A Letter of Welcome!

It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome you to the first edition of 

the Prevention & Recovery newsletter. This publication is intended to 

highlight successful practices and stories in Indian Country. Its purpose 

is to inform you on the issues of alcohol and drug abuse in order to help 

provide you with the tools, resources, and information needed to prevent 

and address issues of alcohol and drug abuse in your communities.

As some of you know, the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse 

Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee (IASA Committee) was 

established in July 2011 as a result of the Tribal Law and Order Act of 

(TLOA) 2010. This committee is comprised of senior level representatives 

from the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse 

and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Indian 

Health Service (IHS), the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian 

Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and the Department of 

Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office of Tribal Justice 

(OTJ). These bureaus and offices are collaborating on the committee 

and coordinating their resources and programs in order to assist 

American Indian and Alaska Native communities in achieving their goals 

in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of alcohol and substance 

abuse. More background information on TLOA and its progress can be 

accessed at www.samha.gov/tloa/.

In order to facilitate the dissemination of information, TLOA asks for an 

interagency collaboration. One component of the collaboration involves 

a subcommittee that will produce the newsletter for you. The newsletter 

workgroup is chartered with the primary goal of reporting on Indian 

alcohol and substance abuse projects and programs.

So that you are aware, this newsletter will: be published quarterly, 

include reviews of exemplary alcohol and substance abuse programs, 

provide information to enable people to gain other information about 

programs, and be circulated without charge to you. The interagency 

council will work together to disseminate this newsletter electronically 

in order to reach schools, tribal offices, BIA regional offices and agencies, 

IHS area and service unit offices, IHS alcohol programs, and other entities 

providing alcohol and substance abuse-related services or resources to 

American Indians and Alaska Natives. The newsletter will primarily be an 

online document. It will be available on the new SAMHSA IASA website, 

www.samhsa.gov/tloa/. We encourage you to visit the website for more 

information about resources related to alcohol and drug abuse.

This newsletter serves as an opportunity to not only inform you about 

current successes in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse, but also as 

an opportunity for you to respond to us regarding your achievements. 

We have an open-door policy; please submit any articles, stories, 

comments, questions, or suggestions to us and we will do our best to 

continue to improve this newsletter. Please send submissions to the 

Newsletter Workgroup co-chairs: Gloria Mora at Gloria.Mora@bia.gov, 

or (202) 513-7619 and Juanita Keesing at Juanita.Keesing@bie.edu, or 

(202) 208-3559. 

We hope you find this information helpful and we encourage you to 

share it with your communities.

With warm regards,

The IASA Newsletter Workgroup

Dear Tribal Leaders, Communities, and all Interested Individuals

Prevention &

Recovery

A Multi-Agency Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Collaboration 

Volume 1, Number 1 Fall Issue 2011

A Quarterly Newsletter

Administration for Native Americans - Administration on Aging - Bureau of Indian Affairs

Bureau of Indian Education - Indian Health Service - Office of Justice Programs

Office of Tribal Justice - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities
Connect, Inform, and Empower Connect, Inform, and Empower

2 3

The Tribal Action Plan (TAP) &

Technical Assistance (TA)

MO$ Launched to Reduce Tribal 

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Problems

Feature Story

Clearinghouse

Information In this issue:

Newsletter Workgroup

A Letter of Welcome 1

New Approach Launched to Reduce Alcohol 

 and Substance Abuse Problems 2

Clearinghouse Information 3

The Tribal Action Plan & Technical Assistance 3

Action Summit for Suicide Prevention 2011 4

IHS-funded Youth Regional Treatment Centers 5-6

Wellness in the Bering Sea 7

Using Art to Raise Awareness About Behavioral 

 Health 7

VA: A Key Treatment Resource for Vets in Indian Country 8 

Tribal and Indian Country Justice and Safety 9

Spotlight on Youth: OJJDP Youth Summit 10

IASA Prevention Resources and Services 11

Important Dates and Federal Contacts 12

LEADERSHIP: 

Gloria T. Mora, Chair 

BIA

(202) 513-7619

Gloria.Mora@bia.gov

MEMBERS:

Juan-Carlos Aviles

SAMHSA

(240) 276-2127

Juan-carlos.Aviles@

samhsa.hhs.gov

Nicholas BirdsHead

IHS

(301) 443-1479

Nicholas.Birdshead@ihs.

gov

Florence Dwek 

SAMHSA

(240)-276-2574

Flo.Dwek@samhsa.hhs.gov

Monica A. Evans

SAMHSA

(240) 276-1130

Monica.Evans@samhsa.

hhs.gov

Juanita M. Keesing, 

Co-Chair

BIE

(202) 208-3559

Juanita.Keesing@bie.edu

Meg Graves

AoA

202-357-3502

Margaret.Graves@aoa.

hhs.gov

Fredericka Joseph

BIA

(202) 208-3587

Fredericka.Joseph@bia.gov

Mary Kate Markano

DoJ

(202) 307-6378

Mary.Markano@usdoj.gov

Dennis O. Romero, MA

SAMHSA 

(240) 276-2495 

Dennis.Romero@samhsa.

hhs.gov

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration provides a number of resources related to 

issues of prevention and recovery. The following resources 

and more are found at the SAMHSA store at http://store.

samhsa.gov/.

