Project Grant H79SM089713

This $259,916 Project Grant award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.243) will fund the Southern Ute Indian Tribe's "Native Connections" project. The five-year project aims to prevent and reduce suicidal behavior, substance use, and the impact of trauma, as well as promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native youth up to age 24 on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and in the surrounding towns. The project will deliver culturally-based programming and events, such as Native beadwork classes, storytelling workshops, and music/dance activities, to highlight the critical role of cultural practice and solidarity as a keystone of mental health. The tribe will collaborate with internal and external partners, including a youth advisory council, cultural preservation department, and tribal elders, to engage up to 500 youth in rewarding, fulfilling, and character-building activities that support positive behavioral health outcomes.