Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
The Hopi Indian reservation is located in the Northeastern region of Arizona, in Navajo County. The Hopi Indians are a federally recognized tribe with a land base covering approximately 1.5 million acres, including 13 villages. According to the Hopi Enrollment office, the current 2022 population is at 14,605 enrolled members, with 52% of members living on Hopi. 11,465 enrolled members are age 18+, with 54% being women and 46% are male. Currently, the Hopi Tribe does not have data on sexual orientation. According to the Navajo County 2020 Community Health Assessment Update report the drug and alcohol-induced deaths (rate per 100,000 population) is 71.8% which is significantly higher than Arizona at 17.8% and the national rate at 15.3%; this includes the chronic liver disease and cirrhosis rates for Navajo County at 46.1% compared to Arizona at 16.8% and the national rate at 10.9%. The drug induced death rate in Navajo County is 27.5% followed by Arizona at 27.8% and the national rate at 21.6%. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) information provided by Shella Sjolander, MSW, Assistant Director, Prevention Services - Vital Records indicates opioids deaths in 2019 is 1,369 and in 2020 is 1,815 with the highest age range at 25-34. In 2019 the opioid deaths for this age category 25-34 were 26% and in 2020 was 31%. Our tribal members continue to deal with the emotional impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, including the compounding issues of family members who engage in drug usage. Just recently, we have learned fentanyl has made its way into our communities with 2 drug arrests by our local Hopi Law Enforcement Services (HLES). Challenges within our HLES include the shortage of police officers, the high response rates it takes to respond to calls, and the lack of a local detention facility. Those arrested are booked locally, are but transported to Holbrook, AZ which is approximately 98 miles (one-way) a distance of 1 hour and 28 minutes to be booked into the Navajo County detention facility per inmate. Our proposed implementation approach is to focus on the adult population ages 18+ and will target the following: (1) Enhance the Hopi community's understanding of the opioid crisis and risks for overdose by providing culturally responsive prevention and trauma informed care. The Hopi TOR staff will build capacity in up to six (6) Hopi villages/communities to enhance clinical knowledge and expertise of existing workforce by providing training in culturally responsive best practice modalities and to enhance their understanding of historical traumas to foster compassion and improve respectful responsive care to individuals struggling with opioid and stimulant use disorders. (2) Create Peer Support Recovery program to build trust, enhance respectful and culturally responsive support system by improving access to care. The Peer Recover Specialist and the Case Manager will provide case management and connect with individuals referred to a sober living home environment, detox, treatment, and coordinate care for tribal members being released from Navajo County Detention. The Hopi TOR staff will provide Wellbriety recovery meetings in the community once a week to provide recovery support services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders. (3) Reduce stigma by increasing the public's understanding of medication assisted treatment and Narcan (Naloxone). Community members will be educated on the importance of safe medication storage, disposing unused and/or expired medication to prevent a potential accidental overdose. The community members will be provided with medication lock bags or Deterra bags, a drug deactivation and disposal kit.
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).