# Assessing Cultures of Recovery in Tribal Communities - Research Core

> **NIH NIH S06** · HEALING LODGE OF THE SEVEN NATIONS · 2022 · $584,599

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: RESEARCH CORE
The prevalence and incidence of mental health challenges, including addictive behaviors, continues to be sub-
stantially elevated among American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) populations when compared to other racially
and ethnically minoritized groups in the United States. Despite this substantial need, AI/AN communities remain
underserved and often lack necessary resources for addiction treatment and prevention. To help fill these key
gaps in addiction resources and training, this Research Core will evaluate a culturally grounded training curricu-
lum, xaʔtus (meaning First Face) - for Mental Health. This curriculum will train tribal community members in how
to respond to youth and adults experiencing mental health crises and serve as a bridge between these individuals
and the help (in some cases professional) they need. The proposed evaluation of the program will use a Tribal
Participatory Research (TPR) approach, working with representatives from seven tribes to ensure that the needs
and goals of the tribal partners are emphasized in the research design and resulting products. To evaluate
xaʔtus, the Research Core will use a randomized waitlist control design, implemented in seven tribes, that in-
cludes five assessment time points for both initial trainees (n=350) and waitlist controls (n=350). These assess-
ments will measure knowledge about mental health and addiction, as well as the ability and confidence of indi-
viduals to respond appropriately to mental health crises. We will also evaluate the potential for community-level
effects of xaʔtus with a three-wave repeated cross-sectional community survey (n=400), which will examine
community-level mental health stigma, mental health and social isolation, perceived support, help-seeking activ-
ities, and treatment access and utilization. We will supplement these surveys with aggregated records from be-
havioral health centers in these communities (e.g., number of treatment referrals in the past year). This Research
Core will provide knowledge about the extent to which this culturally appropriate training program influences
mental health, community perceptions about mental health, and community mental health resource availability,
both at the individual and community levels. We will share our findings with tribal councils and community mem-
bers to ensure that the potential benefits of training are widely disseminated among AI/AN individuals in these
communities, as well as disseminating our findings through more traditional academic means with permission
from the involved tribes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10437495
- **Project number:** 1S06GM146095-01
- **Recipient organization:** HEALING LODGE OF THE SEVEN NATIONS
- **Principal Investigator:** SARAH E NELSON
- **Activity code:** S06 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $584,599
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-20 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10437495

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10437495, Assessing Cultures of Recovery in Tribal Communities - Research Core (1S06GM146095-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10437495. Licensed CC0.

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