The red road to interpersonal power: building trust and capacity in the 988 crisis system is a capacity building initiative of the rhode island indian council (RIIC) to strengthen culturally…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the Rhode Island Indian Council Inc. $1,176,647 on September 30, 2026, under the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Programs (CFDA 93.00R) to build culturally responsive crisis response infrastructure for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

The project, titled "The Red Road to Interpersonal Power: Building Trust and Capacity in the 988 Crisis System," addresses elevated suicide and behavioral health risk among approximately 33,000 Native people in the three-state region by creating Native-led and Native-informed infrastructure that enables AI/AN individuals and families to access culturally competent, trained 988 crisis center support and follow-up care. The recipient will convene a Native 988 Advisory Council, formalize partnerships between 988 centers and tribal partners, improve culturally responsive referral pathways and data systems, and enhance workforce skills to respond effectively to AI/AN callers. The population of focus includes AI/AN adults, youth ages 15–24 at high suicide risk, elders facing isolation and unmet behavioral health needs, Native veterans with elevated trauma and behavioral health risk, and individuals experiencing poverty, housing instability, unemployment, and systems involvement.

Period of performance runs through September 29, 2029, with place of performance in Providence, Rhode Island.

The red road to interpersonal power: building trust and capacity in the 988 crisis system is a capacity building initiative of the rhode island indian council (RIIC) to strengthen culturally responsive 988 crisis response for american indian and alaska native (AI/an) communities in rhode island, connecticut, and massachusetts. The project addresses elevated suicide and behavioral health risk, historic trauma, and low trust in crisis systems by creating native led and native-informed infrastructure so AI/an individuals and families can access culturally competent, trained 988 crisis center support and follow up care that is worthy of native trust. Geographic area and capacity development approximately 33,000 native people live in diverse settings in tribal and urban native communities in southern new england. Capacity development efforts will start and build coordination between 988 centers, tribal nations, urban indian organizations, indian health service, and other partners; improve culturally responsive referral pathways and data systems; and enhance workforce skills to respond effectively to AI/an callers. Population of focus the population of focus includes AI/an adults and youth experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorders; elders facing isolation and unmet behavioral health needs; native veterans with elevated trauma and behavioral health risk; youth and young adults ages 15-24 at high suicide risk; and individuals experiencing poverty, housing instability, unemployment, and systems involvement. These groups experience suicide and substance use rates that exceed national averages and face persistent barriers to culturally responsive services and safe, trusted crisis intervention. Strategies and interventions RIIC will convene a native 988 advisory council, formalize partnerships with 988 centers and tribal partners, and braid indigenous knowledge with gold standard science for implementation. Key strategies include developing and delivering culturally grounded counselor training, hosting immersive cultural teaching and healing retreats, implementing a tribal 988 communication strategy and community engagement activities, refining referral and follow up protocols, and building data systems aligned with samhsa performance measures and spars reporting. Project goals and measurable objectives the project goal is to build a culturally competent 988 service delivery structure so AI/an communities in the target geography have access to culturally responsive, trained crisis support, navigation, and follow up care through trusted partnerships and native leadership. Measurable objectives include establishing a native 988 advisory council with high participation formal agreements; ensuring at least 95% of crisis counselors meet cultural responsiveness competencies; conducting at least six culturally grounded community engagement activities per year; increasing the number of 988 callers who self identify as AI/an by 20% by year 2 and 35% by year 3; increasing AI/an caller satisfaction scores as a proxy for trust; and achieving at least 95% completeness and accuracy in required spars data fields, all of which advance samhsa strategic priorities for crisis intervention, cultural relevance, and evaluation.