Native American Youth Mental Wellness Report Sacramento Community Needs and Strengths Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS REPORT SACRAMENTO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND STRENGTHS REPORT WRITTEN BY THE SACRAMENTO CIRCLES OF CARE PROJECT TEAM Serena Wright • MPH, LEAD EVALUATOR Vanessa Cuevas-Romero • MSW, PROJECT DIRECTOR Dayna Barrios • MA, PROJECT ASSOCIATE, VENTUREÑO CHUMASH Jeanine Gaines • BA, SOCIAL MARKETING MANAGER, CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION Sandra Molina-Aguilar • PARENT PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST, CHEROKEE/APACHE Tasha Norton • YOUTH PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST, HUPA Briseida Solis • BA, YOUTH PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST Valentin Sierra • BA, YOUTH PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST/EVALUATION ASSISTANT, YOEME Marina Valle • BA, EVALUATION ASSISTANT, ZAPOTEC Kaitlin Ferry • MPH, EVALUATION ASSISTANT Sacramento Native American Health Center, 2020 J Street, Sacramento, CA Any release of information from this report, including use of material or quotations to the news media, for publications, and to other agencies, needs the permission and approval of the Circles of Care Evaluation Advisory Board supported by the Sacramento Native American Health Center. Contact the Program Director at 916-341-0576 to submit your written request. To the Evaluation Advisory Committee, Native Youth Ambassadors, and Native Circle Representatives This report could not have been completed without your dedication, commitment, and support throughout the process. Your willingness to share your time, energy and ideas in order to improve mental wellness built upon a strong foundation of cultures and traditions, where healthy lifestyles include the balance of mind, body and spirit, creating a restored legacy of well individuals and families, is greatly appreciated. We are humbled by your dedication and generosity and consider it a privilege to work with and for you. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 INTRODUCTION 9 OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND GOALS OVER THREE YEARS 10 BRIEF HISTORY OF NATIVE PERSONS IN SACRAMENTO 10 METHODOLOGY 15 SACRAMENTO COUNTY: FACTS & FIGURES 19 COMMUNITY STRENGTHS 25 OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND GOALS OVER THREE YEARS 25 SUMMARY OF ASSETS AND RESOURCES 25 ASSET MAPPING 27 CULTURAL RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS 27 PEOPLE THAT PROMOTE WELLNESS 28 PLACES AND SPACES THAT PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS 29 HEALTHY ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS 30 RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS 31 NEEDS ASSESSMENT: CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES 41 NEEDS ASSESSMENT: SPECIFIC ISSUES 43 SYSTEM CHALLENGES 43 NATIVE YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICE NEEDS 45 AWARENESS AND SOCIAL STIGMA CHALLENGES 46 EDUCATION SYSTEM CHALLENGES 47 GLOSSARY 49 REFERENCES 52 SACRAMENTO CIRCLES OF CARE 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Community Needs and Strengths Report has been created with guidance and input from the local American Indian and Alaska Native community in Sacramento County. We would like to thank community participants who committed their time and energy to provide the information contained in this report. In particular, we want to acknowledge the generous donation of time from the Evaluation Advisory Committee to guide the evaluation activities, interpret the information, and to frame and present the data. The Community Advisory Groups which include the Native Circle Representatives, our Parent Advisory Group, and the Native Youth Ambassadors, our Youth Advisory Group, provided valuable input, feedback and interpretation of the information included in this report. We would like to acknowledge our Multi-Agency Partners, local Sacramento County partners, Native-serving agencies and other community providers who provided indispensable information and perspective on the needs and strengths of the existing overall service system. 3 SACRAMENTO CIRCLES OF CARE EVALUATION ADVISORY NATIVE YOUTH JUNIOR NATIVE YOUTH COMMITTEE AMBASSADORS AMBASSADORS (YOUTH ADVISORY GROUP) ALEXANDERIA RUSSELL ALEXANDER GARBER ISABELLA BRAVO White Mountain Apache Hopi Miwok DAYNA BARRIOS ANNALEIS “ANNIE” MICHEL KAMARIA CHARLO Ventureño Chumash Ione Band of Miwok Indians Hupa JOSHUA MIZE CECILIA “CECE” MICHEL MANAIA TAULA-LIERAS Ho-Chunk/Menominee/ Ione Band of Miwok Indians Navajo/Umatilla/Cayise/ Osage/Quapaw Comanche MERISSA POSH MARINA VALLE Pomo RUNNING DEER VALLE Zapotec Zapotec/Yaqui/Carrizo/Apache CIENNA ROBERTS MELISSA EIDMAN Ione Band of Miwok Indians/ Yurok Three Affiliated Tribes of ND MELISSA YNIGUEZ DAVID THOMPSON PARENT ADVISORY GROUP Acoma Pueblo Kiowa MORNING STAR GALI KAMEIKO HOSTLER ALEXANDERIA RUSSELL Pit River Hupa Apache-White Mountain SANDRA MOLINA AGUILAR MISON CADWET DAVID GAINES Cherokee/Apache Acoma