Sunday, May 11, 2025
5/11/2025
The Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut Opioid and Stimulant Response Initiative - The Mohegan Tribe is a sovereign, federally-recognized Indian Tribe in Southeastern Connecticut (SECT), with a population of approximately 2,234. We have Tribal members in 32 states across the United States. The project will be implemented by the Mohegan Health and Human Services Division under the direction of the Behavioral Health Department. The Tribal Opiate Task Force (TOTF) was established in 2016 and will serve as the advisory board to the program. The project builds on previous strategic planning from the Prescription Opioid Misuse Project Report (2018-2020) and the Tribal Health Assessment (2015) and both of these reports form the foundation for the project. Increasing MAT services to tribal members is the primary focus and we now have an in-house Psychiatric APRN who will prescribe MAT as needed and monitor for side effects and progress as well as medication compliance with the Tribal Pharmacy Staff. The workforce will be offered a number of opioid and stimulant misuse education, prevention, and treatment opportunities. They will also be able to participate in a few alternative healing programs that are developed for them specifically. All tribal members and their families will also be offered substance misuse and co-occurring disorders education, prevention, and treatment opportunities. These opportunities will be delivered via teleconference, video-conference, radio, podcast, newsletters, email blasts, and social media. The Mohegan Tribe utilizes an integrated treatment model that brings together traditional treatment with culturally-based Native American healing practices. By the end of the project the Tribe will have developed a hub and spoke model of treatment with Yale-New Haven Clinic, which is being established on tribal land. Evidence Based Treatment strategies will be utilized, throughout the project. The Behavioral Health Department will begin administering Evidence Based Assessments to all clients. The initial intake assessments will provide important information regarding substance misuse and/or co-occurring disorders for each client. On a monthly basis, clients will be administered a small battery of assessments that will inform the clinical team as to the appropriateness of their selected Evidence Based Treatment and/or FDA approved medication and allow them to adjust treatment if needed. All of these assessments will increase the likelihood that tribal members with substance misuse and/or co-occurring disorders will be able to access the help they need.
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).