Project Grant H79SM091090

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Ninilchik Traditional Council $250,000 through the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) on September 30, 2026, to implement Roots of Resilience, a five-year youth suicide prevention and early intervention initiative.

Roots of Resilience will serve youth and young adults ages 0–24 throughout Ninilchik village and surrounding Alaska Native communities by strengthening coordinated systems for suicide prevention, intervention, and recovery. The project addresses documented local conditions including high rates of suicidal ideation (approximately one in four youth), behavioral health challenges, social isolation, and barriers to accessing care in rural Alaska. Ninilchik Traditional Council will implement evidence-based screening, establish a coordinated suicide risk response system, improve data collection and evaluation, conduct community-wide suicide prevention trainings, deliver Sources of Strength programming, and establish elder-youth mentorship opportunities to build resilience through connections to family, culture, community, and trusted adults.

Work is performed in Ninilchik, Alaska. The period of performance runs through September 29, 2031. The assistance type is a Project Grant, which supports knowledge development, application projects, and evaluation in prevention and recovery services under the CMHS regional and national significance program framework.