Examples of available publications/resources:

1) American Indian and Alaska Native Culture Card: A 

guide to enhance cultural competence in dealing with 

American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

http://store.samhsa.gov/product/American-Indian-andAlaska-Native-Culture-Card/SMA08-4354

2) To See the Great Day that Dawns: Preventing Suicide 

by American Indian and Alaska Native Youth and Young 

Adults

http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Preventing-Suicide-byAmerican-Indian-and-Alaska-Native-Youth-and-YoungAdults/SMA10-4480

3) American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian 

Resource Kit: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

http://store.samhsa.gov/product/American-Indian-AlaskaNative-Native-Hawaiian-Resource-Kit-Fetal-AlcoholSpectrum-Disorders-FASD-/SMA07-4264

4) Substance Use among American Indian or Alaska Native 

Adolescents: The National Survey of Drug Use and Health 

(NSDUH) Report, October 4, 2011

http://store/samhsa.gov/product/The-NSDUH-ReportOctober-4-2011-Substance-Use-among-American-Indianor-Alaska-Native-Adolescents/NSDUH11-1004-3

5) U.S. Department of Justice Tribal Justice and Safety 

videos at http://www.justice.gov/tribal/videos.html.

6) Learn how to work more effectively with Tribal 

Governments in your community for FREE with online 

training! “Working Effectively with Tribal Governments” 

at http://tribal.golearnportal.org/.

As alcoholism and other drug abuse continues to impact American Indians and Alaska Natives, 

all of our Federal partners are committed to supporting a holistic framework that reinforces 

the belief that the mind, body, and spirit are all connected to health and that tribes know best 

how to solve their own problems through prevention activities, community partnerships and 

collaborating with other agencies in prevention and treatment efforts. The Tribal Action Plan 

assists tribes in coordinating resources and programs to assist them in achieving their prevention, 

intervention, and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse goals.

The Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse partner agencies, in the spirit of collaboration 

and cooperation, are committed to providing technical expertise to tribes in support of the 

development of their TAPS. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 

(SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) resources, for example, can provide 

technical expertise to tribes at different stages of TAP development and prevention program 

implementation, using a variety of model frameworks that may be useful for tribal communities 

when planning and implementing their TAPS.

Any TAP may, among other things provide for:

• An assessment of the scope of the problem of alcohol and drug abuse for the tribe 

which adopted the resolution or other equivalent enactment,

• The identification and coordination of available resources and programs relevant to 

alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment,

• The establishment and prioritization of the goals, and the efforts to meet those goals, 

the identification of community stakeholders and family roles in any of the efforts 

undertaken as part of the TAP, 

• The establishment of procedures for amendment and revision of the plan as may be 

determined necessary by the tribal coordinating committee, at the local level, and

• An evaluation component to measure the success of efforts made.

The detailed SAMHSA’s Collaborative for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) 

and the Native American Center for Excellence (NACE) Support for Tribes Pursuing Tribal Action 

Plans under the Tribal Law and Order Act, as well as the Tribal Action Plan Guidelines 2011, may 

be found at http://www.samhsa.gov/TLOA/index.aspx.

SAMHSA’s TA providers can leverage resources to provide access to relevant prevention materials, 

tools (including needs assessment and evaluation tools) via their websites, offer collaborative 

workshops at major conferences, or offer an opportunity to create “Learning Communities.” 

Learning communities provide a platform for transmission of learning from one member and 

community to another. SAMHSA providers can engage in meaningful dialogues and exchanges 

about the creation of TAPs.

SAMHSA/CSAP resources can provide technical expertise to tribes at different stages of TAP 

development and prevention program implementation. CSAP’s resources, however, does not 

cover the full spectrum of resources and TA that the 565 federally recognized tribes will need to 

develop and implement a TAP. The Office of Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse will be able to 

assist interested tribes in identifying resources from other IASA Federal agencies to supplement 

these SAMHSA/CSAP resources in support of tribes developing TAPs.

The SAMHSA’s CAPT and the NACE Support for Tribes Pursuing Tribal Action Plans under the Tribal 

Law and Order Act may serve our other federal partners (IHS, DOI/BIA, DOI/BIE, DOJ/OJP) well as 

a template for how to best identify and leverage agency resources in support of the development 

of TAPs. 

Friday, August 5, 2011

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) 

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar 

announced a new federal framework to assist American Indian and Alaska Native communities 

in achieving their goals in the prevention, intervention and treatment of alcohol and substance 

abuse.

The framework, captured in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by Attorney General 

Holder, Secretary Sebelius and Secretary Salazar was published in the Federal Register: 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-05/pdf/2011-19816.pdf. It was called for in the Tribal 

Law and Order Act of 2010, which President Obama signed into law in July 2010.

The MOA describes how the Office of Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse established in HHS’ 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will coordinate tribal 

substance abuse programs across the federal government with a special emphasis on promoting 

programs geared toward reaching youth and offering alternatives to incarceration.

“A truly holistic approach is necessary when addressing substance abuse in Indian Country 

because we know that where alcohol and substance abuse are prevalent, public safety concerns 

are similarly prevalent,” said Attorney General Holder. “This new office will help further the 

commitment of the Justice Department and our partner agencies to build and sustain safe, 

secure and healthy tribal communities.”

