Wednesday, April 24, 2024
4/24/2024
The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, a federally recognized Indian Tribe in SW Oklahoma, proposes to assist all the Native people of the Indian Health Services Lawton Service area through the newly formed 988 suicide help line for two years. At this time, suicide, particularly among young male Natives has reached near epidemic levels. The grant will provide expanded , early identification of suicide risk and culturally appropriate help to all Natives of any Tribe. The Lawton Service Area is slightly larger than the state of New Jersey and comprises ten counties of over 9,000 square miles. There are approximately 26,000 Native people within the ten-county service area. Seven Tribal Nations have their headquarters in the Lawton Service Area (Apache of Oklahoma, Caddo, Comanche, Delaware, Kiowa, Wichita and Affiliated and Fort Sill Apache. The Native population has poverty rates greater than Whites in seven of ten counties and many Native people are without health insurance. About 50% of the population is female. Natives in Oklahoma have higher rates of suicide than any race and Native males age 15-34 have approximately four times the rate of suicide as females and almost double the rate of their White male counterparts. The CDC reports that Native suicide of both males and females had greater increases during the first year of Covid 19 compared to all other races. In reality, suicide among our Native people is actually much higher than is reported as studies by the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board have shown that about 30% of Native suicides are unreported, likely due to stigma. In less than a year, the 988 Suicide Help Line has had excellent results. Callers to the 988 line have much shorter wait times which allows more persons to be served. The Wichita and Affiliated will initially expand screening of Native youth at schools and workplaces and train teachers and staff on interventions. The project will provide culturally appropriate training to behavioral health professionals throughout the service area. To date, the most widely used interventions include: Asist, SAFE TALK, and Mental Health First Aid. The grant will also explore innovative ways of calling 988 including on line chats and phone to phone texting. The grant has four broad goals and seventeen measurable Objectives. Approximately 150 stakeholders per year will receive face to face trainings and over 8,000 Natives each year will be reached through Tribal Newsletters, social media, earned media and radio and TV. Over 350 stakeholders (including 988 personnel) and approximately 15,000 Native will be reached in the two-year project.
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).
