NNEDLearn 2014 Participant: Toiyabe Indian Health Project
Description: Toiyabe Indian Health Project (TIHP) partnered with Indian Health Services in 1968 to develop Toiyabe Family Services. Family Services proposes to strengthen Indian families and communities by providing professional therapeutic counseling combined with prevention strategies and counseling intervention with a strong emphasis on cultural and traditional activities. Services include drug and alcohol programs, mental health programs, prevention and outreach services. Annual events include:
- Indigenous Games
- Walk For Life
- Native Women’s Wellness Gathering
- Father Hood Is Sacred
- Traditional Trade Walk
- Numuu Life Skills
- Coso Hot Springs Cultural Camp
- Traditional Pine Nut Gathering Camp
Population of focus: TIHP services nine tribal communities in the Eastern Sierra region of California; there are three clinics located in Lone Pine, Coleville and the main clinic is in Bishop. The service area is rural and isolated, and covers Inyo and Mono counties which is over thirteen thousand miles of mountainous, narrow valleys and high desert terrain.
Setting: Community center, Community health center, Parks and recreation, School
Level of focus: Community, Individual, Tribal
Results:
- Increased number of groups within the schools.
- Lower number of youth on probation and in juvenile hall.
- Increased number of people seeking and attending support groups.
- Change in positive attitude towards negative stigma of mental health services.
- More youth involved in cultural activities.
- Increased awareness of healthy life styles in communities.