Project Abstract
The Gila River Indian Community GRIC, is a federally recognized tribe and the population of the focus for this Tribal Opioid Response, TOR Project application. The project will be successfully implemented under the guidance and management of the Gila River Health Care. The focus of this project includes, 1. Expanding Access to Treatment, 2. Advancing Substance Misuse Prevention, and 3. Improving Retention in Care. The GRIC is located on 372,000 acres of land south of the Phoenix Metropolitan area in both Pinal and Maricopa Counties. The tribal membership includes both the Akimel Oodham, Pima and Pee-Posh, Maricopa people. The Gila River Indian News published an article in 2012 and estimated the GRIC population as 20,717. Of the population, it is estimated 8,580 - 41.4 percent - do not reside within the boundaries of the community. Arizona Department Health Services, ADHS reported in the 2017 Primary Care Area Statistical Profile an estimated the population to be 13,438 -residing in GRIC. The population of focus for the TOR project includes GRIC members, non-members, youth ages 10-17 and adults. Overall, the proposed project activities are designed to meet the expansion and enhancement objectives outlined: 1. Expanding staff capacity through the hiring of a GRHC TOR team - Addiction Medicine Physician, RN Case Manager, Nurse Practitioner, Early Intervention Specialist. Peer Support Specialist; 2. Expanding the number of unduplicated individuals trained and served to at least 1250 annually; 3. Expanding and enhancing the number of services offered to clients to include Behavioral Health Services and Medication Assisted Treatment, as appropriate, 4. Expansion of services through appropriate staff training on evidence-based practices, improved identification processes for appropriate referrals; use of current equine therapy programming to identify individuals for TOR referrals from special populations, veteran, special needs, and MAT options for project participants; 5. Advancing Prevention Services to the community both within the 7 districts and at community wide events. GRHC will design the collaborative coalition of partners to oversee the progress of the program, regularly evaluate program data, and collaborate with a Program Evaluator to make continuous improvements through a process known as Plan, Do, Study, Act, PDSA to ensure that the program meets its goals and objectives. A coalition of partners will consist of approximately ten members, including the GRHC, Behavioral Health Services Prevention and Treatment teams, GRIC Department of Rehabilitation Services, GRIC Tribal Social Services, GRIC Tribal Education Department, and other community representatives.