“Alcoholism and addiction are among the most severe public health and safety problems facing 

American Indian and Alaska Native people,” said HHS Secretary Sebelius. “It doesn’t have to be 

this way. With help that is based in the rich Indian culture these conditions just like other heath 

conditions can be successfully prevented and treated.” 

“There is a clear need to align, leverage, and coordinate federal resources so that we can best 

support tribal efforts to build healthy and safe communities,” said DOI Secretary Salazar. “This 

new office will serve as the federal focal point for this critically important work.” 

An interdepartmental coordinating council will guide the overall direction of the new federal 

effort to improve its work with tribal communities beginning with determining the scope of the 

problem – identifying and assessing national, state, tribal and local alcohol and substance abuse 

programs and resources; and creating standards for programs.

“The collaboration among agencies and departments that got us to this announcement today 

is already paying off,” SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde said. “Our work with tribal 

communities has resulted in a new $50 million budget proposal in 2012 for Tribal Prevention 

Grants, better understanding of law enforcement and judicial training needs, and serious new 

work and investments in suicide prevention in Indian country.”

Department of Justice. (2011, August 5). New approach launched to reduce tribal alcohol and 

substance abuse problems [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/

August/11-ag-1023.html.
Connect, Inform, and Empower Connect, Inform, and Empower

4 5

2011Action Summits for Suicide Prevention

Feature Story Treatment and Mental Health

Indian Health Service (IHS)-Funded

Youth Regional Treatment Centers List of Treatment Centers 

(Continued on next page)

Office of Indian Alcohol and 

Substance Abuse

http://www.samhsa.gov/tloa

Aberdeen Area Youth Regional Treatment Center

12451 Hwy 1806

Mobridge, SD 57601

Phone: 605-845-7181/Fax: 605-845-5072

Director: Lavon Booth

Email: lavon.booth@ihs.gov

Desert Visions Youth Wellness Center

P.O. Box 458

198 S. Skill Center Road

Sacaton, AZ 85147

Phone: 520-562-4205/Fax: 520-562-3415

Director: Holly Elliott

Email: holly.elliott@ihs.gov

GRAF Rheeneerhaanjii Adolescent Treatment Facility

2550 Lawlor Road, P.O. Box 80450

Fairbanks, AK 99708

Phone: 907-455-4725/Fax: 907-456-4849

Director: Ben Ramos-Nieves

Email: bramos-nieves@fairbanksnative.org

Jack Brown Youth Regional Treatment Center

P.O. Box 948

Tahlequah, OK 74464

Phone: 918-453-5500/Fax: 918-458-0499

Director: Darren Dry

Email: darren-dry@cherokee.org

The Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations

5600 East 8th Avenue

Spokane, WA 99212

Phone: 509-533-6910/Fax: 509-535-2863

Director: Martina Whelshula 

Email: martinaw@healinglodge.org

Website: www.healinglodge.org

Klamath Falls Youth Regional Treatment Center

121 Iowa Street

Klamath Falls, OR 97601

Phone: 541-882-1863/Fax: 541-882-1670

Health General Manager: Leroy Jackson Jr.

Ljackson@klm.portland.ihs.gov

KYRTC Program Director: 

Shawna Fay Gallagher

Email: shawna.gallagher@klm.portland.ihs.gov

“Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for 

Youth: A Practitioner’s Guide” is designed to 

help health care professionals quickly identify 

youth at risk for alcohol-related problems. 

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and 

Alcoholism developed the Guide and Pocket 

Guide in collaboration with the American 

Academy of Pediatrics, a team of underage 

drinking researchers and clinical specialists, and 

practicing health care professionals. 

Youth Talking Circle Jack Brown Youth Regional Treatment Center.

Participants at the Alaska Action Summit.

Participants at the Action Summit in Scottsdale.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), Bureau of Indian 

Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), 

and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA) hosted two Action Summits 

for Suicide Prevention. The first was held August 1-4, 

2011, in Scottsdale, AZ, and the second was held in 

Anchorage, AK, from October 25-27, 2011. In total, 

more than 1,000 people attended both Summits 

which brought together nationally recognized 

speakers, behavioral health providers, tribal leaders, 

health care providers, law enforcement, first 

responders, school personnel, and many others. 

They gathered to develop and strengthen new or 

existing collaborations, gather information on best 

and promising practices, collect information on the most up-to-date research on suicide and 

substance abuse prevention, intervention, and aftercare, and share personal experiences in 

addressing suicide and substance abuse in Indian Country. 

The Summits themes, “Partnering with Tribes to Protect the Circle of Life” and “Partnering with 

Alaska Native People to Protect the Circle of Life,” focused on the importance of collaboration 

among tribal, federal, state, and community- and program-level leadership to promote American 

Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) behavioral health. Emphasizing an action-oriented approach to 

suicide and substance abuse prevention, the Summits included a wide array of learning tracks on 

suicide and substance abuse, powerful presentations from youth suicide prevention programs, 

the presentation of two national strategic plans on behavioral health and suicide prevention, 

and the inclusion of the second IHS Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) 

Annual Meeting. Highlights from the Summits included: the availability of 60 different workshops 

and 21 training opportunities, dynamic poster sessions, an awards ceremony, a suicide survivor 

walk entitled “Walk for Life,” and the creation of a suicide and substance abuse prevention toolkit. 

