American Indian Alaska Native

From a Physician Assistant in Fairbanks to a Vending Machine in Interior Alaska: Witnessing Tribal Health Solutions Firsthand

After visiting tribal communities in interior Alaska, Deputy Secretary Hargan praised the quality of care at Alaska Native health facilities.
A key piece to success in serving the American people involves going to them in person and hearing what is important in their lives. That was the reason that a large delegation from HHS recently made the trip to the interior of Alaska.

Read more about From a Physician Assistant in Fairbanks to a Vending Machine in Interior Alaska: Witnessing Tribal Health Solutions Firsthand

AIAN

American Indian Alaska Native

community health

health care

HHS

opioids

Telehealth

Health and Human Services Department (HHS)

Preventing Youth Substance Use and Promoting Wellness in Native Communities

By: Frances M. Harding, Director, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Read more about Preventing Youth Substance Use and Promoting Wellness in Native Communities

Alaska Native

American Indian Alaska Native

American Indians

Native American Heritage Month

The Impact of Historical and Intergenerational Trauma on American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

By: Paolo del Vecchio, M.S.W., Director, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Trauma not only effects those who directly experience it, but also those in the generations that follow. Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart describes historical trauma as the “cumulative emotional and psychological wounding across generations, including the lifespan, which emanates from massive group trauma.”

Read more about The Impact of Historical and Intergenerational Trauma on American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

Alaska Native

American Indian

American Indian Alaska Native

GOAN

GONA

historical trauma

intergenerational trauma

Native American Heritage Month

native youth

Tribal

Generation Indigenous: Eliminating Barriers to Opportunity

By: Kana Enomoto, Acting Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Generation Indigenous, or Gen-I, as it is known in Indian Country, is an initiative aimed at improving the lives of Native youth by removing the barriers standing between them and their opportunity to success. Introduced by President Obama at the Tribal Nations Conference in December 2014, Gen-I was inspired by the President’s visit to the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Nation the previous June.

Read more about Generation Indigenous: Eliminating Barriers to Opportunity

AIAN

Alaska Natives

American Indian Alaska Native

American Indians

Native American Heritage Month

Tribal

Exploring Alternatives to Detention for American Indian/Alaska Native Youth

Many American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth involved in the juvenile justice system are experiencing a mental and/or substance use disorder. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, the juvenile justice system in AI/AN communities is not able to provide prevention and related services which would help to steer youth in a more positive direction. The good news is community leaders are working hard to find help and treatment for these young people early on so that they can lead healthy and successful lives and avoid the juvenile justice system altogether.