WAH-ZHA-ZHE youth system of care planning initiative - osage nation SI-SI a-PE-TXA respectfully requests $350,000 annually for three years through the substance abuse and mental health services…

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $350,000 to Osage Nation Si-Si A-Pe-Txa on September 30, 2026, through the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to develop the Wah-Zha-Zhe Youth System of Care Planning Initiative.

The recipient will establish infrastructure, partnerships, governance, and strategic framework for a comprehensive, culturally grounded, family-driven, youth-guided system of care serving American Indian and Alaska Native children, youth, young adults (birth through age 25), and their families throughout the Osage Nation service area. The project addresses fragmented behavioral health services, limited coordination among child-serving agencies, transportation barriers, workforce shortages, and inconsistent access to culturally responsive services for these populations.

Osage Nation Si-Si A-Pe-Txa, a federally recognized tribal government headquartered in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, will establish a Tribal Community Board composed of representatives from healthcare, behavioral health, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, tribal leadership, youth, families, elders, and community organizations to guide planning activities. A Wah-Zha-Zhe Youth Council will ensure youth voices remain central to project planning and decision-making. The organization currently operates integrated healthcare services including primary care, behavioral health, dental care, specialty medical services, preventive health programs, and community outreach.

The award obligates $350,000 with a performance period from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2029. Work is performed in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

WAH-ZHA-ZHE youth system of care planning initiative - osage nation SI-SI a-PE-TXA respectfully requests $350,000 annually for three years through the substance abuse and mental health services administration (samhsa) circles of care for american indian/alaska natives (AI/an) program to develop the WAH-ZHA-ZHE youth system of care planning initiative. The proposed project will establish the infrastructure, partnerships, governance, and strategic framework necessary to develop a comprehensive, culturally grounded, family-driven, youth-guided system of care (SOC) that improves coordination of behavioral health services for american indian and alaska native (AI/an) children, youth, young adults (birth through age 25), and their families throughout the osage nation service area. Osage nation SI-SI a-PE-TXA provides integrated healthcare services, including primary care, behavioral health, dental care, specialty medical services, preventive health programs, and community outreach. Despite these resources, significant behavioral health disparities remain. Children, youth, and families continue to experience fragmented systems of care, limited coordination among child-serving agencies, transportation barriers, workforce shortages, and inconsistent access to culturally responsive behavioral health services. The proposed project will strengthen the tribe's capacity to address these challenges through collaborative planning, meaningful community engagement, and development of a sustainable system of care that reflects the cultural values and priorities of the osage people. The project will establish a tribal community board composed of representatives from healthcare, behavioral health, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, tribal leadership, youth, families, elders, and community organizations to guide all planning activities. A WAH-ZHA-ZHE youth council will ensure that youth voices remain central to project planning and decision-making, while elders and cultural consultants will provide traditional knowledge and guidance to ensure that all activities are culturally responsive and grounded in osage traditions. Project activities will include completion of a comprehensive tribal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (swot) analysis, implementation of the community readiness model (CRM), community listening sessions, stakeholder surveys, interviews, focus groups, resource mapping, and a gathering of native americans (gona). These activities will identify behavioral health strengths, service gaps, barriers to care, and opportunities to strengthen coordination among healthcare providers, schools, juvenile justice, child welfare, tribal departments, and other child-serving systems. Findings from these planning activities will inform development of a comprehensive system of care blueprint that establishes a roadmap for future implementation. The blueprint will define governance structures, cross-system collaboration strategies, referral pathways, workforce development priorities, culturally responsive practices, youth and family engagement strategies, financing approaches, and long-term sustainability recommendations designed to improve behavioral health outcomes for AI/an children, youth, young adults, and families.