Saturday, September 7, 2024
9/7/2024
Aboha translates to the Chahta word for house, or room. Project Aboha, if awarded, will prioritize shelter and recovery for at-risk or homeless individuals in the TSA. The project will increase the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority Behavioral Health capacity to provide assessment, service, and stabilization for those experiencing or at risk for homelessness (Goal 1). Project Aboha will also create an integrated community support network for permanent housing and supportive services across the Tribal Service Area (TSA) (Goal 2). The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) is a federally recognized Native American (NA) Tribe located in rural southeastern Oklahoma. The reservation hosts a tribal member population of 47,671, accounting for more than 75 percent of the population in many communities. The TSA is geographically isolated and has high rates of poverty, unemployment, low educational attainment, and severe mental health conditions including substance abuse disorders. The target population to be served will include Native individuals residing on the CNO reservation with a special focus on those referred from CNO Behavioral Health, Judicial Branch, and/or Veterans Affairs experiencing substance use disorders (SUDs) or co-occurring mental health conditions and SUDs (CODs). Project Aboha will serve 95 patients in Year 1, 115 in Year 2, 135 in Year 3, 155 in Year 4, and 175 in Year 5.Throughout the lifetime of the project, we will serve 675 total unduplicated individuals. Case Managers will assess patients receiving treatment from CNHSA Behavioral Health for the risk factors associated with homelessness (Objective 1.1). Through collaboration with Project Aboha, the CNO tribal services and referral network will refer patients to CNHSA Licensed Mental Health Providers for mental health treatment for conditions placing them at risk for homelessness (Objective 1.2). Case Managers will also connect at-risk patients reporting homelessness with sustainable permanent housing and healthcare (Objective 1.3). Case Managers will maintain structured contact with patients experiencing homelessness or at risk for experiencing homelessness (Objective 1.4). Case Managers will provide patients with evidence-based harm reduction practices for homeless and/or at-risk individuals including a plan for the fulfillment of the four dimensions of recovery: home, health, community, and purpose (Objective 1.5). Case Managers will also manage training and education for at-risk and homeless individuals to develop their life skills to support the sustainability of their housing. The Project Director will join the Service Team provided by CNO Outreach Services (Objective 2.1). Case Managers will establish a referral network to engage CNO programs in direct contact with at-risk individuals and/or individuals experiencing homelessness. These partners will include the following CNO programs: the Recovery Center, Project EMBRACE, Project HOUSE, Chi Hullo Li, Judicial Branch, Tribal Opioid Response Program, Veterans Housing Program, and Food Distribution (Objective 2.2). Case Managers will also work with patients to integrate and restore their family unit to support their holistic well-being and increase their chances of maintaining housing (Objective 2.3). The Project Evaluator will report all required program performance on abstinence, stability in housing, crime or criminal justice involvement, employment/education, social connectedness, and health/behavioral/social consequences (Objective 2.4). These efforts will provide CNO Tribal Members supported by this grant funding with a comprehensive network of resources to support of their recovery.
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).
