Monday, May 12, 2025
5/12/2025
Puyallup Tribal Opioid Response - There is an epidemic of opioid abuse within the Puyallup Reservation which cannot be properly addressed because of low funding for treatment services. There is a high prevalence of substance abuse among members of our community but for those who are not covered by federal, state, or private insurances, inpatient treatment is unavailable. To combat the devastation caused by the opioid epidemic the proposed project seeks to strengthen the continuum of care and increase access to inpatient treatment services within the Puyallup Tribal community. The Puyallup Reservation is highly urbanized and is among the most densely populated areas in the State of Washington. Between 2009 and 2014, Washington saw a 60 percent increase in opioid-related hospital stays, which was the fourth-highest increase in the nation. The 2010 Census reported the City of Tacoma as having the eighth highest percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives among U.S. Cities. The Tribe’s Indian Health Service designed service area has a Native American and Alaska Native population of 28,208 individuals from over 350 tribes and bands. In 2017, the Puyallup Tribe’s Community Family Services program arranged substance and alcohol abuse treatments for 228 individuals. 53% of the clients they served had an opiate or heroin addiction. The Puyallup Tribe proposes using grant funding to contract one dedicated bed at an inpatient treatment center that provides culturally appropriate services. Community Family Services has existing relationships with in-patient treatment providers throughout the state of Washington and will seek to contract a bed with one of these providers. The contracted treatment center will provide substance abuse treatment that is evidence-based and patients will receive medication assisted treatment. Community Family Services connects clients to individualized treatment depending on what stage of recovery a person is in and services upon completion of inpatient treatment include basic education, case management, and after-care. In addition the Community Family Services department will complete a comprehensive strategic plan for addressing the gaps within the current continuum of care and a plan to implement other required grant deliverables. Deliverables include developing an evaluation plan for the project based on outcome evaluations, identifying what data currently exists, and what new data points to track in order to monitor project success. The proposed project will positively impact families impacted by opioid addiction, and as such improve the quality of life within the Puyallup Tribal community as a whole. Annually at least 12 individuals will receive in-patient treatment services, with a total of at least 18 individuals receiving in-patient treatment over the entire project period.
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).