReCAST aims to promote resiliency and equity through implementation of evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions and violence prevention programs to Gallup's high risk youth and families. Specifically, project goals include (1) promoting well being, resiliency, and community healing through community-based, participatory approaches; (2) creating more equitable access to trauma-informed behavioral health resources; (3) integrating behavioral health services and community systems to address social determinants of health; and (4) providing culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate program services. NM ReCAST will be guided by the Community Action Resilience Empowerment (CARE) Coalition, an established community-based coalition of residents, state and local government, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and other entities, to ensure community voices and partnerships, as well as efficient resource sharing across organizations. Example of project objectives include: (1) conducting a community needs and resource assessment; (2) developing Memorandums of Understanding with multiple community-based organizations; (3) developing and implementing a community strategic plan (example activities include Talking Circles, community engagement activities, reunification team development, conflict de-escalation training, employment and housing supports, services for first responders, and direct mental health treatment for children and families); (4) implementing training related to trauma-informed behavioral health services, violence prevention programs, and community engagement programs; and (5) conducting other relevant trainings ( i.e. in mental health literacy, disaster recovery and crisis response, cultural competency and implicit bias reduction) to relevant stakeholders. 700 citizens will be served through these activities.