Leading up to the Summits, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. 

Department of the Interior (DOI) held 10 tribal suicide prevention listening sessions across Indian 

Country - from November 2010 through February 2011 - to gather input on their agencies could 

effectively work in partnership with AI/AN communities to prevent suicide. The tribal listening 

sessions provided important information on suicide prevention needs, concerns, programs, and 

promising practices. Information obtained from the listening sessions was utilized as a foundation 

for the planning of the Summits. This work will pave the way for partnerships with other Federal 

partners including the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) Suicide Prevention Office, the 

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and the Action Alliance AI/AN Task Force.

Toolkit information for the Scottsdale Summit can be found under the “Presentations” tab at 

http://www.ihs.gov/suicidepreventionsummit/. Presentations and toolkits from the Alaska 

Summit will be available at http://www.ihs.gov/suicidepreventionsummit/alaska/. These websites 

will be updated frequently. 

The mission statement of the Youth Regional Treatment Centers (YRTCs) is:

“To provide quality holistic Behavioral Health care for American Indian/Alaska Native 

adolescents and their families in a substance-free residential environment that integrates 

traditional healing, spiritual values, and cultural identification.”

The Indian Health Service (IHS) 

currently provides recurring funding 

to eleven tribal and federally 

operated YRTCs to address the ongoing issues of substance abuse 

and co-occurring disorders among 

American Indian/Alaska Native youth. 

Through education and culture-based 

prevention initiatives, evidence-and 

practice-based models of treatment, 

family strengthening, and recreational 

activities, youth can overcome their 

challenges and recover their lives to 

become healthy, strong, and resilient 

leaders in their communities. 

 

Of the eleven IHS-funded YRTCs, five are federally operated:

• Aberdeen Area Youth Regional Treatment Center “Chief Gall”, SD

• Desert Visions Youth Wellness Center, AZ

• Nevada Skies Youth Wellness Center, NV

• New Sunrise Youth Regional Treatment Center, NM

• Unity Healing Center, NC

Six are tribally operated:

• GRAF Rheeneerhaanjii Adolescent Treatment Facility, AK

• The Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations, WA

• Jack Brown Youth Regional Treatment Center, OK

• Klamath Falls Youth Regional Treatment Center, OR

• Navajo Regional Behavioral Health Center, NM

• Raven’s Way Treatment Center, AK

In 2014, IHS is expected to open two new YRTCs in California: one will operate in the North 

and one in the South.

The YRTCs provide a range of clinical services rooted in a culturally relevant holistic model of 

care. These services include: clinical evaluation, substance abuse education, group, individual 

and family psychotherapy, art therapy, adventure-based counseling, life skills, medication 

management or monitoring, evidenced-based/practice-based treatment, aftercare relapse 

prevention, and post-treatment follow-up services.

For more information on the Youth Regional Treatment Centers, please contact Skye Bass, MSW, 

at (301) 443–2051. You may also email Skye at skye.bass@ihs.gov. 

 Photo courtesy of Connie Leeds

Top photo courtesy of Ernest Murray. Bottom photo 

courtesy of Indian Health Service.
Connect, Inform, and Empower Connect, Inform, and Empower

6 7

Treatment and Mental Health

Continued List of 

Treatment Centers

Indian Health Service (IHS)-Funded

Youth Regional Treatment Centers

Using Art To Raise 

Awareness About 

Behavioral Health

Highlighted Tribal Program

Wellness in the Bering Sea

Navajo Regional Behavioral Health Center

P.O. Box 1830

Shiprock, NM 87420

Phone: 505-515-9969/Fax: 505-368-1467

Director: Vera John

Email: vera.john@nrbhc.com

Nevada Skies Youth Wellness Center

P.O. Box 280

104 Big Bend Ranch Road

Wadsworth, NV 89442

Phone: 775-352-6843/Fax: 775-575-3180

Holly Elliott, CEO

Director: Kay Culbertson 

Email: kay.culbertson@ihs.gov

New Sunrise Youth Regional Treatment Center

P.O. Box 219

San Fidel, NM 87049

Phone: 505-552-5505/Fax: 505-552-5530

Director: Gregory Dobbs

Email: gregory.dobbs@ihs.gov

Raven’s Way Treatment Center

222 Tongass Drive

Sitka, AK 99835

Phone: 907-966-8719/Fax: 907-966-8723

Director: Rebecca Howe

Email: rebecca.howe@searhc.org

Website: www.searhc.org/ravensway

Unity Healing Center

488 Sequoyah Trail Drive

P.O. Box C-201

Cherokee, NC 28719

Phone: 828-497-3958/Fax: 828-497-6826

Director: Hillane (Rebecca) Lambert

Email: rebecca.lambert@ihs.gov

All YRTC photos are courtesy of the individual center.

This summer, SAMHSA unveiled a painting by 

award-winning artist Sam English, who was 

chosen to create this painting because of his 

familiarity with the prevention and recovery 

population. His painting echoes SAMHSA’s four 

core messages: “Behavioral health is essential 

to health,” “Prevention works,” “Treatment is 

effective,” and “People recover.” 

