Mcndh GLS project - the garrett LEE smith (GLS) grant will support comprehensive capacity-building efforts to strengthen youth suicide prevention and early intervention systems within the muscogee…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Muscogee (Creek) Nation $734,394 under the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) grant on September 30, 2026, supporting comprehensive youth suicide prevention and early intervention capacity-building within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health service area.

The award funds three integrated goals. Goal One expands access to evidence-based, culturally appropriate prevention and treatment services through universal screening of at least 90% of youth using standardized tools, technology integration including telehealth and 988 texting to ensure 75% of at-risk individuals receive documented caring contacts, training of at least 100 healthcare providers with 85% demonstrating increased knowledge, and alignment of all activities with SAMHSA strategic priorities, the National Action Alliance, Oklahoma Strategies for Suicide Prevention, and the MAHA strategy—all activities launching by December 31, 2026. Goal Two establishes a suicide risk response system ensuring timely, safety-planned referrals to mental health care, including development and annual updates to a formal risk response system by September 29, 2027, tracking 100% of referrals in EPIC with 80% of youth successfully connected to services, providing postvention services within 72 hours of notification in 90% of cases, and conducting at least 12 culturally grounded activities annually with 85% participant satisfaction. Goal Three builds and sustains community-wide prevention capacity by training at least 150 individuals annually in C-SSRS, CALM, QPR, and TALK Saves Lives with 85% reporting increased confidence, and establishing and maintaining at least 10 formal partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies with documented quarterly coordination, launching by November 30, 2026.

The award runs through September 29, 2031, with place of performance in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Funding derives from the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance (CFDA 93.532).

Mcndh GLS project - the garrett LEE smith (GLS) grant will support comprehensive capacity-building efforts to strengthen youth suicide prevention and early intervention systems within the muscogee (creek) nation department of health (mcndhs) service area, the muscogee (creek) nation reservation. Through this funding, the MCN behavioral health services (mcnbhs) will expand youth suicide prevention services across three (3) goals: goal one (1): expands access to evidence-based, culturally appropriate prevention and treatment services. Objectives include universal screening of at least 90% of youth using standardized tools; technology integration (telehealth, 988 text) ensuring 75% of at-risk individuals receive documented caring contacts; training at least 100 healthcare providers with 85% demonstrating increased knowledge; and aligning 100% of program activities with samhsa strategic priorities, the national action alliance, oklahoma strategies for suicide prevention, and the maha strategy. All goal one activities must launch by december 31, 2026. Goal two (2): establish a suicide risk response system ensuring timely, safety-planned referrals to mental health care. Objectives include developing and annually updating a formal suicide risk response system by september 29, 2027; tracking 100% of referrals in epic with 80% of youth successfully connected to services; providing postvention services within 72 hours of notification in 90% of cases; and conducting at least 12 culturally grounded activities annually with 85% participant satisfaction. Goal three (3): builds and sustains community-wide prevention capacity. Objectives include training at least 150 individuals annually in c-ssrs, calm, QPR, and talk saves lives, with 85% reporting increased confidence; and establishing and maintaining at least 10 formal partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, with documented quarterly coordination. Training and collaborations launched by november 30, 2026, and continue through september 30, 2031. At the service delivery level, the mcnbhs will expand its suicide risk response system at the council OAK behavioral health clinic in tulsa and okmulgee. This expansion will improve the organization's ability to provide timely screening, crisis response, referral, and follow-up services, ensuring that youth identified as at-risk receive appropriate, coordinated care. Collectively, these efforts will build sustainable infrastructure to support long-term improvements in youth behavioral health outcomes and reduce suicide risk within the service area.