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Focused Training and Technical Assistance

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SAMHSA's Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center

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Focused training and technical assistance (TTA) is offered to SAMHSA tribal grantees, and is coordinated with partner programs that serve SAMHSA tribal grantees.

Types of Focused TTA

TTA is any assistance provided to increase knowledge, build community capacity, and enhance systems. Focused TTA includes training and events, virtual gatherings, and other kinds of assistance. The Tribal TTA Center uses the Strategic Cultural Framework to guide our work. SAMHSA tribal grantees can request this type of technical assistance.

Gathering of Native Americans/Gathering of Alaska Natives

The Gathering of Native Americans/Gathering of Alaska Natives (GONA/GOAN) is a Native-specific community prevention and strategic planning curriculum developed in the early 1990s by SAMHSA in partnership with American Indian and Alaska Native behavioral health experts. The GONA/GOAN has been used in a wide range of settings to move communities toward healing and to address issues related to planning and prevention. The curriculum facilitates community engagement by using the four themes of: Belonging, Mastery, Interdependence, and Generosity. It sets the foundation for community prevention planning in a way that is culturally appropriate and is also used to guide community discussions, support healing from historical trauma, and enhance local prevention capacity and efforts.

Learning Communities

Learning communities allow grantees to gather virtually through monthly webinars to discuss important topics. These events provide opportunities to talk, teach, share materials, and inspire each other as participants engage and learn from each other’s backgrounds and experience. Tribal grantees and audiences throughout Indian Country are invited to attend these free broadcasts. Themes and specific topics may include:

  • Community Readiness Assessment- An overview of the Community Readiness Model as it relates to suicide prevention
  • Research and Evaluation- Challenges with research and evaluation in Indian Country and how to address them
  • Generational Resilience- Using cultural strengths to bring about behavioral wellness and overcome historical trauma

Learning community webinars are recorded for future use and can be found on our Webinars page.

Technical Assistance

Focused technical assistance is available to SAMHSA tribal grantees via site visits, teleconferences, email, and webinars. We offer support in implementing grant activities, strengthening successful interventions, increasing community capacity, and evaluating efforts in a culturally appropriate manner. We offer onsite and web-based TTA and have a large consultant pool of American Indian and Alaska Native expert trainers that help with the delivery of TTA. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Increasing collaboration and capacity
  • Incorporating readiness in ongoing planning
  • Strengthening culture-based interventions
  • Engaging ongoing support from tribal leaders
  • Incorporating indigenous evaluation practices
  • Using digital storytelling for marketing and evaluation
  • Identifying resources for sustainable prevention

Request Focused TTA

The following steps outline how to request and receive Focused TTA services.

  1. Focused TTA Request
    A request begins by contacting the Tribal TTA Center through any one of the following methods:
  2. Intake Call: After your request, you will be contacted by a Tribal TTA Center staff member. During this call we will discuss your TTA needs and what will work best for your program and community. We offer onsite and Web-based TTA, and have a large consultant pool of American Indian and Alaska Native expert trainers available.
  3. SAMHSA Approval: Once we have details about the TTA that you need, we request approval from SAMHSA to move forward with training or an event.
  4. Planning Process: Upon receiving SAMHSA approval, we hold a series of calls between community members and Tribal TTA Center staff to set expectations, identify consultants, and decide on other logistics.
  5. Event: Tribal TTA Center staff and consultants join the community for the event.
  6. Follow Up: Tribal TTA Center staff will contact the tribe or community no later than six months following the training or event for follow up.

For more information, call the Tribal TTA Center at 1-800-953-1379 or Ta-Request@tribaltechllc.com.

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