Expanding treatment and recovery support capacity for the txin kaangux̂ tribal healing to wellness court - the aleut community of ST

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island $137,161 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490). The award funds expansion of treatment and recovery support capacity for the Txin Kaangux Tribal Healing to Wellness Court, a tribal justice program serving justice-involved Alaska Native tribal members with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.

The project will strengthen screening and assessment, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, medications for opioid use disorder coordination, trauma-informed care, overdose prevention, recovery support services, recovery housing linkages, transportation assistance, family engagement, culturally grounded services, clinically informed drug testing, and coordinated case management. Services will reach justice-involved adult tribal citizens ages 18 and older with substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions, including those with alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, polysubstance use, trauma histories, and housing instability. The project targets 15–25 participants per year for a total of 105 served over the period of performance.

The Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island will deliver services across two geographic sites: Saint Paul Island (serving a population base of 320 people) and the Anchorage/Matanuska-Susitna borough region (serving approximately 1,200 ACSPI tribal members). The award runs through September 29, 2031, with place of performance at Anchorage, Alaska.

Paul island (ACSPI) will expand substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services for participants in its existing txin kaangux̂ tribal healing to wellness court (TKC). The project will strengthen treatment, recovery supports, overdose prevention, case coordination, drug and alcohol testing, housing assistance, and participant tracking for eligible tribal citizens in both ST. Paul island and anchorage/mat-SU region. Name: expanding treatment and recovery support capacity for the txin kaangux̂ tribal healing to wellness court geographic area served: ST. Paul island and anchorage/matanuska-susitna borough, alaska population size & number of people: ST. Paul island TKC serves a population of 320 people and anchorage/ mat-SU TKC serves approx. 1,200 ACSPI tribal members. ACSPI plans to serve 15-25 participants per year with a total of 105 participants served throughout the project. Age range & distribution: justice-involved rural and urban adult ACSPI tribal citizens (age 18+) with substance use disorders and/or CO-occurring substance use and mental health needs who are participating in or eligible for the TKC. We anticipate the majority of eligible applicants ranging in age from 25- 40 years old. Clinical characteristics: participants may present with alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, polysubstance use, CO-occurring mental health conditions, trauma histories, housing instability, and other recovery support needs. Strategies and interventions: the project will expand access to screening and assessment, evidence-based SUD treatment, moud/maud coordination, trauma-informed care, overdose prevention, recovery support services, recovery housing linkages, transportation, family engagement, culturally grounded services, clinically informed drug testing, and coordinated case management. Goal 1: expand access to SUD treatment and recovery support services for txin kaangux̂ healing to wellness court participants in ST. Paul and anchorage/mat-SU. Objective 1.1: provide comprehensive screening and assessment for 100% of participants that apply for the TKC. Objective 1.2: connect 100% of participants to clinically appropriate SUD treatment and recovery support services. Objective 1.3: ensure participants have access to moud and maud coordination when clinically indicated. Goal 2: strengthen overdose prevention, participant safety, and treatment engagement. Objective 2.1: provide overdose prevention education to 100% of TKC participants. Objective 2.2: provide or coordinate access to FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medication for TKC participants, as appropriate. Objective 2.3: implement clinically informed drug testing protocols to support accountability, treatment engagement, and participant safety. Goal 3: improve recovery stability through coordinated, culturally grounded support services. Objective 3.1: provide recovery support services, including transportation, housing support/referrals, case management, family engagement, employment/education linkage, and sober/cultural activities. Objective 3.2: use casebook software for reporting to monitor participant progress, service delivery, outcomes, and continuous quality improvement.