SAMHSA Native Connections Header

Native Connections

Training and Technical Assistance 

Self-Assessment

Each tribal and urban American Indian/Alaska Native community is unique and possesses different levels of infrastructure, planning structures, 

staffing, and financial, human, and cultural resources. The goal of the Native Connections (NC) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) SelfAssessment is to 1) help you assess your current strengths, skills, and knowledge for implementing your NC grant, and 2) help you identify 

additional TTA that would further strengthen your community’s prevention activities, protocols, and practices. 

Training is defined as a process of teaching someone a new skill. Technical assistance is a form of professional guidance and support. It uses tools, 

promotes accountability, and focuses on achieving the goals of the grant. Technical assistance is a collaborative and interactive process that serves 

as a sounding board for ideas and helps grantees implement grant activities. It is a process of coaching, guiding, and empowering that respects 

grantees’ capability and pace. The goal is to help grantees be successful in completing their grant requirements.

Your NC Coordinator will help you review the NC TTA Self-Assessment, check the boxes accordingly and add any pertinent information. This 

process may need to happen over a series of calls. Once complete, you and your NC Coordinator can prioritize your TTA needs. We encourage you 

to utilize and even adapt this tool in the future to assist you in determining your TTA needs for this and other grants. We look forward to providing 

TTA to help you fulfill the goals of your grant. Thank you for your assistance in conducting this brief self-assessment of your TTA needs and 

preferences. "ri Substoooo Abu,e ood Me..,, Health SoN;ces Adm;o;,.,Uon 

~SAMHSA 

www.samhsa.gov • 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) 
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Section 1

Infrastructure, staff hiring, and training Please enter your TTA needs 

We have adequate equipment, laptops, and phone service 

with speaker phone for receiving emails and participating in 

conference calls.

We are comfortable with webinar technology and have 

successfully joined webinars with few technical issues.

We sometimes have connection problems when joining 

webinars due to internet access, weather, vague connection 

instructions or other issues. 

We have developed and delivered webinars.

We currently have job descriptions for grantee positions.

We have developed an orientation and training plan for NC

staff.

We anticipate some barriers to hiring staff in a timely manner 

and need assistance with alternative strategies for meeting the 

needs of the grant. 

We have identified volunteers (including elders, youth, and 

community members) to assist us with outreach and program 

tasks.

What additional information about staff training and hiring 

would you add?

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Section 2

Identifying potential community stakeholders and 

advisory group membership Please enter your TTA needs 

We have developed a flyer and introductory email about our 

NC grant and community vision to engage stakeholders. 

We currently have a coalition or advisory group in place for

our NC grant.

We have a plan for identifying potential partners from 

tribal leadership, community organizations, and cultural 

groups.

We currently have MOU/MOAs in place with organizations to 

assist us with grant implementation and ongoing prevention 

activities in the community. 

We have developed specific strategies for engaging youth in 

advisory groups and other prevention activities including 

planning and implementation.

We have developed a relationship with the school(s).

We have identified space and other resources for meetings 

and trainings.

We would like TTA for sustaining partners’ involvement.

We currently meet or plan to meet with the Tribal Council or 

other administrative body on a regular basis to present 

information on grant activities, including staff hiring and 

training. 

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What additional information would you like about advisory 

group development and potential partners?

Section 3

Community assessment and readiness Please enter your TTA needs 

We have conducted a Community Readiness Assessment 

using the Community Readiness Model (CRM) in the past 

(please list dates of your most recent assessment.) 

We have received CRM training in the past (please list all 

staff/advisory panel members who have been trained.)

We have conducted needs assessments in the past. 

We have experience with other types of community 

assessments (please list.)

We have limited experience conducting community 

assessments but have some knowledge the community at 

large, including community systems, programs, and

stakeholders.

What additional information would you like about 

community assessment and readiness? 

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Section 4

Collecting data on suicide and substance abuse 

prevention Please enter your TTA needs

We have a system for collecting data from schools, health and 

mental health service providers, and other local sources about 

suicide and substance misuse in our community.

