Friday, April 26, 2024
4/26/2024
The COVID-19 pandemic escalated and amplified substance use challenges in the UMUT community, placing all at heightened risk but asking youth to shoulder a disproportionate burden. Barred from school and community supports in an effort to “stop the spread,” and kept in homes where between 45% and 55% of adult Ute Tribal Members battle Substance Use Disorder, young people began to experiment with illicit substances. It is crucial that the Growing Healthy Ute DFC Coalition embarks urgently to restart paused efforts related to prevention and intervention. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Growing Healthy Ute DFC Coalition (Growing Healthy Ute DFC Coalition) has been working to improve protections and services for youth since 2014. Dedicated to the mission of preventing and reducing substance use among youth up to 18 years of age, and over time, reducing substance abuse among adults, by addressing the risk factors that increase substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse, the efforts of the Growing Healthy Ute DFC Coalition have never been more important. The Growing Healthy Ute DFC Coalition seeks to establish and strengthen collaboration among community stakeholders and organizations to sustainably address youth substance use; and to reduce substance use among youth and over time, among adults – targeting alcohol and methamphetamine. Proposed efforts embrace the Seven Strategies for Community-Leve Change, and will build local capacity to address local challenges, leveraging culturally responsive outreach efforts, evidence-based prevention programming, a “Survivors Support Group” option for youth to promote healing, evidence-based parenting support, and “Youth Resiliency Programming” that builds healthy relationships and strengthens cultural connections to measurably lower the impact of substance use on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe youth. Environmental changes will be made by adding youth-designed prevention posters and Ute/English signage to the outside of buildings, hallways of tribal buildings, and lot areas where youth congregate to use substances, serving as a visual reminder of Ute cultural community expectations of substance-free youth and strengthen protections for youth. In direct alignment with DFC priorities, Growing Healthy Ute DFC Coalition seeks to: 1. Limit youth access to substances. 2. Change the culture and context within which decisions about substance use are made. 3. Shift the consequences associated with youth substance use. 4. Address issues related to health disparities and promote health equity Measurable objectives include: Objective 1: By September 29, 2023, increase the number of partners in the Drug Free Coalition by 15%, to be measured by attendance rosters. Objective 2: By September 29, 2023, reduce by 10% current use of alcohol (use within 30 days) among youth Grades 6-12 to be measured by pre- post-Past 30-Day Use surveys. Objective 3: By September 29, 2023, reduce by 10% current use of methamphetamine (use within 30 days) among youth Grades 6-12 to be measured by pre- post-Past 30-Day Use surveys.
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).
