Community & Behavioral Services Division

The Community & Behavioral Services (CBS) is a division within the Tribe that was developed in 2021. The focus of the new division is on the wellness aspect of tribal citizens and their families by expanding programming around prevention, treatment and recovery, and providing direct clinical care to tribal citizens.

In order to ensure cohesion in the delivery of support services, the division provides leadership oversight of the following departments: » Behavioral Services » Community Advocacy » Family Court Services » Reentry & Recovery » Tribal Family & Youth Services

Tina Woods Senior Director

ƒ Established a new CBS Healing Center offering culturally responsive healing for tribal citizens (youth and adults), including those who need help addressing the legacy of historical/intergenerational trauma and the challenges of life today. The CBS Healing Center opened virtually in November and began accepting participant referrals. ƒ Successfully staffed new service delivery team at 100% capacity—this is significant success for a new behavioral services department. Furthermore, 90% of CBS Healing Center’s clinical team are

Indigenous providers (5 Master’s Level Clinicians, 4 Behavioral Health Aides, 1 Psychology Doctoral

Intern, and 1 contracted Testing Psychologist). ƒ Launched new CBS Healing Center Website to provide tribal citizens with access to online resources and self-referrals for treatment. ƒ Implemented a new private and confidential customized electronic behavioral record keeping system (FacetoFace). ƒ Provided culturally responsive programming, including talking circles as the treatment modality to serve tribal citizens referred by Wellness Court. ƒ Coordinated Culture Heals film project and conducted over 12 interviews with Elders, tribal leaders, culture bearers, and behavioral services providers with lived experience. ƒ Initiated process to become a State of Alaska (SOA) Medicaid provider and bill for services. ƒ Initiated accreditation process with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) to ensure compliance and expectations of SOA Community Behavioral Health Services agency. ƒ Initiated partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) to provide

Behavioral Health Aide training opportunities, including funding resources to certify BHAs. ƒ Facilitated an ICWA staff retreat with six staff that focused on ethics, boundaries, mandated reporting, accountability/dependability, adaptability to change, self-care, and the importance of workplace cleanliness for a healing space for participants. ƒ Coordinated a strategic planning session to design a culturally responsive Intensive Outpatient program.

ƒ Facilitated a Clinician’s Retreat with four clinicians that focused on standard of care expectations; joint responsibility in cultivating a healing space that promotes Southeast Traditional Tribal Values and treating the whole person; training/certifications; importance of self-care; and preparation for submission of Medicaid Billable Agency application and pursuit of CARF. ƒ Provided four presentations on the Tribe’s Wellness Court Initiative (September - October) to the

Juneau Police Department. ƒ Traveled to Kake, Alaska and provided mental health support and debriefing to community members following a community crisis.

Behavioral Services

The Behavioral Services program, through the CBS Healing Center, offers outpatient assessments for mental health and substance use disorders, referral for psychological testing, culturally responsive individual counseling, family counseling, group counseling, debriefing for critical incidents, and sameday crisis response to those who are experiencing immediate need. ƒ Received 105 referrals for clinical treatment services for mental health and substance use disorders. ƒ Hosted three (3) Wellness Wednesdays sessions for tribal citizens to promote mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and share information relating to holistic wellness, self-care and breaking down barriers to encourage help seeking behaviors. ƒ Hosted 29 Hope & Resilience Talking Circles sessions to 117 employees and healthcare providers to help reduce stress and increase coping skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. ƒ Hosted an in-person talking circle to explore designing a culturally responsive men’s healing program in alignment with our traditional values. A subject matter expert was sponsored by NAMI Juneau in support of the

Tribe’s new program development. ƒ Developed a crisis response resource to distribute to those going through suicide grief and loss. ƒ Hosted a “Trunk or Treat” community outreach event in

Juneau, Alaska; approximately 450 trunk or treaters were served while maintaining social distancing and safety measures.

Community Advocacy

The Community Advocacy program is designed to provide access to culturally responsive advocacy services for tribal citizens in Southeast Alaska. The program offers services, referrals, relocation during emergencies, community resource sharing and resources in support of tribal citizens affected by crime.

Community Advocacy supports Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Court and partnering programs in addressing crimes such as assault, robbery, vandalism, intimidation and crimes against Elders. The program also provides emergency intervention services, stabilization, legal advocacy, behavioral services, public information, and follow-up assistance in accessing other services tribal citizens require to regain self-worth, self-esteem, and respect. ƒ Partnered with Tribal Court to reorganize the Community Advocacy department under the CBS

Division. The reorganization has increased synergy between participant needs and referral for additional behavioral services supports. ƒ Established program eligibility criteria, referral, and client assessment forms serving tribal citizens with legal, emergency housing, medical, physical, and emotional support throughout Southeast Alaska. ƒ Secured Community Advocacy grants to fund three positions within TFYS department to serve an ongoing three dozen Elders affected by crime in Juneau, Alaska. ƒ Provided advocacy services to over 60 tribal citizens who experienced domestic violence. ƒ Completed all related preparation required to launch a needs assessment survey to help identify existing resources and gaps in services regarding tribal citizens affected by crime. Results will be used to complete asset mapping with Tlingit & Haida’s Violence Against Women (VAW) Task Force.

Family Court Services

The Family Court Services (FCS) department provides services to court-involved tribal citizens and their families. FCS services include court ordered investigations for child custody, guardianship, adoption, or other child welfare related placements as well as court advocacy for tribal citizens. ƒ Partnered with Tribal Court to reorganize Family Court Services (FCS) under the CBS Division. The reorganization has demonstrated increased communication and collaboration across departments for referring and ensuring client needs are met with the highest quality of care. ƒ Served 21 individuals and families around court ordered investigations for child custody, guardianship, adoption, or other child welfare related placements.

ƒ Launch an online addiction treatment educational program paired with 24/7/365 professional/peer support and referral for services program known as Culture Heals. ƒ Develop and facilitate a culturally responsive Men’s Healing program for tribal citizens who struggle with behavioral health issues. ƒ Continue efforts to establish Behavioral Services as a Medicaid billable agency and attain accreditation from the CARF. ƒ Launch needs assessment and summarize data gathered to complete asset mapping to identify and highlight existing resources, as well as gaps in services, with a focus on resource and service accessibility for rural citizens who have experienced crime. ƒ Refine infrastructure and increase effective communication and collaboration between departments involved on cases to ensure the highest quality of support to tribal citizens. ƒ Establish an online training library for Family Court Service Investigators to provide the highest quality of support to our tribal citizens. ƒ Increase collaboration with Tribal Court to ensure all tribal citizens have the right and access to a legal advocate timely.