Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Services YNBHS Organizational Chart
Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Services
YNBHS Organizational Chart
YNBHS Funding Sources
YNBHS Program Description • The Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Program will provide limited range of high quality professional Mental Health and confidential services. Our focus is to serve children, teens, adults, elders, veterans and families to reflect the unique social cultural and traditional experience of our clients in strengthening the family system. If you suffer from: 1) Depression/Stress; 2) Anxiety; 3) Trauma; 4) Anger; 5) Family Conflict; 6) Thoughts of Self Harm; 7) Work related Issues, YNBHS will provide a response in a timely manner to ensure quality service delivery.
Services Include • 1) Individual, Family, Support Group Therapy, and Couples Counseling. YNBHS provides counseling and therapy to eligible individuals on a referral and voluntary basis. • 2) Outreach and consultation to local school districts- Yakama Nation Tribal school, Mount Adams School District, Wapato School District, Toppenish School District and Granger School District clinical counseling , and support services for Native students- Therapists go into the schools to provide therapy to eligible students, whose mental health needs are more significant than a “Academic School Counselor” can provide. This is completed on a referral basis. • 3) Crisis Management/ Outpatient Services- For individuals who are experiencing crisis and want immediate mental health care. If patient’s mental health needs exceed the capacity of suicidal ideations or self-harm to self or others, a Designated Mental Health Professional from Comprehensive Mental Health is called or local law enforcement to detain individual for their safety.
Services Continued • 4) Victim Resource Program- Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Services (YNBHS) partnered with other Tribal Agencies and non-Tribal organizations developed a Wellness Center that facilitates Crime Victims on the Yakama Reservation that is inclusive to victims of sexual assault, physical abuse, date rape, elder abuse, and other crime association to victims. It is our intentions to pursue a wellness center from a Social Work prospective. The Social work method provides a comprehensive approach to help to enhance the wellbeing of individual people achieve changes in their lives, for the better, in turn making a difference in our communities and wider society. VRP also provides victims of crime Advocacy and Case Management for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, date rape, and human trafficking. • 5) Community Support and Education Services- Wellness/ Historical Trauma Training, groups and counseling- Training provided to community by request. Our Special Projects Unit also does outreach and education to schools, community events, and local fairs.
Services Continued • 6) Trauma Evaluation (TBD)- Including the Adverse Childhood Experience assessment to Intake process. • 7) Bio/Social/Psycho Assessment Services- Provided by Therapist I at initial time of face-to-face with patient to determine patient’s diagnosis. • 8) Address suicide prevention/ intervention/ postvention services that is included to community outreach, training, and counseling services- Special Projects Unit provides Question, Persuade and Refer trainings to community, schools, and other Tribal departments on request. • 9) Domestic Violence Perpetrator Program- Domestic Violence Perpetrator and MRT (Moral Reconation Therapy)- Assessments, Individual and Group therapy- Certified Therapist provides DV perpetrators an assessment, individual, group therapy by referral, usually by the Tribal Courts and/or individual needing specialized counseling.
Services Continued • 10) LICWAC staffing consults’- Clinical Supervisor attends staffing’s to provide expert clinical consulting on behalf of YNBHS. • 11) Anger Management- Provided by Therapist who is certified to provide Anger Management services. • 12) Healing Seasons- YNBHS has partnered with University of Washington Indigenous Wellness Research Institute to provide our Therapists with evidence-based practices (EBP’s) therapy techniques, such as CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and Motivational Interviewing (MI); to work with patients who experienced trauma/grief/loss on a voluntary basis.
Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Services (YNBHS) will partner with other Tribal Agencies and non-Tribal organizations to develop a Wellness Center that will facilitate Crime Victims on the Yakama Reservation. It is our intentions to pursue a wellness center from a Social Work prospective. Social work, help to enhance the wellbeing of individual people achieve changes in their lives, for the better, in turn making a difference in our communities and wider society.