The painting was commissioned to help raise 

awareness about the roles families and the 

community in preventing of mental illness and 

substance use disorders. Born on June 2, 1942, 

in Phoenix, AZ, Mr. English’s parents are Blanche 

Marie Delorme English, Turtle Mountain Band 

of Chippewa Indians of Belcourt, ND, and 

Samuel Elliot English, a member of the Red Lake 

Band of Chippewa Indians, Red Lake, MN. On 

the younger Mr. English’s website, he describes 

his life as an artist and his decision to stop 

drinking saying “I took my first drink at age 14, 

to be part of a crowd. . . . That first drink lasted 

for 25 years until I was 39.” These days, Mr. 

English says, his art is a healing process. He’s 

been in recovery since 1981.

Please send us ideas for projects to highlight. 

We would love to feature your community’s 

successes. Your summaries should be sent to 

Gloria Mora or Juanita Keesing at the contact 

information noted on page 2.

Adventure-Based Therapy Raven’s Way Treatment Center 

Photo courtesy of Raven’s Way Treatment Center.

SAMHSA Administrator Pam Hyde with Sam English

 Photo courtesy of Juan-Carlos Aviles

(1) The Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations, (2) Klamath Falls Youth Regional Treatment 

Center, (3) Aberdeen Area Youth Regional Treatment Center “Chief Gall”,

(4) Nevada Skies Youth Wellness Center, (5) Desert Visions Youth Wellness Center,

(6) Navajo Regional Behavioral Health Center, (7) New Sunrise Youth Regional Treatment 

Center, (8) Jack Brown Youth Regional Treatment Center, (9) Unity Healing Center, (10) GRAF 

Rheeneerhaanjii Adolescent Treatment Facility, (11) Raven’s Way Treatment Center

“Helping out a young person while they 

are in treatment, while they are working so 

hard at changing their life, tells them that the 

world out there cares about them. That goes 

a long way in helping them realize they are 

not alone – that they matter.”

—Martina Whelshula, YRTC Director of The 

Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations

“I seriously never thought I would come 

this far, but I have learned to keep going, 

push myself, and to keep things simple and 

especially take it one day at a time.”

—Anonymous student, Unity Healing

Center

“It showed me I can do it, beat the odds 

of drug addiction problems in my life.”

—Anonymous student, Raven’s Way

3

1

2

7

5

8

6

4

9

10

11

September 30, 2011

The Tribal Government of St. Paul Island (TGSPI), located 800 miles west of Anchorage in the 

Bering Sea, first received the federal Indian Alcohol Substance Abuse Program grant from the the 

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in 2008. In September 2010, the tribe was awarded funding to 

continue the program for another three years. Since its inception, the program has accomplished 

exceptional progress towards health and wellness in the St. Paul Island community.

The Strategic Planning Advisory Board (SPAB) established the St. Paul Wellness Drug Court. 

Tribal citizens are referred to the wellness court, participate in the tribal justice system and given 

a rehabilitative sentence to help them deal with their issues. Depending on the need, citizens 

then participate in prevention and education courses, behavioral counseling and/or off-island 

treatment, to comply with the court’s expectations. 

In addition, we established the Prime for Life program. Its goal is to help people reduce their risk 

of any type of alcohol or drug problem. It also focuses on self-assessment to help participants 

understand and accept the need to make changes to protect the things most valuable to them. 

The program examines lifestyle-related health and impairment problems by studying the four 

phases of use.

We also expanded the tribal enforcement activities to monitor program participants. By using 

a multi-disciplinary team approach and community policing model, local enforcement officers 

are starting to track participant progress, setting goals, creating safety plans, and monitoring 

class attendance. The one-on-one relationship created with participants, and culturally sensitive 

monitoring provided, have been key assets for client success. 

Citizens of the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island and their tribal government have greatly 

benefitted from the creation and implementation of the local Wellness Drug Court through 

BJA funding. Our mission is to continue the positive and systematic progress so that our tribal 

members can enjoy greater health and wellness. 

Ozzy E. Escarate

Tribal Health & Human Services Director Photo Courtesy of Leslie Jensen

oteescarate@tgspi.com

 

Tribal contact information:

Aleut Community of St. Paul Island

Robert Melovidov, President

P.O. Box 86

St. Paul Island, AK 99660

Tel: (907) 546-3223

Fax: (907) 546-3254
Connect, Inform, and Empower Connect, Inform, and Empower

8

Veterans

Veterans Administration: A Key Treatment 

Resource for Vets in Indian Country Veterans Crisis Line

1-800-273-8255, Press 1 Indian Country Justice and Safety

 Shoshone Bannock Tribal Justice Center

Photo courtesy of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes Office of Public Relations

The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA) 

and Indian Country Detention/Incarceration

The TLOA addresses detention/incarceration in four separate 

sections. Three of the sections deal specifically with developing 

long-term plans for incarceration of both adults and juveniles. The 

fourth addresses the development of confinement standards.

Realizing that the true expertise in Indian Country lies in tribal 

programs and with tribal professionals, a group of representatives 

from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Justice 

held a series of webinars, focus groups and consultations. The 

group gathered tribal leaders, council members, tribal judges, 

prosecutors, jail administrators, mental health professionals, law 

enforcement personnel, tribal attorneys, juvenile detention professionals and myriad of other tribal representatives to develop the 

comprehensive plan. Unfortunately, group members felt hindered 

in gaining expertise by the lack of available time, but nonetheless, 

the information gleaned was unparalleled, and the group intends 

to continue the dialogue.

