Concluded Project - September 30, 2008

Circles of Care

Contact:

Eleanor Gil-Kashiwabara          503-725-9607             gilkashi@pdx.edu
Danielle Droppers                     503-725-4256             daclegg@pdx.edu

The purpose of the Circles of Care program was to provide tools and resources to design systems of care to support mental health for children, youth, and their families in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.  Stakeholders, leaders and community members formulate methods to reduce stigma, improve relationships between provider groups, address limited service availability and increase cultural competence in the overall behavioral health system. Ultimately, it was anticipated that the Circles of Care program would facilitate the development of an integrated, holistic and culturally-relevant system of mental health care for AI/AN children and youth, ages 0-22, diagnosed as, or at risk of becoming, seriously emotionally or behaviorally disturbed (SEBD) and their families. This Circles of Care project has been given the name of Nak-Nu-Wit (pronounced Nock-new-wit), which means “everything/all things are being taken care of for the people; the people are the project, our responsibility, our work.”

Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute for Human Services (RRI) was responsible for the evaluation aspect of the Circles of Care project. Specifically, the purpose of the evaluation portion was to:
 

• Assess the current infrastructure of care for AI/AN youth and families 
  
• Assess service gaps, needs, and satisfaction with care 
• Identify prevalent co-occurring issues 
• Define mental health in the local AI/AN community, as well as define risk of Severe Emotional and Behavioral Disturbance (SEBD) 
• Assess system capacity for culturally competent care 
• Identify potential resources 
• This project has been successfully completed and findings from the project are being used to implement and evaluate the Nak-Nu-Wit System of Care.

Related Links

Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, Inc. (NARA NW)

http://www.naranorthwest.org/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA)