The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is the third largest Native American Tribe , with a reservation comprising all or part of 13 counties in rural southeast Oklahoma and a population of over 225,000 worldwide. In 2020, when McGirt v. Oklahoma reestablished reservations, thus Tribal jurisdiction, in the State of Oklahoma, a breathtaking 200 percent increase in incarcerated Tribal members was seen throughout Choctaw Nation territory. A gap in service was determined, lending to the pursuit of grant application through HRSA . Community partners of Choctaw Nation, including LIFT Community Action, CREOKs, Addressing Opioid Overdose Deaths through Choctaw Nation pharmacy, and Choctaw Nation Corrections also grasped the extent of the need for serving people who are incarcerated and emphasizing substance use prevention. Because of the prevalence and shared commitment, the partners formally established a consortium.
As a result of funding through HRSA, the program has been able to hire a data coordinator and two case managers. The program built a needs assessment tool as well as an after-care plan, which is used for each Native American inmate being released within 6 to 12 months and housed through Choctaw Nation. Additionally, the case managers are embedded in the jail setting three days weekly, where they conduct groups related to life skills, parenting, relapse prevention, and GED preparation and course work. Since the onset of services, very minimal recidivism has been noted. The people who are incarcerated have responded very well to individual and group sessions, with immensely positive feedback provided. In addition to duties within the jail, substance use prevention efforts have been emphasized in a creative and innovative capacity. Some specific efforts include, attending health fairs and back to school bashes, hosting Narcan drive-thru events, providing training on drug trends, conducting training on opioid 101 and Narcan use, and showcasing how children conceal drug-related items through staging a mock bedroom with hidden content as well as simulation drug goggles and social media education. The data coordinator has also been instrumental in establishing a court-to-behavioral health-referral pipeline, processing a total of 291 referrals to date.
Because substance use disorder impacts the collective family unit, the program has plans to implement Celebrating Families! within the community. This evidence-based curriculum will allow for each member of the family unit to learn, practice, and sustain newfound coping skills. Course work follows a family meal, which allows for cultural values to be coupled with rich learning content in pursuit of breaking generational cycles and restoring healthy families. Marketing is well underway to reach mass audiences. Additionally, prevention and treatment opportunities for those experiencing or at risk of substance use will be further developed as a result of this project's efforts and commitment.