Development and implementation of a sustainable care program designed as a net to catch people before they fall into a sea of despair. - the knik tribe, a federally recognized tribe serving dena'INA…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services) awarded the Knik Tribe $996,966 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to plan and design a family-driven, youth-guided, community-based system of care for American Indian and Alaska Native children, youth, and young adults from birth through age 25 and their families across Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Over three years, the Knik Tribe will convene a tribal community board, conduct a tribal SWOT analysis, host annual gatherings of Alaska Natives, build cross-system partnerships, and produce a written blueprint for a coordinated system of care that keeps AI/AN families together, connected to culture, and linked to effective mental health services. The work addresses capacity gaps within the tribe's existing child- and family-serving programs, including establishing a governing body with authority over the system of care, developing shared screening and referral pathways, creating interagency memoranda of understanding and data-sharing agreements, and building youth and family governance structures alongside a sustainability and workforce plan.

The project serves the Mat-Su Borough, a 28,682-square-mile region encompassing 29 communities in south-central Alaska, with particular focus on families involved with or at risk of involvement with Alaska's Office of Children's Services, including children at risk of out-of-home placement, children being reunified with parents, transition-age young adults aged 18–25, and youth and young adults at elevated risk for serious emotional disturbance, serious mental illness, and suicide.

Place of performance is Palmer, Alaska 99645. The period of performance runs through September 29, 2029.

Development and implementation of a sustainable care program designed as a net to catch people before they fall into a sea of despair. - the knik tribe, a federally recognized tribe serving dena'INA athabascan and other american indian and alaska native (AI/an) people across alaska's matanuska-susitna (mat-SU) borough, will plan and design a family-driven, youth-guided, community-based system of care (SOC) for AI/an children, youth, and young adults from birth through age 25 and their families. Over three years, the tribe will convene a tribal community board, conduct a tribal swot analysis, host annual gatherings of alaska natives, build cross-system partnerships, and produce a written blueprint for a coordinated SOC that keeps AI/an families together, connected to culture, and linked to effective mental health services. Geographic area and capacity development needed. The project serves the mat-SU borough, a 28,682-square-mile region of 29 communities in south-central alaska, home to 14.6% of the state's population. Knik tribe operates a broad array of child- and family-serving programs but lacks the coordinated infrastructure of a system of care: a governing body with authority over the SOC, shared screening and referral pathways, interagency memoranda of understanding and data-sharing agreements, youth and family governance, and a sustainability and workforce plan. This project builds that capacity. Population of focus. AI/an children, youth, and young adults (birth through 25) and their families in the mat-SU borough, with particular attention to families involved with, or at risk of involvement with, the office of children's services - including children at risk of out-of-home placement, children being reunified with their parents, transition-age young adults (18-25), and youth and young adults at elevated risk for serious emotional disturbance, serious mental illness, and suicide. The tribe has over 1,500 citizens and serves AI/an families across the borough regardless of tribal affiliation. This is a planning and capacity-building project; grant funds will not be used to provide direct clinical treatment services. Capacity-building strategies. Knik tribe will (1) convene a tribal community board of tribal officials, elders, child-serving agencies, providers, and youth and parents with lived experience; (2) conduct a tribal swot analysis with the butler institute for families using its nationally tested tribal organizational assessment; (3) host annual gatherings of alaska natives and community engagement and outreach grounded in dena'INA practice; (4) develop cross-system partnerships and interagency agreements spanning education, child welfare, behavioral health, law enforcement and juvenile justice, and crisis services including the 988 lifeline; and (5) produce a written SOC blueprint through a facilitated pathway to change process, including fiscal mapping and workforce development strategies. Project goals. (1) establish and sustain a tribal community board with youth and family leadership; (2) conduct a tribal swot analysis of the tribe's system for AI/an children, youth, and young adults; (3) strengthen belonging, resilience, and interconnectedness and raise community awareness of mental health and the SOC approach; (4) develop cross-system partnerships that let families navigate the borough's services seamlessly; and (5) produce a written blueprint for a comprehensive, community-based, family-driven and youth-guided SOC. Measurable objectives. Convene the board (≥15 members, ≥3 youth/young adults and ≥3 caregivers in voting seats) within 3 months; complete the swot analysis (≥50 participants) within 6 months; host ≥1 gathering of alaska natives per year (≥60 participants); train ≥75% of board organizations on the SOC framework by end of year 2; execute ≥5 cross-system mous by end of year 2; and complete the final written blueprint - addressing SOC geographic area, governance, cross-system partnerships, outreach/screening/referral processes, and the services the SOC will provide - by the end of year 3.