Project Grant H79SM089719

The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony received a 5-year, $1.25 million Project Grant award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services program (CFDA 93.958). The grant will fund the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony's Native Connections program, which aims to address suicides, substance misuse, and mental health disorders among Native American youth.

Specifically, the funding will allow the Native Connections program to hire a coordinator and contract evaluator to conduct community needs and readiness assessments, coordinate with tribal and local agencies to maximize resources for at-risk Native youth, and provide culturally appropriate services such as outreach, case management, advocacy, prevention, crisis intervention, and postvention. The program will also sponsor a Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) event targeting Native youth and establish a youth advisory group to provide input on policies, protocols, and community outreach. Additionally, the grant will strengthen collaborative partnerships with local and state health agencies and maintain relationships with outside organizations to improve data collection through a data sharing agreement with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.