Implementing youth suicide prevention capacity building at RSBCIHI - riverside-SAN bernardino county indian health, INC. (RSBCIHI) will implement a comprehensive initiative to strengthen leadership,…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc. (RSBCIHI) $735,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to implement youth suicide prevention capacity building.

RSBCIHI will screen 6,000 youth for suicide risk, train 93 staff in suicide care management and clinical intervention, and train 2,500 community members in suicide prevention skills. The initiative strengthens leadership, workforce training, universal screening, suicide-specific treatment, and care transition protocols for at-risk youth across three systems: RSBCIHI's substance use disorder, mental health, and pediatric programs; school systems and educational institutions including middle schools, high schools, and colleges; and other youth-serving organizations including county behavioral health, Indian Health Service, and tribal programs. Services are trauma-informed and evidence-based, delivered with cultural responsiveness across the IHS-designated service area spanning all of Riverside and San Bernardino counties and encompassing twelve federally recognized tribal communities.

The period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031. Place of performance is Grand Terrace, California. RSBCIHI, the largest tribal health organization in California, currently serves 51,207 registered patients, including 6,990 youth who received medical and behavioral health services over the past five years.

Implementing youth suicide prevention capacity building at RSBCIHI - riverside-SAN bernardino county indian health, INC. (RSBCIHI) will implement a comprehensive initiative to strengthen leadership, workforce training, universal screening, suicide specific treatment, and care transition protocols for youth at risk of suicide. Through this project, RSBCIHI will screen 6,000 youth for suicide risk, train 93 staff in suicide care management, transition care, and clinical intervention, and train 2,500 community members in suicide prevention skills. RSBCIHI is the largest tribal health organization in california and serves one of the most expansive and diverse regions in the state. The U.S. Indian health service-designated service area spans all of riverside and SAN bernardino counties-an area larger than nine U.S. States-and includes twelve federally recognized tribal communities. This region is home to 1.3 million youth ages 12-24, including an estimated 33,000 american indian/alaska native (AI/an) youth. The project will build organizational capacity to close systemwide gaps in governance, training, screening, treatment access, care transitions, and continuous quality improvement. RSBCIHI currently serves 51,207 registered patients, including 6,990 youth who received medical and behavioral health services over the past five years. The project will provide trauma informed, evidence based early intervention, assessment, and screening services across three required systems: (1) RSBCIHI substance use disorder, mental health, and pediatric programs; (2) school systems and educational institutions, including middle schools, high schools, and colleges; and (3) other youth serving organizations, including county behavioral health, indian health service, and tribal programs. This approach ensures that every youth encounter-regardless of location, race, or background-reflects RSBCIHI's commitment to safety, prevention, and culturally responsive care. The project directly advances samhsa's strategic priorities by expanding consistent, high quality access to evidence based youth suicide prevention services across tribal communities disproportionately impacted by suicide. Core services will include universal suicide risk screening, suicide risk assessment, collaborative safety planning, lethal means counseling, suicide specific evidence based treatments (SPI, cams, CBT SP, DBT SP, MI), rapid follow up, warm handoffs, coordinated care transitions, and comprehensive training for staff and community partners. All services will be culturally grounded and trauma informed. Capacity building goals include: • establishing the project team and oversight steering council • developing and implementing workforce and community training programs • implementing universal screening and assessment • implementing suicide care management policies • implementing evidence based interventions • strengthening care transition processes • implementing continuous quality improvement • reducing barriers and expanding access across all health centers