SAMHSA News Release

 SAMHSA Press Releases
   
 

   
Date: October 11, 2002
Contact: SAMHSA Press Office 
Phone: 301-443-8956

 

 

$1.75 Million Awarded to Integrate Substance Abuse Treatment into Public Health for American Indian and Alaska Native Populations

  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced $1.75 million in grants to integrate substance abuse treatment with mental health, primary care and other public health services in American Indian, Alaska Native and rural communities.

"These grants will help expand access for appropriate care in rural and remote areas, particularly for those Indian people who are not eligible to receive services from the Indian Health Service," Secretary Thompson said.

The 7 grants are part of the targeted capacity expansion initiative of HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This program is designed to provide a rapid, strategic response to help local governments deal with current and emerging drug use trends, mental health needs or related public health problems at the earliest possible stages.

"American Indian and Alaska Native populations continue to report the highest rates of substance abuse and mental illness in our National Household Survey on Drug Abuse," SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie said. "These awards will help to integrate substance abuse treatment with other health programs in these communities."

Awards were given to:

  • American Indian Housing, Minneapolis, MN - $250,000 for Statewide tribal-urban chemical health planning to assist Minnesota agencies serving American Indians who are chronically homeless and chronically inebriated.
  • Takini Network, Rapid City, SD - $250,000 for planning for improved services for Lakota parents of the Medicine Root District on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Services will integrate two exemplary practices.
  • Maniilaq Association, Kotzebue, AK - $250,000 for twelve village joint planning for increased collaboration with local resources to promote natural helping village systems.
  • Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, AZ - $250,000 for a community driven, consensus building program that is consistent with traditional decision-making in the Gila River Indian Community.
  • Pueblo of Isleta, Isleta, NM - $250,000 to develop a comprehensive substance abuse treatment plan that is culturally appropriate and research grounded in best practices for Isleta members.
  • Round Valley Indian Health, Covelo, CA - $250,000 for community-based planning for inpatient substance abuse treatment for female American Indian youth ages 12-18 years old.
  • Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, Tacoma, WA - $250,000 for substance abuse treatment planning for Puyallup Tribal members and American Indian and Alaska Native populations in the Pierce County, Washington, service delivery area.
 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States. Information on SAMHSA's programs is available on this website, www.samhsa.gov. 
 
 

 

 

This page was last updated on 11 October, 2002
SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services