Tunica-biloxi circles of care - project name: tunica-biloxi circles of care geographic area: catchment area - avoyelles and rapides parish project summary: the tunica-biloxi circles of care project…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Tribal Office $324,135 under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) on September 30, 2026.

The Tunica-Biloxi Circles of Care project will develop a comprehensive tribal system of care for tribal youth and young adults ages 24 and under who suffer from behavioral and mental health disorders, serving the Avoyelles and Rapides Parish catchment area. The project integrates culturally-based practices with Western evidence-based practices through education and training of tribal employees and partner organizations in culturally appropriate service delivery. Key deliverables include establishment of a System of Care Board and tribal system blueprint to improve behavioral and mental health care coordination; 12 annual System of Care Board meetings; 12 policy and procedure changes to strengthen system coordination and cultural inclusion; and outreach to add 12 additional partner organizations providing mental health and behavioral services. Performance occurs in Marksville, Louisiana, through September 29, 2029. The project aims to expand the Tunica-Biloxi Health Department's capacity to deliver coordinated mental health and supportive services addressing the varied needs of children, youth, young adults, and families, with enhanced community involvement and partnership coordination across internal and local partners.

Tunica-biloxi circles of care - project name: tunica-biloxi circles of care geographic area: catchment area - avoyelles and rapides parish project summary: the tunica-biloxi circles of care project will create a comprehensive tribal system of care for tribal youth, young adults, and their children that suffer from behavioral and/or mental health disorders. This project aims to to educate and train tribal employees and partner organizations that are responsible for mental and behavioral health treatment in using culturally appropriate services when treating native american youth that involve both culturally-based practices with western evidence-based practices in creating a cohesive system of care that is community driven. Population of focus: tribal youth and young adults ages 24 and under. Strategies: development of a tribal system of care model that includes a system of care board and tribal system blueprint to improve care coordination of behavioral/mental healthcare service with internal and local partners, expand partnership and community involvement in service delivery, and educate treatment providers on culturally appropriate service delivery. Goal - 1 increase the tunica-biloxi health department capacity to deliver a coordinated network of effective mental health and essential supportive services organized to address and meet the varied needs of children, youth, and young adults (birth through age 25), and their families- objective 1 conduct 12 system of care bard meetings annually goal - 2 develop, implement and track organizational changes that include community involvement and cultural inclusion concerning treatment policies - objective 2 make 12 policy/procedure changes to improve system coordination. Goal -3 increase the number of partner organizations providing behavioral and mental health services to tribal youth and their families by conducting intense outreach, planning, and networking activities. Objective 3 - add 12 additional partner organizations. Goal - 4 develop and implement a training program for behavioral/mental health professionals (both tribal and partner organizations) on providing culturally appropriate services to tribal youth. Objective 4 - train 36 behavioral/mental health professional in providing culturally appropriate services.