The Nez Perce Tribe (Nimiipuu) propose the Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) effort to address the problem of alcohol and marijuana use among 655 Native American children and youth ages 10 through 24 years on our remote rural reservation. The Nez Perce Reservation is in north central Idaho and represents the geographic catchment area. The Students for Success Program within the Education Department is the implementing agency for the tribe and is in Lapwai, the seat of tribal government.
Participatory Action Research will guide the SPF-PFS process. According to the University of Kansas' Community Tool Box, Action Research involves people "who are most affected by a community issue - typically in collaboration or partnership with others who have research skills – to conduct research on and analyze that issue, with the goal of devising strategies to resolve it." We propose to directly engage youth and young adults in learning more about an issue that affects them (alcohol, opioid, and marijuana use) and take action (e.g. develop solutions) to help resolve the problem. We will coordinate with our youth/young adult advisory board (Native America Hear Our Voices Arise-NAHOVA).
In preparation for this proposal, NAHOVA generated a hot spot analysis that identified alcohol misuse as “the worst problem.” NAHOVA also identified opioids and marijuana as problems of focus. The Nez Perce Tribe’s SPF-PFS priorities are to prevent the initiation of alcohol, opioids, and marijuana use among Native American children and youth and reduce the misuse of alcohol and marijuana by Native American youth and young adults on the Nez Perce Reservation. NAHOVA identified traditional-cultural activities, peer-to-peer mentoring, and the SAMHSA-developed Culture and Drugs Don’t Mix curriculum for universal prevention and Talking Circles for targeted prevention. Nimiipuu Behavioral Health is a partner offering EBPs (e.g., Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for indicated prevention.
SPF-PFS goals and objectives include (space limitations prevent listing all objectives): Goal 1: Reduce the percentage of Native American children and youth, ages 10 to 14, reporting lifetime (ever) alcohol use and lifetime (ever) marijuana use. Objective 1.1: By September 30, 2029, reduce by 15% (from a baseline of 29.5%) the number of Native American youth ages 10 to 14 reporting lifetime (ever) alcohol use, as measured by CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Goal 2: Reduce the percentage of Native American youth and young adults, ages 12 to 24, reporting lifetime (ever) opioid use. Objective 2.2: By September 30, 2029, reduce by 10% the number of Native American young adults ages 18 to 24 reporting lifetime (ever) opioid use, as measured by YRBS responses to the Nez Perce Tribe’s Adult Community Survey. Objective 2.3: By September 30, 2029, maintain the lifetime (ever) opioid use % of less than 1% among Native American youth ages 10 to 17, as measured by CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Goal 3: Reduce the percentage of Native American youth and young adults, ages 12 to 24, reporting alcohol, opioid, and marijuana use within the past 30 days. Objective 4.2: By September 30, 2029, reduce by 10% the number of Native American young adults ages 18 to 24 reporting binge drinking within the past 30 days, as measured by YRBS responses to the Nez Perce Tribe’s Adult Community Survey.
