SIHC's Community Youth Opioid Project (CYOP)

OVC’s mission is to enhance the nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and provide leadership in changing policies and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC achieves this mission, in part, by administering discretionary award programs supported by the federal Crime Victims Fund to develop innovative training and technical assistance, and to provide direct services to improve the overall quality of victim assistance. The purpose of this solicitation is to address an urgent gap in crime victim services related to the opioid epidemic and to expand upon existing or establish new programs to provide services to children and youth who are victimized as the result of the opioid crisis. Projects selected under this solicitation will support service providers in expanding their current scope and expertise to ensure that children and youth—the most vulnerable victims impacted by the opioid crisis—are supported as they heal from the impact of crime and substance abuse.

With this award, the Southern Indian Health Council, Inc., (SIHC) will expand its medical services to include identification, assessment, and support to children and youth victims of the opioid epidemic. This will provide the Native American community a more comprehensive and integrated approach to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and will use a behavioral health mobile unit to expand programming that supports the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Tribal members will provide input on community needs and traditional healing practices to ensure cultural relevance. This transformative model of development attends to the need for Native American traditional practices and will be woven into the evidence-based practices and approaches that support the integrated behavioral health focus. Quantitative data will be assessed to track service usage and the progression of patients along the established integrated treatment plans. (CA/NCF)