Proposal for Grant Funding

Indigenous Youth Health

Title of Project: Indigenous Youth Health Circle

Project Categories:
 -Suicide prevention program-
Traditional principles incorporated into mental and health plans for Indigenous youth.
 Developing a traditional method plan to incorporate both western and traditional views
on overall mental and physical health.

Abstract Page

The Native Americans have experienced intergenerational trauma from generations of the

impacts of colonization, assimilation, genocide, diseases, and loss of their traditional homelands.

Today 1 in 3 Native American’s are living in poverty with a median of an income of 23,000.

Among the highest rates of poverty and unemployment, Native Americans suicide rates for

woman have increased by 139%, for men is 71%. The United states suicide rate increased

33percent from 1999. According to a 2018 CDC report, among all racial and ethnic populations

the American Indians and Alaska Natives are 3.5 times higher. Poverty among American Indian

reservations and geographical isolation makes it difficult to have mental health care accessible to

tribal members.

Problem statement is to develop programs within the tribes, that help with the high rates

of suicide rates among Native American and Alaska Native populations. Native Americans and
Alaska Natives have the highest suicide rates that is the highest among all ethnic populations in

the United States. Since 2003 this rate has been increasing for Native American and Alaska

Natives.

The goals are for tribes to have culturally appropriate services within behavioral health

services. Culturally sensitive services can help in incorporating individual mental and health

plans to treat an individual. In the Navajo culture, a program that could be implemented with

cultural values is reteaching and reapplying the foundational laws of K’e and Hozho. K’e and

Hozho are the traditional teachings that have been taught through traditional ceremonies and

cultural views as being sacred with all the universe. In developing programs that instill these

traditional values and cultural paradigms could help intervention strategies for individuals who

are at high risk for suicide.

The purpose for the grant is to help reduce the high rates of suicide for Native American

and Alaska Natives. Tribes can begin by developing programs within the Behavioral services as

well as developing intervention strategies in helping with high risk suicide individuals. Also

creating programs that take into the consideration of culturally appropriate values and

approaches. Having quality programs for the behavioral programs addressing suicide prevention

as well as intervention and implementing a strong community driven context can help in

reducing the high rates of suicide for AI/AN individuals. Having programs that have quality care

and promotion in the behavioral services for American Indians and Alaska Natives can help with

the crisis that many Indian Nations are facing in today’s modern era.
 Project Proposal

The tribe that I will be working with is the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is the

largest reservation in the United States. Suicide death rates is the 7th leading cause of death for

the Navajo Nation, this includes both genders. For the age group of 10-19 suicide is the 2nd

leading cause of death, which is 27.5 percent for all death groups in this age category. This

shows the importance of having a quality behavior program created for the younger youths. Age

10-19 have the highest percentage among all other age categories with the Navajo Nation.

Funding for this program will create programs that will help introduce traditional holistic healing

of the soul and mind, as well as western science and a medicine approach. The beginning of the

program I want to establish a meeting center at the local Encompass Health Center in Page ,

Arizona , where I can have the youths attend and meet with myself and begin to create a

strategic plan to help with the individuals wellness plan. Also, to conduct health promotions and

traditional /educational activities. I want to invite a spiritual advisor from the Navajo Medicine

Association and have him discuss the traditional values and principles of living life with Hozho

at the last meeting of our program.

I also want to designate an area, where I could develop a community youth garden. This could

also be a healing garden to those youths, who are struggling with their self-esteem and identity as

an Indigenous youth. I also want to bring knowledge about traditional foods and medicines that

are used by the Southwestern tribes. These healing programs will also have a strong influence

from the Navajo cultural background to traditional holistic principles, that can help strengthen

and improve, their academic and personal behaviors. I also want to have a Native artist and

speaker join once a month, to help discuss their guidance and wisdom to the younger generation.

This program will have a duration of six months. I also do want to plan a field trip at the end of
the program to the Bears Ears National Monument and spend two days with the youth group.

Here we can discuss the milestones and strategic methods that helped the Individuals with their

battle against depression and suicidal thoughts. This grant funding could help be the

steppingstone in creating more healing programs for the Indigenous youth, this program could

help build partnerships with educational institutions, to help develop programs for their

indigenous students. I believe this program could help fulfill that void between being

disconnected culturally and healing from intergenerational trauma. This program could be that

seed, that will heal not just this generation but 7 generations to come. The Indigenous

communities can begin to rebuild and regrow with the youths finding their inner strength and

pride as Indigenous youths.

Applicant Qualifications:

Federally enrolled tribal members

Age group 12- 18

Middle and High school students

 Budget Form

Total requested: Not to exceed 20,000.00

Directs: 18,000.00

Indirects: 2,000.00

All Personnel(Specific to the project)

Name Project Role %effort Salary

Simone Richardson PI 10 0.00

Jane Tsinjinnie Research Assistant 8% 3200.00

Total Salaries Requested 3200

Other: 10,000

Supplies: 4,800

Travel: 2,000

Participant Incentives: 4,800

Participants will receive a 10.00$/hr as compensation for attendance and evaluation processes.

Meeting will be 4 hours bi -weekly. With a total of 10 participants. There will a total of 12

meetings.

Refreshments for planning and activities for every meeting will provided. $1,000

Indirect cost rate-$500

This is the fee, that Encompass Health service will be issuing for the use of their meeting room.
Reference:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/21/suicide-rate-native-american-indian-
women-men-since-1999/1524007001/
https://www.nec.navajo-nsn.gov/Portals/0/Announcements/Navajo%20Epidemiology%20Center
%20Update%20May%202016.pdf