The group completed the TLOA-required report but along the way 

they learned that detention/incarceration was not the only issue 

and certainly not the solution. The TLOA report is available at 

http://www.bja.gov/pdf/FinalTLOATribalJusticePlan.pdf or http://

www.bia.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/text/idc014786.pdf. 

Please note that in light of all the valuable input we received the 

title of the report is now Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) Long 

Term Plan to Build and Enhance Tribal Justice Systems. This better 

addresses what was learned and the direction best suited for Indian Country. The group is confident this is just the beginning of a 

collaboration which will improve the lives of Indian Country adults 

and juveniles who may be involved in the justice system.

For more information please contact: Carla C. Flanagan, Bureau of 

Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services , (202) 219-1651, or Carla.

Flanagan@bia.gov.

Justice Department Awards $118 Million to 

Enhance, Support Tribal Justice and Safety

Streamlined Grant Program Offers Financial Assistance with Indian 

Tribes’ Prevention and Law Enforcement Efforts, Victim Services and 

Youth Programs

On September 14, 2011 the U.S. Department of Justice announced 

grants to nearly 150 American Indian and Alaskan Native nations, 

providing $118.4 million to enhance law enforcement practices, and 

sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts in eight purpose 

areas: public safety and community policing; methamphetamine 

enforcement; justice systems and alcohol and substance abuse; 

corrections and correctional alternatives; violence against women; 

elder abuse; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs. 

The awards were made under the department’s Coordinated Tribal 

Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a single application for tribal-specific 

grant programs.

The department developed CTAS and administered the first round of 

consolidated grants in September 2010 in response to shared views 

of tribal leaders that the department’s grant-making process was 

too cumbersome and needed increased flexibility. Today, tribes 

seeking funding for more than one purpose area can submit a single 

grant application, instead of multiple applications.

The grants are administered by the Office of Community Oriented 

Policing (COPS), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office on 

Violence Against Women (OVW). The complete list of the fiscal year 

2011 CTAS grantees, a CTAS fact sheet and other information about 

the consolidated solicitation is also available at www.justice.gov/

tribal.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 

Resources and Contact Information:

Office of Tribal Government Relations

Stephanie Birdwell, Director

http://www.va.gov/tribalgovernment/index.asp

U.S. Veterans Health Administration

Benefits: 1-800-827-1000

Health Care: 1-877-222-VETS

VA Inspector General: 1-800-273-8255, Press 1

http://www.va.gov/health/default.asp

U.S. Veterans Administration “Get Help Now”

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/gethelp.asp

U.S. Veterans Affairs Summary of VA 

Treatment Programs for Substance Use 

Problems

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/resvatreatmentprograms.asp

Veterans Crisis Line

1-800-273-8255, Press 1

Confidential chat at veteranscrisisline.net or 

text to 838255.

9

Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington Virginia

To help a veteran attend VA treatment services, he or she must be enrolled and eligible to 

receive care within a VHA facility. Once enrolled, VA offers several options for those eligible 

veterans seeking treatment for substance abuse problems. These include therapy, either alone 

with a therapist or in a group, as well as a possible medication regimen. Further, programs are 

offered during evening and weekend hours to help better facilitate their usage.

A patient at VA can expect the following types of substance abuse care : 

• First-time screening for alcohol or tobacco use in all care locations. 

• Short outpatient counseling including focus on motivation.

• Intensive outpatient treatment.

• Drug substitution therapies and newer medicines to reduce craving. 

• Medically managed detoxification (stopping substance use safely) and services. 

• Continuing care and relapse prevention.

• Self-help groups.

• Residential (live-in) care.

There are approximately 63 Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs. 

Live-in options are available for those veterans who live far from a VA clinic or have tenuous 

housing arrangements. Special programs are also offered for patients with particular concerns, 

such as Operations Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, women, and the 

homeless.

In 2007, VA substance abuse treatment facilities were more likely than non-VA facilities to offer 

specially-designed programs for clients with co-occurring psychological and substance abuse 

problems (60 vs. 39 percent) Further, VA facilities served more substance abuse clients on a dayto-day basis than non-VA facilities. In fact, on a survey date (March 30, 2007) the average number 

of clients enrolled in VA substance abuse treatment facilities was more than double the average 

number enrolled in any other non-VA facilities (106 vs. 43 clients). 

It has been shown that Native American veterans are overrepresented in the homeless veteran 

population and also have more severe alcohol problems than other minority groups. Additionally, 

one study has illustrated that access to culturally competent care may significantly affect minority 

veterans’ treatment experience. As such, VA strives to be culturally sensitive in its services to 

veterans and some locations do offer Native American-specific treatment options. 

For example, VA’s Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC) offers traditional 

sweat lodge ceremonies three times a month to inpatients, and, if space is available, to registered 

outpatients. It is conducted by Native American elders, who, according to Ricky J. Martin, the 

liaison for American Indian programs at SORCC, “bring forth a place of self-worth, a place where 

[the vets] can make rational decisions. They give these patients something to take with them — 

respect and honor.” The SORCC also hosts the Rogue River Veterans’ Powwow, conducts talking 

circles, drum circles, and other regularly scheduled Native American-specific programs.