Victims Resource Program Continued The Yakama Nation Wellness Center will provide support for crime victims through a system of holistic care. Individually care plans created for each victim by a team of care providers, natural helpers will help victims navigate social support. Support includes crisis counseling, individual counseling, family counseling, Domestic Violence Advocacy, Drug and Alcohol outreach, Court Appointed Special Advocate outreach, Medicaid outreach, Anger Management counseling, Suicide Prevention Training, Historical Trauma/ Greif counseling, and sexual assault outreach. The Wellness Center will provide a safety net for victims that have recently became homeless, or in need of safe keeping by referring to homeless shelters, safe houses and or purchasing a motel room, depending on eminent harm or danger status of the victim. The Project Coordinator will provide Administrative and coordination of events.
A Community Readiness Assessment (CRA) will also be conducted and Strategic Action Plan to assist with building the foundation of the Wellness Center. This assessment will also set the stage for future grants thru the Department of Justice Office of Victims Crime (DOJ/OVC).
• Office of Violence against Women (OVW)- This is a 3 year grant that focuses on the following: Develop a coordinated community response team that will enhance Domestic Violence Revised Yakama Codes (RYC) protocols for domestic violence response. • 1. expand improve services to support victims, YNBHS will hire a victim advocate to work with victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking and stalking. • 2. Work with the community to create education and prevention campaigns informing the Yakama Reservation about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking. • 3. provide legal advice and representation of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sex trafficking, sexual assault, or stalking who need assistance with legal issues that are caused by and/or suffered abuse. • 4. Provide services to youth (ages 11 -24) who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the needs of children and youth who are exposed to these crimes, including support for the non-abusing parent or caretaker of the youth or child.
Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OVCA) serves as a voice within state government for the needs of crime victims in Washington State. The purpose of this funding is to support individuals who have been hurt or harmed; impacted or affected by crime; suffered physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of crime regardless if the event has been reported to law enforcement or when the event occurred.
Grants DOJ/OVC: Serving Crime Victims- $450, 000. 00 for the 3 years. DOJ/OVW: Office of Violence against Women- $446, 445. 00 for 3 years. OVCA: Office of Crime Victims Advocacy- $547, 854. 00 for 2 1/5 years. OVCA- Cultural Specific- $500, 000. 00 for 2 1/5 years. The Project Director is Katherine Saluskin. The OVC Project Specialist is Tucelia Palmer (Yakama member). The OVW Project Specialist is Crystal Esquivel (Yakama member). OVCA Project Coordinator is Ruben Calvario (unenrolled). The Advocates is Jordan Meninick (Yakama member).
Native Connections Grant The project goals are to reduce the impact of substance abuse, mental illness, and trauma on the Yakama Indian Reservation and within its boundaries, through a public health approach. We will use a holistic approach bringing together Reservation communities, local agencies, and Yakama Nation agencies to support and provide wrap-aroundservices for Yakama/AI/AN youth and young adults, up to ages 24. We purpose to serve at least 200 Yakama and other AI/AN youth (8 -24 years of age) annually. This will be achieved by: 1) Increasing our understanding across the reservation about suicide risk and protective factors, why they exist, and why each risk as well as protective factors must be addressed;
Native Connections Continued 2) Conduct a community assets, needs and readiness assessment from all seven towns across the reservation to bringing community members together to 2 a) share how youth suicide and substance use impact the quality of life for everyone across the Yakama Reservation, 2 b) to obtain an inventory of the resources currently available that can be leveraged to improve the quality of life for community members 2 c) to Identify our community's strengths and weaknesses; 3) Share assessment findings with the community to 3 a) engage community members in discussions about needs, assets, and the community's response; 3 b) increase key leaders and community members awareness and how they can contribute to the community's assets; 3 c) use the information about community needs to assess our service delivery priorities; 3 d) use the data for decision making to address community needs and how to use the available assets; and use the data to inform strategic planning, priority setting, program outcomes, and program improvements
Native Connections Continued Native Connections award is $1, 000. 00 in the span of 5 years. The Native Connections Project Director is Katherine Saluskin, who is enrolled Yakama. The Native Connections Project Coordinator II is Aryell Adams, who is a descendant of the Yakama Nation and enrolled member of the Cherokee Tribe and Liaison is Jeremy Garcia who is an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation.
Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grant (GLS) There is a high rate of suicides among the Native American communities within the Yakama Reservation. Adolescents and young adults make up the majority of suicides that have taken place. There is also a high rate of alcohol and drug abuse within the Yakama Nation community. YNBH will track attendance, administer and collect evaluations on all efforts to ensure that outcomes are being improved. Evaluations will be anonymous and will request for population identifiers such as ethnicity, gender identity, age and feedback on the impact of the activity itself. Surveys will also be conducted in local schools, Pow-wows, youth conferences, health fairs and other social events for community feedback on awareness efforts. To further support the impact, data collection and analysis will also be conducted within the juvenile justice system, foster care programs, behavioral and substance use programs to monitor trends throughout the time activities and efforts are being made within the community. The purpose of the proposed project is to develop and implement tribal youth suicide policies and evidence-based prevention programs that enhances awareness, identification, referral and treatment strategies.
GLS Continued Conduct Suicide Prevention trainings across the Yakama Reservation. 1) Each year provide consistent training opportunities to youth, community members, adults serving youth, and service providers a) Six 1 -hour QPR-Question, Persuade, and Refer trainings per year for community members and parents; (up to 30 per class) b) Two ½ day Safe. Talk for adults in youth serving positions: teachers, school staff, tribal social services, health care providers, and police (up to 30 per class) c) One 2 -day ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training for adults directly serving youth: school Therapists, school nurses, foster parents, child welfare staff, juvenile justice staff (up to 30 per class) d) One 2 -day Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk AMSR trainings for Behavioral Health Therapists year 1, 3, and 5 (all Therapists)
GLS Continued 2) Train and maintain at least 4 trainers for QPR suicide awareness and prevention for community training opportunities. The amount awarded for this grant is $8, 644, 636. 00 for the span of 5 years. The Project Director for this grant is Katherine Saluskin (enrolled Yakama). The Project Coordinator II is Diane Sekaquaptewa (enrolled Yakama). Therapist I is William Vivette (enrolled other, Yakama descendent) and Camella George (enrolled Yakama). The Natural Helper is Shaniya Gunnier-Shipman (enrolled Yakama).
Circles of Care Grant The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services provided the Yakama Nation with a grant for Planning and Developing Infrastructure to Improve the Mental Health and Wellness of Children, Youth and Families in American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) Communities (Short Title: Circles of Care VII) grants. The purpose of this program is to provide tribal communities with tools and resources to plan and design a holistic, community-based, coordinated system of care approach to support mental health and wellness for children, youth, and families. These grants are intended to increase the capacity and effectiveness of mental health systems serving AI/AN communities. Circles of Care grantees will focus on the need to reduce the gap between the need for mental health services and the availability and coordination of mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders in AI/AN communities for children, youth, and young adults from birth through age 25 and their families.
Circles of Care Grant Continued This grant will employ a Program Specialist, Social Worker III, Youth Engagement Specialist, and a Community Cultural Coordinator. This grant is in the amount of $403, 119. 00 for 3 years.
Mental Health Promotion Project (MHPP) (Washington State DSHS/DBHR) Mental health is a state of well-being in which individuals can realize their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and are able to make a contribution to his or her community. Mental health promotion works at three levels: • strengthening individuals, • strengthening communities, and • reducing structural barriers to mental health Structural barriers to mental health can be reduced through actions to reduce discrimination and inequalities and to promote access to education, meaningful employment, housing, health services, and support to those who are vulnerable.
MHPP Continued Promotion of mental health can be achieved by working to improve your community in a variety of ways. Here are just a few examples: • early childhood interventions (e. g. home visiting for pregnant women, preschool psychosocial interventions, combined nutritional and psychosocial interventions among disadvantaged populations); • social support to old age populations (e. g. befriending initiatives, community and day centers for the aged); • programs targeted at vulnerable groups such as minorities, migrants, and people affected by conflicts and disasters • mental health promotion activities in schools (e. g. programs supporting normal transitions and changes in schools, increasing the atmosphere of childfriendly schools); • mental health interventions at work (e. g. stress prevention programs); • housing policies (e. g. housing improvement at a policy level); • violence and substance abuse prevention programs (e. g. community policing initiatives);
MHPP Continued In the past YNBHS hosted camps for families, hosted Conferences, and supported Triple D Basketball camps. This grant is awarded yearly in the amount of $10, 000. 00 per year.
