Developing the miyo youth wellness program to address and prevent early substance use among youth

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded The Johns Hopkins University $1,488,970 in project grant funding on September 30, 2025, under the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.492) to develop and implement the Miyo Youth Wellness Program addressing and preventing early substance use among American Indian youth on and adjacent to Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation in Montana.

The project conducts a needs assessment to identify current substance use data and risk and protective factors among youth ages 0–18; builds capacity at the Rocky Boy Health Center's Miyo Youth Wellness Center through cross-sector partnerships and stakeholder engagement; and implements culturally congruent, evidence-based programming incorporating culture-based interventions that draw on traditional healing practices. Specific program interventions addressing the top three substances identified in the needs assessment will be shaped by Year 1 foundational activities. The service population includes youth residing on or adjacent to Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, most anticipated to be enrolled members of the Federally-recognized Chippewa-Cree Tribe.

Johns Hopkins serves as the prime recipient with administrative oversight in Baltimore, Maryland. Performance extends through September 29, 2030. The Rocky Boy Health Center functions as community consultant and sub-recipient (award dated January 5, 2026), engaging community stakeholders, leading decision-making for policies and practices, recruiting steering committee members, training clinic student interns to support Miyo Youth programming, and interpreting needs assessment findings to fit the local context.

Abstract

The project aims to prevent and reduce substance use among american indian youth by conducting a needs assessment, building capacity at the rocky BOY health center, and implementing evidence-based, culturally congruent programming. This includes incorporating culture-based interventions that draw on traditional healing practices to support the overall wellbeing of youth in the community. Project name: developing the miyo youth wellness program at the rocky BOY health center to address and prevent early substance use among american indian youth. Population of focus: our service population includes youth aged 0-18 residing on or adjacent to rocky BOY's indian reservation in montana, most of whom are anticipated to be enrolled members of the federally-recognized chippewa-cree tribe. Strategies and interventions: the project will utilize a combination of strategies and interventions designed to address substance use prevention and promote youth well-being, with specific interventions being shaped by the results of foundational activities in year 1, such as the needs assessment. Anticipated approaches involve culturally congruent programming that incorporates both evidence-based practices and culture-based interventions. Project goals: goal 1 is to assess and identify current substance use data and related risk and protective factors to prevent or reduce early substance use among american indian youth ages 018 on or adjacent to rocky BOY's indian reservation. Goal 2 focuses on building the capacity of the rocky BOY health center's miyo youth wellness center to establish cross-sector partnerships and engage key stakeholders to better serve youth. Goal 3 aims to identify and plan for program, policy, or practice interventions that address the top three substances identified by the needs assessment. Goal 4 is to implement culturally congruent, evidence-based programming to provide holistic health promotion services as part of the miyo youth wellness center. Goal 5 involves regularly evaluating goals, objectives, and methods to ensure community alignment with project plans and make necessary adjustments. Measurable objectives: key objectives include conducting a needs assessment to identify priority substances and risk factors, establishing advisory boards, and engaging with state and local prevention programs. Objectives include developing a comprehensive needs assessment report, a strategic plan, a logic model, and an implementation plan for culturally congruent programming. Objectives include developing and reviewing a strategic plan annually, establishing protocols for monitoring program implementation, and creating an evaluation plan with process and outcome measures. Number of people served annually throughout project lifetime: the first year is primarily community assessment, not intervention. As a result, we anticipate serving 25 people in year 1 and 200 people per year in years 2-5. Approximately 100 community members will be served through activities such as training for clinic student interns and adult service providers, or at community workshops. Across the total lifetime, this is 925 total unduplicated individuals are anticipated to be served by this project.