Resources: American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians

Consists of a network of 10 regional centers, a central coordinating office, a National Hispanic and Latino ATTC, and a National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC working in addiction treatment and recovery services. Promotes awareness and new and evidence-based practices and services for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD). Facilitates the adoption of new technology by addiction treatment and recovery service providers. Offers education, training, resources, and information for the behavioral healthcare workforce in rural areas.

Summarizes research examining how cultural-specific risk and protective factors can contribute to or mitigate substance misuse among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Aims to inform prevention planning by tribal communities and providers to include culturally responsive programs, practices, and policies that can reduce substance misuse and support the mental health and well-being of AI/AN individuals, youth, and families.

Provides an overview and history on the use of peer recovery support services (PRSS) in tribal communities to address high rates of substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs). Offers resources and models on best practices for tribes to develop, implement, and sustain PRSS programming. Draws insights from 9 tribal PRSS practitioners to highlight the importance of including Native American culture and traditions into PRSS delivery.

Serves as an information clearinghouse on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, services, resources, tools, and training to support housing and economic development in rural and underserved areas, including tribal populations and veterans. Offers individual technical assistance and peer learning opportunities. Includes detailed case studies of successful programs and information on rural programs HUD previously funded.

Collaborates with tribal stakeholders across the U.S. to address issues related to the treatment of chronic pain and the use of heroin and prescription opioids among tribal populations. Works to promote appropriate and effective pain management, reduce opioid overdose deaths, and improve access to culturally appropriate substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Workgroup focus areas include prescriber support, treatment and recovery, harm reduction, program effectiveness metrics, technical assistance, and communications.

Operates 13 tribally and federally operated residential treatment facilities located across the U.S. to address substance use disorder (SUD) and/or co-occurring mental health disorders (COD) among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth and their families at no cost. Provides a range of education and culture-based prevention initiatives, evidence-based and practice-based models of treatment, family strengthening and recreational activities designed to help AI/AN youth overcome challenges related to mental health and substance use. Promotes holistic, culturally responsive care that integrates clinical services with traditional healing, spiritual values, and cultural identification in a substance-free residential environment to support AI/AN youth in achieving their treatment goals and leading healthy, resilient lives.

Provides an overview of how Indian Health Service (IHS) is working to address behavioral health in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Describes behavioral issues affecting individuals and families, such as alcohol and substance use disorder (SUD), mental health, suicide, domestic violence, and behavior-related chronic disease.

Provides comprehensive mental health services for American Indian and Alaska Native individuals and families. Offers community and clinical-based treatments and services, including mental health treatment and support for substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD).

Manages the Indian Health Service (IHS) wide area network, which enables the effective use of electronic health records (EHR) and ensures the secure exchange of electronic health information (EHI) between healthcare providers in order to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. Provides internet access and network connectivity to over 400 federal, tribal, and urban healthcare facilities in the IHS Wide Area Network that serve American Indian and Alaska Native people across 35 states, as well as to healthcare partners, such as insurance providers, laboratory services, and pharmacies.

Provides an overview of Indian Health Service's (IHS) Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS) which is responsible for developing and managing clinical, preventive, and public health programs for IHS that cover a wide range of services, including alcohol and substance use and other behavioral health programs. Serves as an advocate for Native American health issues at the national level. Sets policy and budget priorities for IHS Area Offices and health facilities. Offers technical support to local clinical and preventive health programs.

Consists of a network of 10 regional resource centers, a central coordinating office, a National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC, and a National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC that provide support to individuals and organizations working in the mental health field. Aims to raise the knowledge and skill base of the mental health workforce and promote the implementation of new and evidence-based practices for a full range of mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Offers a variety of education, training, and resources on a variety of topics related to mental health, including rural mental health; early childhood, youth, and young adults; suicide prevention; culturally informed practices; population-based approaches; and more.