Healing Seasons Purpose and overview The purpose of this project evaluate the effectiveness of culturally adapted Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and culturally adapted Motivational Interviewing with Skills Training (MIST) in preventing HIV / STI sexual risk behavior by directly addressing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms or substance misuse. The program consists of up to six (6) weekly 90 -120 minute counseling sessions that are free to the participants as well as four (4) computer surveys for which the participants’ are paid. After completing the first survey, participants are assigned by chance to either NET or MIST. The counseling is offered in four clinical locations: 1. Yakama Nation Behavior Health (YNBH), Toppenish, WA 2. Comprehensive Healthcare (Comp. HC), Yakima and Sunnyside, WA 3. Indian Health Services, White Swan, WA – (both YNBH & Comp. HC counselors)
Healing Seasons Continued Additionally, high school student participants can complete their counseling sessions on campus. Recruitment The project opened recruitment in July 2017. Please refer to the consort chart in the following pages for further recruitment information. In order to participate in the project, a person must be 1. American Indian or Alaska men and women and descendants 2. At least 16 years old or older 3. Living on or near the Yakama reservation 4. At least subthreshold Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 5. Some substance use in the previous 12 months 6. Some lifetime sexual activity
Healing Seasons Continued Interested callers may not participate if they meet any of the below criteria: 1. Self-harm or suicide attempt in the previous 30 days 2. Homicidal ideation in the previous 3 months 3. Psychiatric medications that have not be stable for at least 2 months** 4. And alcohol dependence diagnosis with severe withdrawal symptoms** 5. Unable to understand the process and provide consent. ** Interested callers are encouraged to call back once medication has stabilized or severe withdrawal symptoms have been resolved. Any caller for whom this program is not a good fit is referred to alternative programs and services within the community.
Healing Seasons Continued Healing Seasons is funded through the University of Washington Indigenous Wellness Research Institute. Project will provide: - Alternative therapy approaches that is client driven and developed by Yakama Nation members - Sustainable therapeutic skills that will outlast the life of the grant - Hire an additional full time counselors at YNBH and Comprehensive Health - Train additional counselors from YNBH & COMPHC in two different therapies to enhance their skill set o Counselors will be train in 1 therapy, then toward the end of the grant, train in the second therapy. This is to ensure solid skill development before taking on a new therapy. - Continuing Education Credits will be available: o Attend the 2 day training, attend supervision meetings, see clients - Trained counselors will be provided additional support o (e. g. therapy for themselves & weekly supervision by clinical psychologists) - Provide six free therapy sessions at four sites: Toppenish, White Swan, Sunny side, Yakima o Funds for transportation costs for participants o Provide treatment engagement support to participants - Hire up to two research assistants who live in the Yakama area o Must have at least a bachelor degree and 1 -year experience or equivalent. o Yakama Preference Given o Job announcement will be posted early summer with possible start date in August - YNBHS will be reimbursed $298. 88 per session.
Conclusion Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Services has expanded its services in the past 4 years. Staff has increased from 7 employees to 30 with the funding of grants. The Victims Resource Program was created to assist and serve victims of crime because Yakama Nation did not have a program that provided support or resources for victims of crime. YNBHS took a clinical Social Work approach to work comprehensively with victims to learn coping skills and address the trauma issues that may contribute to victimization. YNBHS also recovered the Domestic Violence Perpetrator program. This program was originally under Justice Services and funded with Tribal funds. We made a proposal to ascertain the program and sustain it through 3 rd Party billing. Also, we wanted to take a comprehensive mental health approach to the Perpetrators. Therapist who provides DV Perp services is also certified in Anger Management. YNBHS is planning on becoming a Trauma-Informed Care agency. TIC is a strengths-based service delivery approach “that is grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers and survivors, and that creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment”. This will be implemented through grant funding.
- Slides: 30