Home of Mechoopda, Concow, Estom Yumeka and Tyme Maidu People

Catalyst for Interaction Between
Tribes and County
In 1996 two teenage boys from one of the rancherias committed suicide

SHARON DONNELSON
1948 - 2007

TRIBAL/COMMUNITY
INTERVENTION TASK FORCE
Representatives from four tribes
Law Enforcement and fire protection
County Public Health
County Behavioral Health
Feather River Tribal Health Clinic
District Schools


• Children’s Services Coordinating Council
• Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council
• Child Abuse Prevention Council
• Court mandated ICWA Task Force
• Presentations at Behavioral Health Grand
Rounds
• Cultural competency training for Children’s
Services, School Districts and others

Planning grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Three years of focus groups with Native community members

• Data collected from focus groups and
GONA
• County data on percentages of Native youth in juvenile justice system and foster care

GATHERING OF NATIVE
AMERICANS - GONA
A RETREAT OF NATIVE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES
FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
CHILDREN’S SERVICES

ELDERS ATTENDING GONA

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Provider Contract (EPSDT)

PARTNERS INCLUDE:
Feather River Tribal Health, Inc.
Butte County Behavioral Health
Butte County Children’s Services
Butte County Juvenile Probation
Butte County District Attorney
Youth for Change
Northern Valley Catholic Social
Services

• Higher satisfaction rates
• Fewer out of home placements
• Improved scores on behavioral measurements
• Reduced stigma

IT’S COOL

Native Organizations:
Start attending meetings regularly
Agencies:
Send out notifications of meetings

Native Organizations:
Develop cultural competency trainings
Agencies:
Ask Native organizations to make presentations

Native Organizations:
Collect data on your own area
Agencies:
Help tribes collect data

Native Organizations:
Hold a GONA
Agencies:
Give staff time to go to the GONA

Native Organizations:
Identify and reinforce your allies
Agencies:
Be willing to perceive things in new ways

Native Organizations:
Ask for an EPSDT contract
Agencies:
Think how this could improve your own service delivery