Friday, February 14, 2025
2/14/2025
The proposed project, Seminole Tribe of Florida (STOF) Opioid Response (TI-20-011, CFDA 93.788), will develop and implement programs to enhance the current treatment for and prevention of Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) within STOF. STOF was awarded the Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grant in FY2019, and since that time, we have developed and implemented programs to treat and prevent OUD. Prevention programs will respond to this need by targeting children to increase their protective factors against substance use. American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have the highest rate of substance abuse compared to any other population group in America (O’Connell, J. M., Novins, D. K., Beals, J., Whitesell, N. R., Spicer, P., & The AI-SUPERPFP Team, 2011). AI/AN comprise approximately 0.8% of the United States population and yet they account for 2.5% of substance abuse admissions. AI/AN are far more likely to require substance abuse treatment than equally matched individuals across all other ethnic groups and nearly 11% of AI/AN adolescents and young adults struggle with Substance Abuse (SA) (SAMHSA, 2020). STOF has experienced similar struggles that mirror the national averages for AI/AN. The data available show 168 STOF Members received SA services in 2019 which is believed to be an underestimation of the actual need. This has resulted in an increase in OUD treatment and mental health costs, creating a strain on the STOF resources, and more importantly placing Tribal members at greater risk for incarceration, domestic violence, and other adverse outcomes associated with OUD. The STOF clinical team will provide prevention services by following SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework. Targeting variable risk factors and increasing protective factors, STOF will employ the prevention curriculum to support Tribal youth members to increase their positive self-image, self-control, and social competence. Additionally, Center for Behavioral Health (CBH) will collaborate with the Tribal community to provide opioid antagonists as emergency treatment for opioid overdose. The proposed additional licensed clinician will provide psychotherapy services to treat symptoms of SA to reduce their interference on the member’s quality of life. A Tribal Member Recovery Liaison will also link Tribal Members with much needed services. At present, STOF CBH staff members are accessible to Tribal members at all times via an after-hours on-call system. CBH on-call staff members respond to mental health and SA crises immediately to address, deescalate, and stabilize Tribal members in order to ensure their safety. The present grant is intended to increase outpatient SA and prevention services to STOF members by providing culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed care to 30 additional members for each year of funding. Moreover, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) will be available to tribal members struggling with OUD. Tribal members receiving MAT will be paired with a clinician from CBH to address relapse triggers, identify recovery interfering behaviors, and increase positive coping skills. They will also be involved in the CBH Aftercare group on the reservation as they step-down from the higher level of care thus reinforcing recovery. This, in turn, will reduce relapse rates, optimize quality of life, and eliminate the unnecessary legal and medical complications associated with continued substance abuse.
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).