VA hospitals in New Mexico also coordinate special programs for Native American vets that include 

talking circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, and gourd dances. Dr. James Gillies, a psychologist in the 

post-traumatic stress disorder clinic at the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, stated, “[w]e have 

to allow Native Americans the opportunity to explore the culture that has been damaged, if not 

taken away. To be a soul doctor is to embrace the souls of the people you work with.” 
Connect, Inform, and Empower Connect, Inform, and Empower

10 11

Spotlight on Youth

Youth Program in Santa Fe, New Mexico

 IASA Prevention Resources and Services

Tom Perrelli, Associate Attorney General, and Hilary 

Tompkins, Solicitor, U.S. Department of the Interior, 

address youth at the 2011 National Intertribal Youth 

Summit.

Youth from 45 tribes across the country enjoyed a range 

of activities to enhance tribal youth’s ability to influence 

public safety through leadership and positive community 

engagement.

In July, youth from 45 tribes across Indian 

Country gathered in Santa Fe, NM, for the 2011 

National Intertribal Youth Summit. The Office 

of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

(OJJDP) organized the event, which took place 

at the Santa Fe Indian School. 

Partner federal agencies, including the U.S. 

Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health 

and Human Services (HHS), and Interior 

(DOI); the Corporation for National and 

Community Service; the White House; and 

sister offices within the Department of Justice 

sent representatives and engaged in weeks 

of planning with OJJDP to assure the event’s 

success.

The summit’s theme, “Youth Taking Action in 

Indian Country,” flowed through all activities 

to enhance tribal youth’s ability to influence 

public safety through leadership and positive 

community engagement. Youth were provided 

with opportunities to develop their public 

speaking skills, to broaden their knowledge of 

Native American traditions and culture, and 

to make better informed health and lifestyle 

choices.

During the week-long event, youth were joined 

by federal officials, youth advocates, and field 

experts. Youth participated in talking circles and 

a town hall session, attended seminars led by 

subject matter experts, and enjoyed a series of 

workshops led by traditional Native American 

artisans and craftsmen. They also spent a full 

day visiting two pueblos—San Felipe and Santa 

Ana—to engage in a sports/health clinic and 

a feast day filled with ceremonial dances and 

traditional food. A session called Listening to 

Youth Voices provided a venue for tribal youth 

to share concerns with federal agency leaders 

and discuss youth-led solutions to issues in 

their communities.

Event speakers included local tribal leaders; 

officials from HHS, DOI, and the White House 

Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities; 

five U.S. Attorneys General; Associate Attorney 

General Tom Perrelli; and Deputy Associate 

Attorney General Karol Mason. U.S. Attorney 

General Eric Holder sent videotaped remarks.

The surprise of the week was a special 

videotaped message from President Obama 

who officially launched the White House Native 

American Youth Challenge, which asks tribal 

youth to share stories of how they are making 

a difference in their communities. Selected 

stories will be featured on the White House 

website this fall, and a group of tribal youth 

were invited to the White House in November 

to share their stories personally for Native 

American Heritage Month. 

“Across the country, Native American young 

people like you are doing extraordinary things 

every day to help solve problems in their 

communities,” said President Obama. “The 

challenges you face are not small. Solving them 

won’t be easy. But we are making progress, 

and you’re leading the way.”

The summit concluded with a reflection 

session led by Mary Lou Leary, Principal 

Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the 

Office of Justice Programs. In this session, 

tribal youth teams shared their plans for 

commitment to service and leadership back 

home. Plans included designating a day for 

youth to “shadow” a tribal leader in the 

community, developing an anti-drug policy on 

the reservation, building a cultural center that 

also provides healthcare services and a safe 

place for youth to go, starting a fitness center 

to promote physical health, and sponsoring 

family days.

As fall continues, we’ll be looking for further 

developments from tribal youth on their 

leadership commitments. 

Photos courtesy of Karol V. Mason

U.S. Department of Justice • Office of Justice Programs

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

Tribal Youth Poised To Take Action in Indian Country 

Summer 2011

Interventions for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Native 

American Populations (R01): The purpose of this funding opportunity 

announcement (FOA) is to develop, adapt, and test the effectiveness 

of health promotion and disease prevention interventions in Native 

American (NA) populations. For more information link to: http://www.

grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-346.html.

Tribal Youth Program (TYP): The TYP helps tribal communities prevent 

juvenile delinquency, reduce violent crime, and improve tribal juvenile 

justice systems. For more information, visit http://www.ojjdp.gov/typ.

Tribal Juvenile Accountability Discretionary Grants (Tribal JADG): The 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provides awards 

under its Tribal JADG program to federally recognized tribes to develop 

and implement programs that hold youth accountable for delinquent 

behavior and strenghten tribal juvenile justice systems. 

For more information, visit http//www.ojjdp.gov/funding/fy08/jabq.pdf.

The Native American Center for Excellence (NACE): NACE is funded 

by SAMHSA to address issues related to substance abuse in American 

Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. For more information, 

visit http://www.nace.samhsa.gov.

