Increasing the Capacity of a Community-Based Research Center to Address Opioid Use Disorder and Related Health Inequities in Urban American Indian Communities - Abstract Title: Increasing the Capacity of a Community-Based Research Center to Address Opioid Use Disorder and Related Health Inequities in Urban American Indian Communities The Native American Community Clinic (NACC) research center, The CEDAR Center, proposes a two-year project to increase their research capacity and evaluate culturally-centered models of care for urban-dwelling American Indians struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD) and related conditions. As an Indigenous-led Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving over 4,500 American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients annually, NACC’s research center is uniquely positioned to conduct research inline with the organization's mission to provide care through a culturally-centered model that integrates Western and Indigenous knowledge systems to address the opioid crisis and related health inequities. Our project will: 1. Build capacity to conduct local community-based HEAL-prioritized research by: a. Increasing key staff b. Developing research policies, practices, and procedures c. Establishing a Community Advisory Board d. Establishing a Scientific Advisory Board 2. Enhance NACC's model of integrating cultural healing practices within a Western community health center to address OUD/SUD, overdose, and related health and wellness factors. 3. Prepare a NIDA proposal for a full-scale project testing the impact of our culturally centered model. a. Employing a mixed methodological pilot approach, including analysis of existing clinical data, community surveys, focus groups, and interviews, we will assess our culturally-centered model's effectiveness and identify improvement areas. Throughout the project, we will focus on building sustainable research capacity within our organization and community. This includes training AI/AN staff in research methods, establishing data governance protocols, and creating pathways for community members to engage in all stages of the research process. This project aims to improve health outcomes and overall wellness for urban AI/AN people by developing and evaluating culturally centered, community-driven approaches to OUD treatment and prevention. Our findings will inform larger-scale intervention studies and contribute to the evidence base for holistic Indigenous healthcare models addressing the opioid crisis.
