Reclaiming Our People. Healthy People Across Generations

Transcription

1 Reclaiming Our People Healthy People Across Generations

2 About Reclaiming Our People In the 1980s, the Chiefs of the TCC region declared a war on alcohol in response to the epidemic of alcohol-related social issues affecting the region. As a result of that declaration, TCC pledged to address these issues. Because of this we saw a reduction in alcohol use and the issues related to alcohol use. Today, we are once again seeing an increase of alcohol use and related issues, but the outcry is being amplified with the introduction of new drugs that are adversely affecting the well-being of our people. Our 2nd Traditional Chief Trimble Gilbert stood up at convention in 2013 and declared the need to all work together to address these issues in a strong manner. When presented with this idea, our youth voiced that they actively partake in efforts to reclaim our people. Over the last year, a Tribal Advisory Council was formed made up of the TCC Executive Board and Health Board members, as well as community members to create a comprehensive strategic plan that would guide our effort to Reclaim Our People.

3 Our Goals GOAL 1: To Perpetuate Cultural Identity Within The Interior (As a Means To Prevention) GOAL 2: To Coordinate/Create Opportunities For Personal Healing And Community Wellness GOAL 3: To Combat Public Health Barriers to Wellness In The Interior GOAL 4: To Support Interior Tribes to Protect their Communities Focus Areas Education & Prevention Support Reclaiming Our People Treatment Enforcement

4 Goal One To Perpetuate Cultural Identity Within The Interior (As a Means To Prevention) Support for Local Culture Camps & Programs 1.1 Offer grants to subregions to coordinate opportunities for Tribes to support culture camps 1.3 Support Tribes to develop a schedule for year-round thematic cultural activities or education plans 1.9 Validate and acknowledge, utilizing traditional local healing practices 1.11 Recognize individuals leading cultural or wellness activities Education & Prevention 1.5 Develop and share educational messages about the value and importance of cultural identity (Interior Strong campaign) 1.6 Use social media platforms to support language learning 1.15 Incorporate cultural and traditions into Centering Pregnancy and Centering Parenting classes Support for Preservation & Documentation 1.12 Identify spaces within communities that house cultural and language materials 1.17 Help Tribes to document community histories and family trees ACTION ITEMS 1.2 Create inventory of cultural educators and leaders in the region who can share traditional skills 1.4 Encourage leaders, and local cultural educators, to bring along youth on outings and other traditional educational opportunities (ex. trapping) 1.10 Provide assistance to cultural groups for materials to make traditional clothing 1.14 Support wellness counselors to attend subsistence camps or other cultural activities 1.7 Provide all employees with cultural awareness training 1.8 Research and provide information to Tribes about elder advisory committee models 1.16 Work with school districts to embed Native culture into school curriculum 1.13 Provide support staff to assist with regional cultural and historical preservation efforts

5 Goal Two To Coordinate/Create Opportunities For Personal Healing And Community Wellness Education & Prevention 2.1 Implement postvention (after a suicide occurs) policies and protocols 2.3 Train all staff in Question, Persuade, Refer 2.5 Enhance emergency response protocols 2.7 Train staff in curriculum to teach youth coping skills 2.9 Prevent, educate, and address adverse childhood experiences 2.14 Educate communities about historical trauma and its affects 2.21 Establish, implement, and support parenting and family program/classes (Ties into 1.15) 2.30 Identify trainings for families and communities to better understand mental illnesses Improve Quality of Care and Treatment Options 2.10 Improve quality of post-trauma care and follow up 2.12 Seek options to increase accessibility of private treatment options 2.27 Plan to integrate addiction medicine into primary care ACTION ITEMS 2.2 Implement training for crisis response planning in communities 2.4 Implement Behavior Health Policy for postdischarge service 2.6 Acquire grant for Boys to Men coaching program 2.8 Address stigma of shame for victims of adverse childhood experiences 2.13 Utilize healthy programs such as Girls on the Run and Just move it for diabetes prevention 2.18 Incorporate local traditional healing methods throughout TCC health care 2.24 Improve communication between schools and families 2.33 Support and enhance vocational/job training opportunities for youth 2.11 Expand, implement, and support treatment and aftercare options 2.15 Implement and support new strategies to address behavioral health needs in communities 2.28 Ensure that all staff are trained on trauma informed care 2.29 Implement prisoner re-entry program 2.31 Increase patient access to services from BHAs 2.32 Develop or advocate for local option for 2.34 Implement BH telemedicine lockdown residential treatment for at-risk youth

6 Goal Two Continued... To Coordinate/Create Opportunities For Personal Healing And Community Wellness Improve Quality of Care and Treatment Options 2.35 Increase awareness of the ease and accessibility of residential treatment 2.37 Improve services for victims of sexual assault/domestic violence Support Community Wellness 2.16 Encourage and support local community wellness meetings 2.20 Make GONA trainings available to TCC leadership and in villages 2.26 Present Reclaiming Our People action items and follow-up at subregional meetings Improve Quality of Care and Treatment Options 2.19 TCC Youth Council advise on mental health issues 2.23 Support opportunities for Elders to share spiritual guidance with troubled youth ACTION ITEMS 2.36 Integrate behavioral health screening with primary care 2.17 Encourage group counseling in communities 2.25 Explore options for sobering centers or sobriety camps in villages 2.38 Support for people and families living with FAS and FAE 2.22 Recognize healthy elders 2.39 Advocate for redesign of General Assistance program to strengthen traditional values of work ethic & self-reliance