Pueblo Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma VALENTIN SIERRA SIENNA POSH Yoeme Pomo JAIME LEMUS Purépecha YAHMONEE HEDRICK Maidu/Chickasaw/Taos/Ute LETICIA AGUILAR Pomo NORMA GARCIA Mishica RALPH TROY HATCH Nisenan Mewuk TONI ESPINOZA Wilton Rancheria 4 MULTI-AGENCY PARTNERS • Aetna Better Health of California • Sacramento City Unified School District • California Consortium of Urban Indian • Sacramento County Department of Health and Health (CCUIH) Human Services • California Council of Community Behavioral • Sacramento County Department of Children, Health Agencies Family & Adult Services, Child Protective Services • California Department of Human Services • Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health • California Department of Social Services Services • California Department of Social Services, Office of • Sacramento County Office of Education, Project Tribal Affairs SOARS (Screening, Outreach and Referral Services) • California Indian Manpower Consortium (CIMC) • Sacramento County Public Library • California Tribal College (CTC) • Sacramento County Unified School District • Capital Area Indian Resources (CAIR) • Sacramento LGBT Center • Colusa Indian Community Council • San Juan Unified School District • Department of Health Care Services • Supporting Community Connections, Children’s Each Mind Matters • Receiving Home of Sacramento • El Hogar • Shingle Springs Tribal TANF (Temporary • Elk Grove Unified School District Assistance for Needy Families) • Health Insurance Advocacy and Counseling • Social Changery Program (HICAP) • Twin Rivers Unified School District • La Familia • University of California Davis • Mental Health Services Oversight and • Wilton Rancheria Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) • WEAVE • Native American Child Abuse Treatment Behavioral Health Youth Program • NorCal Mental Health America • Racial & Ethnic Mental Health Disparities Coalition • River Oak Center for Children 5 SACRAMENTO CIRCLES OF CARE Many meaningful themes emerged in the course of collecting information for this report, the strongest of which are presented here: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Native youth and community value the role of culture and identity in This Community Needs & Strengths Assessment supporting mental wellness. details the mental wellness needs, strengths and • Native youth want a space where assets of Native youth and families in Sacramento they can feel safe, have a safe person County. It is a compilation of information and to talk to and socialize with other feedback from the community itself, including Native youth, free from peer pressure, bullying, and family to explore their youth, parents, and elders, as well as professionals multiple and still forming identities. from local schools, service providers, and partner • Schools are a place of risk for Native organizations. It details the challenges Native youth with a curriculum that imparts youth and families face in staying mentally well as damage while having limited resources well as the assets that support the development of for supporting mental health. healthy young people. • Stigma around mental health and help seeking behavior has meaningful The data collection for this report focused on impact and prevents people from getting support and services. methods that maximized group participation and input in large community meetings as well as small • Institutional service systems are inadequate to meet the full range of groups. Collection included reviewing community need in this community. readiness interviews, hosting focus groups, and • Lack of cultural humility in working conducting one-on-one interviews. Data from with Native people is a significant institutional sources were reviewed and included challenge in the service system. to further document the depth and extent of the • Many Native people turn to their challenges this community faces as well as its community, culture, traditions, healers and ceremonies to create mental assets and resources. wellness. The community expressed the need for supportive • Sexual abuse, particularly commercial services for youth (FIGURE 1) that also help sexual trafficking of youth, is extremely high in Sacramento County and the entire family address certain mental health disproportionately impacts issues that may run in the family. Naming the Native youth. need to build a holistic support system, there was a particular concern expressed for youth that are living within families facing mental health challenges, distress, and in need of help. Services requested include: a youth/parent (or guardian) group, a parenting group, support for grandparents raising grandchildren and more in- home services. 6 FIGURE 1. SPECIFIC SERVICES REQUESTED FOR YOUTH 1. Youth Center: A physical space where Native youth can come together safely and develop their own identities. 2. Academic/Career Support for youth. 3. Skill-Building Activities for youth. 4. Community Service Opportunities for youth to support elders, single adults, and mothers. 5. Cultural Classes for youth include