2023 USET | BIA ERO | IHS NAO Partnership Meeting Wrap-up

Monday, June 12 (Pre-Meeting)

Youth Mental Health First Aid for Tribal Communities & Indigenous Peoples: A total of ten participants from Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Narragansett Indian Tribe, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, and USET THPS staff became certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid for Tribal Communities & Indigenous Peoples, a brand new curriculum insert released in April of this year. This 3-year national certification was created by the National Council of Mental Well Being. Participants completed an 8-hour training to learn how to recognize and respond to adolescents ages 12-18 in their communities who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis and identified risk factors and protective factors specific to youth in their communities. They also learned the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Action Plan (ALGEE) that teaches Mental Health First Aiders approaches to guide youth experiencing challenges or crisis to appropriate resources and professional help. The training was facilitated by USET’s own THPS Director, Onawa M. Miller, citizen of the Quechan Indian Tribe, and the first Native National Trainer for Mental Health First Aid.
Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS) Training for Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) Grantees: The five Tribal Nations represented during the 3-day training learned how to enter data into the Diabetes management system, run reports, and submit the annual diabetes audit.
Brackeen Post-Decision Implications
- Presentation
- Recording
Long-term Strategic Planning
- LTSP Summary
- Summarized Slide

Tuesday, June 13

Culture of Resiliency and Healing Roundtable Discussion: USET THPS staff facilitated a 2.5 hour discussion leading a ballroom-full of Tribal Leaders, federal agencies, member Tribal Nations, and USET staff through conversations and activities defining, recognizing, and fostering resiliency in our Tribal communities, relationships, and services. Four questions guided the time for interactive round-table discussions to happen and selected groups reported their answers after each question. Tony TenFingers, USET THPS Resiliency Support Specialist & Outreach Coordinator, shared a traditional story of resiliency that drew us into the importance of life lessons and the power in protecting and knowing our children. The opportunity to reach across the table with all USET partners and staff to champion our collective voice of hope and resiliency was powerful and further demonstrates “There is strength in unity.”
Infrastructure Development