Circles of care: mental wellness project

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $350,000 to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532).

The Tribes will develop and operate a culturally anchored system of care—a coordinated network of supports designed to improve access, navigation, and early identification of behavioral health needs—serving Native American children, youth, and families residing on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and in the Fort Hall service area. The region encompasses approximately 1,673 Native youth and experiences significant behavioral health disparities driven by historical trauma, socioeconomic challenges, limited mental health infrastructure, and geographic isolation.

Key components include expanding trauma-informed and cultural healing services, implementing Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children Training, strengthening interagency coordination, and improving referral and screening processes. The Tribes will establish a Circle of Care Community Board within three months to guide system of care planning, with monthly meetings in year one and quarterly thereafter. They will provide at least two trauma-informed community trainings annually, offer eight cultural engagement workshops per year, and train staff and providers twice yearly. Extensive community engagement with youth, families, elders, and cultural leaders will shape priorities and ensure cultural relevance throughout the effort.

The period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2029, with place of performance at Fort Hall, Idaho 83203.

Abstract

Project name: circles of care: mental wellness project project summary: this project will develop a culturally anchored system of care (SOC)a coordinated network of supports designed to improve access, navigation, and early identification of behavioral health needs. IT will develop trauma-informed and cultural healing services, build cross-system partnerships which promotes resilience, and improves outcomes for native children on the fort hall indian reservation. Service population: native american children and youth (BIRTH-18) and their families residing in the fort hall indian reservation and fort hall service area. The region includes 1,673 native youth, the region experiences significant behavioral health disparities driven by historical trauma, socioeconomic challenges, limited mental health infrastructure, and geographic isolation. Strategies or interventions to be implemented: key components include expanding trauma-informed and cultural healing services, implement darkness to light's stewards of children® training, strengthening interagency coordination, and improving referral and screening processes. Extensive community engagement-youth, families, elders, cultural leaders will shape priorities and ensure cultural relevance. Smart goals & objectives: 1. Establish the circle of care community board specific: create a diverse governing board to guide system of care planning. Measurable: • board formed • monthly meetings in year 1; quarterly thereafter time bound: establish within 3 months, regular meetings ongoing through year 3 2. Expand access to culturally grounded, trauma informed services specific: increase availability of culturally anchored behavioral health supports, trauma informed care training, and traditional healing pathways. Measurable: • provide at least 2 trauma informed community trainings per year • offer 8 cultural engagement workshops annually • train staff and providers 2 times per year time bound: begin within first year, expand annually years 2-3 3. Strengthen cross system partnerships specific: formalize partnerships among schools, healthcare, justice systems, healthcare measurable: • 3 letters of commitment • quarterly interagency coordination meetings • service mapping tool developed by end of year 2 time bound: mapping tools completed by end of year 2 4. Increase early identification and reduce fragmented referrals specific: implement clear, coordinated referral and screening pathways for native youth at risk. Measurable: • reduce fragmented referral cases by 20% by year 3 • reduce time from referral → screening → navigation by measurable benchmarks • increase referrals to counseling and substance use treatment time bound: new pathways implemented by end of year 2, evaluation year 3 estimated number of people the project will serve year 1: 300 entire project: 450