Center for Native American Youth: This center is dedicated to improving 

the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American youth 

through communication, policy development and advocacy. For more 

information, visit http://www.cnay.org.

Health Native Communities Partnership Inc. (HNCP): HNCP is a 

non-profit organization that supports capacity-building, leadership 

development, partnership, and networking so that Native communities 

realize their own vision of wellness. For more information, visit http://

www.hncpartners.org/hncp/home.html.
Connect, Inform, and Empower

12

Important Dates and Federal Contacts

Calendar of Events

November 30 - December 2, 2011

White House Tribal Nations Events

Eisenhower Executive Office Building and 

Department of the Interior

For more information, please visit http://www.

whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/tribal_nations_

conference_events_outline.pdf or

http://www.ncai.org/about.641.0.html

December 6-8, 2011

National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA)

Cross Cultural Skills, Making the Right Decision: Is 

IV-E Right for Your Community

Portland DoubleTree Hotel

1000 NE Multnomah Street

Portland, OR

www.nicwa.org/training/institutes

December 12-16, 2011

Tribal Justice, Safety and Wellness Session #14

Violence Against Women Act Consultation

Hyatt Regency Tamaya Hotel

Santa Ana Pueblo, NM

http://www.tribaljusticesafetywellness.org/

January 19-21, 2012

Health Action 2012

Hyatt Regency Washington Capitol Hill

400 New Jersey Ave, NW

Washington, DC 

www.healthaction2012.org

If you would like to highlight an event, please 

forward the information to Gloria Mora or Juanita 

Keesing (contact information on page 2).

Federal Partnering Agencies - 

Contact Information

SAMHSA Information

Title of Office:

Office of Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse (OIASA)

Contact Information:

Dennis O. Romero, MA 

Director (Acting)

Office of Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)

1 Choke Cherry Road

Rockville MD 20857

Phone: (240) 276-2495

E-mail: Dennis.Romero@samhsa.hhs.gov IASA@samhsa.

hhs.gov

http://www.samhsa.gov/

ACF Information 

Title of Office:

Administration for Native Americans (ANA)

Contact Information: 

Michelle Sauve

Senior Project Consultant

Administration for Native Americans (ANA)

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

370 L’Enfant Promenade. SW

Washington, DC 20447

Office: 202-260-6974

E-mail: Michelle.Sauve@acf.hhs.gov

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/

AoA Information 

Title of Office:

Office for American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Native 

Hawaiian Programs

Contact Information: 

Meg Graves

Acting Director

Office for American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Native 

Hawaiian Programs

Center for Program Operations

Administration on Aging (AoA)

E-mail: Margaret.Graves@aoa.hhs.gov

http://www.aoa.gov/

BIE Information

Title of Office: 

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) 

Contact Information:

Juanita M. Keesing 

Program Analyst 

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington DC 20240 

Office: (202) 208-3559 

E-mail: Juanita.Keesing@bie.edu

http://www.bie.edu

BIA Information

Title of Office:

Office of Indian Services

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

Contact Information:

Gloria T. Mora

Program Analyst (Human Services)

Office of Indian Services

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

U.S. Department of the Interior

1849 C Street N.W. (MS-4527-MIB)

Washington, D. C. 20240

Office: (202) 513-7619

Cell: (202) 345-7487

Fax: (202-208-5113

E-Mail: Gloria.Mora@bia.gov

http://www.bia.gov

IHS Information

Title of Office:

Office of Clinical and Preventive Services

Indian Health Service

Contact Information:

Rose L. Weahkee, Ph.D.

Director, Division of Behavioral Health

Office of Clinical and Preventive Services

Indian Health Service

801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 300

Rockville, MD 20852

Office: (301) 443-2038

Fax: (301) 443-7623

E-mail: Rose.Weahkee@ihs.gov

http://www.ihs.gov

OJP Information

Title of Office:

Office of Justice Programs (OJP)

Contact Information:

Eugenia Tyner-Dawson (Sac and Fox/Shawnee) Executive 

Director, Justice Programs Council on Native American 

Affairs and Senior Advisor to the Assistant Attorney 

General for Tribal Affairs U.S. Department of Justice, 

Office of Justice Programs, Office of the Assistant 

Attorney General, 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, 

DC 20531; 202.307.5933 (Main), 202.353.3442 (Direct), 

202.598.5177 (Cell); Eugenia.Tyner-Dawson@usdoj.gov, 

http://www.tribaljusticeandsafety.gov,

http://tribal.golearnportal.org

OTJ Information

Title of Office:

Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ)

Contact Information:

Jeanne Jacobs

Office of Tribal Justice

Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 2318

Washington, DC 20530

Office: (202) 514-8835

E-mail: Jeanne.Jacobs2@usdoj.gov

http://www.justice.gov/tribal

WHITCU Information

Title of Office:

The White House Initiative on American Indian and 

Alaska Native Education

Contact Information:

William Mendoza, Director

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Ave., SW

Room 4W116

Washington, DC 20002

Office: (202) 260-0513

E-mail: William.Mendoza@ed.gov

Pamela DeRensis

Program Director

(202) 453-6659

E-mail: Pamela.Derensis@ed.gov

Phone: (202) 453-6600 

Fax: (202) 453-5635

http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whtc/edlite-index.html