7 Goal Three To Combat Public Health Barriers to Wellness In The Interior ACTION ITEMS Education & Prevention 3.1 Provide resources to educate communities 3.2 Hire an additional Environmental Health Professional on bedbugs 3.3 Study effectiveness of low water use handwashing stations available workshops and training opportunities 3.4 Provide Tribes with a menu of OEH related 3.5 Research and assess urban environmental 3.6 Hire lifestyle and behavioral coaches health needs not met by existing local services 3.7 Hire a tobacco cessation counselor 3.11 Offer training to staff on low impact exercises to prevent elder injuries 3.12 Increase support and training for elder caregivers for dementia friendly homes 3.13 Disseminate information on universal design 3.14 Partner with schools and clinics on alcohol 3.15 Provide health and general nutrition prevention education education to communities to prevent diabetes 3.16 Provide education on the consequences of 3.19 Provide opportunities for youth to learn marijuana use about healthy activities and choices Improve Quality of Care and Treatment Options 3.9 Implement and support early detection 3.10 Implement timely and effective treatment 3.17 Increase awareness of the importance of 3.18 Provide ongoing education for STD & HIV immunizations awareness and prevention Advocacy and Engagement 3.20 Identify youth who demonstrate potential as natural leaders

8 Goal Four To Support Interior Tribes to Protect their Communities ACTION ITEMS Education & Prevention 4.3 Develop and implement safety campaign 4.8 Develop and implement tribal code on addressing elder abuse 4.5 Introduce and offer training options for community sexual assault awareness and prevention 4.17 Ensure domestic violence/sexual assault education is available and taught in schools 4.32 Develop basic self-defense and safety awareness for individuals and tribal councils Improve Quality of Care and Treatment Options 4.4 Develop and implement prevention, urgent after care, and post-trauma for sexual assault program 4.7 Develop a rural treatment program for domestic violence/sexual assault services 4.13 Assess and improve screening for are you safe question for elders 4.24 Develop leadership training for youth in community protection Advocacy and Engagement 4.1 Advocate to adequately fund and implement rural Alaska public safety from the State of Alaska 4.9 Identify and support opportunities for state and tribal collaboration for adequate law enforcement 4.14 Encourage and enhance tribal guardianship for elders 4.26 Educate community members to conduct bag checks for illegal alcohol and drug importation 4.6 Hire domestic violence/sexual assault resource staff 4.8 Develop and implement tribal code on addressing elder abuse 4.22 Provide support to safe houses for youth in villages 4.27 Increase access to drug recovery and detox centers 4.2 Seek legislation through Congress to authorize and fund tribal law enforcement in our communities 4.10 Facilitate peer support opportunities for Tribes to share effective practices 4.11 Increase utilization of circle sentencing 4.12 Implement the Civil Diversion Agreement 4.18 Address ICWA needs within the interior 4.20 Continue to spotlight communities that are exercising sovereignty 4.28 Develop, establish and support a CASA 4.29 Partner with State adult protective services (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program 4.30 Advocate for rural case prosecution (District Attorney) 4.31 Advocate for and support rural victims of domestic violence/sexual assault

9 Goal Four Continued... To Support Interior Tribes to Protect their Communities Public Safety 4.15 Increase the number of VPSOs within the interior ACTION ITEMS 4.16 Develop re-entry program for domestic violence/sexual assault perpetrators 4.12 Implement the Civil Diversion Agreement 4.19 Seek to encourage dually commissioned officers in the state 4.21 Encourage reporting of crimes 4.23 Explore potential of a judge (tribal court) exchange between villages/itinerant judges 4.25 Develop a region-wide tribal court

10 Reclaiming Our People Prayer Developed in August 2016 by the Tribal Advisory Committee My prayer for you, my children and grandchildren, my future and descendent, is that you know who you are and where you come from. That you know your culture and practice it. That you speak your language and are part of a proud, healthy, happy Native community. I pray that you never know pain. That you live a life that allows you to grow up as a child with no fears, only a sense of safety and innocence so that you may grow into an adult who is grounded in your true sense of happiness. I pray that you experience the connection to the land and animals. That you are skilled in tool making, traditional skills and learn what it is to be a strong Alaska Native. That you are given the strength and courage to be strongminded and make healthy choices. That you have the best quality, culturally relevant education and believe that all things are possible. I pray that you are at peace with yourself and with your family and friends. That you know your worth and love yourself wholeheartedly. That you forgive yourself and others. Never be afraid to speak your truth. Don t be afraid to be you.

11 I pray that health and wellbeing surround you. That you live a clean, sober and drug free lifestyle. That you are empathetic, compassionate and find purpose in helping others. I pray that you experience health, happiness and success, whatever that may be. That you are grateful everyday. That you seek guidance and direction from someone who is able to teach. That you know that being vulnerable is okay. I pray that you are passionate, motivated, and filled with joy and hope. That you can make change in our community and be the young leaders of your generation. I ask that those who went before guide you to make the right decisions moving forward. I pray that you feel supported because you are. Heavenly father, please help wise choices to be made. Protect and guide them to safety and help them to be aware of your presence. I ask for peace and healing in their bodies, minds and souls and that they be blessed in every good thing. Amen.

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