Native Connections Project Abstract
Quartz Valley Indian Health
Native Connection's purpose is to increase access to culturally responsive behavioral health services (e.g., substance abuse and mental health), and suicide prevention programs for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/NA) youth and young people living in Siskiyou County. The majority of the population of focus reside on the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation (QVIR). The initiative will also increase community engagement and strengthen service delivery. A minimum of 125 youth will be served each year.
The Anav Tribal Health Center (ATHC) provides medical, dental, mental health counseling, equine therapy, and a range of community/culture-based services and activities. Our philosophy is that culture is prevention strategy that creates resiliency factors to prevent young AIAN from becoming at-risk. Even more important is the belief that each individual may need a different level of care and engagement. ATHC currently serves ages youth from newborns to age 24 in Siskiyou County. While the program has been successful in reaching at-risk youth, staff continuously report the need for more resources and a stronger collaborative system.
The proposed project goal is to expand and strengthen the ATHC's integrated service capacity and community support systems that will a) reduce the impact of trauma; b) prevents suicide/suicidal ideation and substance use; and 3) integrate mental health promotion
for AI/AN youth and transitional aged youth ages up to 24 years.
Project components include a) planning and building community engagement capacity in response to specific community needs and level of readiness; b) address gaps in service and strengthening current service delivery systems by developing and implementing youth and transitional aged youth programs; c) engage staff clinicians to participate in youth care coordination activities and programs; and d) engage community voice in vetting programs and services. The Native Connections project will thus enhance the ATHC's current suicide and substance abuse and mental health service infrastructure for our youth by adding the following additional components: a) support for youth services and outreach activities; b) support for annual youth GONA (85 youth attend GONA last year); c) develop and implement a transitional aged youth program and outreach; d) support youth-based trauma-informed care coordination, screening, assessment, and treatment.
Native Connections will increase community voice and engagement through a variety of
resource building and readiness activities that will increase the overall effectives of the ATHC's suicide/substance abuse prevention and mental health programs, as well as identify needs and gaps in service. ATHC will proactively target challenges and disparities within current programs and services through member identification and assessment, enhanced outreach, and integration of traditional healing practices with evidence-based practices.