Supports state rural transit assistance programs (RTAPs) and addresses the training and technical assistance needs of rural and tribal transit operators to help establish safe and efficient public transportation services across the nation. Aims to increase access to jobs, healthcare, education, shopping, and other activities in rural areas; coordinate transit services; and develop a national information database on the rural transportation industry.

Offers comprehensive information and resources on the use of prescription opioids, managing chronic pain, and opioid use disorder (OUD) for patients and providers, specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and Indian Health Service (IHS) providers. Includes online tools, technical assistance resources, guides, and training for patients and providers on topics such as opioid crisis data, opioid prevention, proper pain management, opioid prescribing/stewardship, culturally appropriate practices, maternal health, harm reduction, naloxone use, child health and wellness, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), tele-MAT, trauma-informed care, best practices, supportive services, wellness courts, and training opportunities. Resource is an initiative of the IHS Alcohol and Substance Abuse Branch (ASAB).

Toolkit sharing guidance and resources for tribal justice system practitioners to develop or enhance existing reentry programs for American Indian and Alaska Native populations returning from jail or prison. Covers devolving a planning team; identifying and collaborating with partners; engaging clients; measuring program impact; and more. Includes best practices and program examples for tribal justice system practitioners.

Consists of a network of 10 regional resource centers, a central coordinating office, a National Hispanic and Latino PTTC, and a National American Indian and Alaska Native PTTC that work to support effective substance use prevention interventions. Develops and disseminates education, training, resources, and information to raise awareness and promote the implementation of evidence-based prevention practices. Facilitates the adoption of new technology by individuals and organizations working in the field of substance use prevention. PTTC focus areas include community coalitions and collaborators; health equity and inclusion; data-informed decisions; implementation science; cannabis prevention; and workforce development.

Provides an overview of rural tribal health. Answers frequently asked questions on the topic, details successful rural model program examples, and links to additional resources and information for funding, events, and related organizations.

Offers information and resources to support and promote behavioral health equity by removing barriers and providing prevention and treatment services for mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). Includes links to data, reports, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs and federal programs and initiatives for the following populations: Hispanic or Latino; Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI); American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN); Black or African Americans; and the LGBTQ+ populations.

Provides an overview of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy (OTAP) that seeks to address behavioral health issues facing American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Details programs, policy and advisory resources, and supports to promote self-sufficiency, prevent and treat substance use disorder (SUD), offer recovery and support services, reduce violence and suicide rates, and increase access to behavioral health services.

Directory of tribal behavioral health service providers that is searchable by state. Shares contact information, affiliation, and details the services available for each provider.

Provides training and technical assistance to help tribal jurisdictions develop new or strengthen existing healing to wellness courts. Offers up-to-date resources on effective, evidence-based strategies to address alcohol and substance use issues among justice-involved juveniles and adults in tribal areas using a treatment court model that incorporates culturally appropriate services, trauma-informed approaches, and traditional healing practices.

Provides guidance to Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts (THWCs) on effective case management practices and the functions of case management in THWC operations. Offers case management models; resources; and information related to ethics, balancing roles, and data collection and evaluation to assist THWCs in developing or revising the role of case managers in their courts.

Discusses common elements of intergovernmental collaboration, including tribal-state collaborations, intended to assist Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts (THWCs) interested in utilizing collaboration to enhance their court operations. Provides a brief history THWCs, profiles of current collaborations that can serve as models, and shares resources to help new and existing THWCs meet the needs of their communities.

Provides subject matter-based training and technical assistance designed for tribes to enhance their practical and specialized knowledge to implement and strengthen their tribal justice system initiatives and interventions.

Provides training and technical assistance to Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) tribal grantees and federally recognized tribes to improve juvenile justice systems, with the goal of reducing crime, recidivism, and victimization, and increasing positive outcomes for Native youth. Builds tribal capacity to develop and implement community-led, culturally based approaches to youth prevention and intervention, enhancement of tribal court systems, trauma-informed care, and other efforts to address issues affecting Native youth, such as poverty, addiction, suicide, violence, and gang activity.