We have experienced barriers to collecting local data related 

to agency restrictions and other issues.

We do not currently collect data locally but have access to 

statewide and national data related to substance misuse and 

suicide. 

What additional information would you like about data 

collection?

Section 5

Youth engagement and youth leadership 

development Please enter your TTA needs

We currently have an active youth council or youth group 

that provides input for our community prevention planning 

and implementation.

We have developed and utilized strategies to engage youth 

and sustain their involvement in prevention planning and 

activities.

We have access to training on youth engagement and youth 

leadership development (i.e. UNITY, etc.)

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We have an ongoing youth leadership development program 

in our community.

We have experienced barriers to engaging youth in our 

community.

What additional information would you like about youth 

engagement and youth leadership?

Section 6

Developing strategic action plans Please enter your TTA needs 

The tribe/community currently has a Tribal Action Plan (TAP) 

in place, or is currently working to develop a TAP under the 

Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA.)

We currently have a strategic action plan in place related to 

substance abuse and suicide prevention.

We have experience with developing logic models to include 

in strategic action plans. 

We have received training in developing strategic action plans 

including developing SMART goals and objectives.

We have developed a mission and vision statement for our 

prevention program.

What additional information would you add about 

developing strategic action plans?

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Section 7

Public Health Approach Please enter your TTA needs

We have a good understanding of the Public Health 

Approach in prevention.

Our strategic plan will reflect a tiered I, II, and/or III 

(universal, selected, and indicated) prevention approach.

We have identified risk and protective factors of substance 

abuse and suicide in our community.

We have experience aligning interventions with risk and 

protective factors when developing strategic plans. 

What additional information would you like about the public 

health approach?

Section 8

Trauma-informed approaches and practices Please enter your TTA needs 

We are currently implementing trauma-informed practices 

within our health, mental health, and health related services 

and systems.

We have received training on trauma-informed approaches 

and practices but have not yet implemented them within our 

heath, mental health, and health related services.

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Our trauma informed approaches and practices are aligned 

with our cultural values and beliefs.

What additional information would you like about traumainformed approaches and practices?

Section 9

Implementation of community trainings and best 

practices Please enter your TTA needs 

We currently provide substance misuse, suicide prevention,

and other wellness trainings that strengthen grant activities 

(please list the names of available trainers or contact numbers 

for organizations providing training.) 

We have access to substance misuse, suicide prevention, and 

wellness trainings and resources through community partners 

and other organizations (please list organizations that provide 

training.) 

We have identified training(s) and a schedule to implement 

the grant.

We have access to tools/resources to determine if evidencebased and practice-based interventions/trainings will align 

with our tribal and cultural values and best practices.

We are interested in additional prevention training(s) to build 

the capacity of our community. 

What additional information would you like about 

implementation of community trainings and best practices?

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Section 10

Developing protocols, policies and procedures for 

substance misuse and suicide prevention. Please enter your TTA needs

We have policies and procedures in place related to substance 

misuse and suicide prevention. (Please list the policies and 

procedures you currently have in place.) 

We have a postvention plan in place to address and prevent 

suicide during a crisis (if possible, please share a copy of your 

postvention plan.)

We are familiar with the policies of other agencies that relate 

to substance misuse and suicide prevention, i.e. Indian Health 

Service, tribal clinic, urban health centers, etc. 

We are familiar with how to make policy and procedure 

changes in our community related to substance misuse and 

suicide.

We are not sure what policies, procedures, and protocols exist 

in our community related to substance misuse and suicide. 

What additional information would you like related to 

policies, procedures, and protocols for substance misuse and 

suicide prevention?

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We value your feedback and input to help guide us in better serving you.

Was this tool helpful?

How could we improve the NC TTA Self-Assessment?

Please share what additional information you would like to provide about your TTA needs and preferences:

Thank you!

NC Coordinator’s Notes:

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