We are resilient. Our Ways are resilient.
Tribal Nations have inherent sovereignty to respond to behavioral health crises in their communities. Behavioral Health crisis response varies across nations and can include crisis lines, after hour numbers, volunteers, first responders, and mental health and substance use professionals. Some aspects of crisis response are handled internally. Some aspects are approached in partnership with regional resources such as county mobile crisis teams, designated crisis responders, or statewide resources such as 988 and the Native and Strong Lifeline.
Our work supports efforts to expand, clarify, and distinguish Tribal BH crisis response. This includes model language for codes, policies and protocols, as well as hosting and facilitating strategic planning sessions.
Coming Soon – To see draft templates, visit our Working Documents folder by following these links.
For more information, to join regular workgroup meetings, or to plan a Tabletop Exercise, contact info@aihc-wa.com.
Tribal Designated Crisis Responder
Our communities embrace traditional values about respecting and honoring all people. We honor Tribal sovereignty as the highest principle. Tribal Nations have inherent sovereignty to respond to behavioral health crises in their communities and having a state recognized Tribal Designated Crisis Responder (TDCR) is one part of crisis response.
Since the implementation of managed care entities for behavioral health crisis services in Washington state, Tribes and Urban Indian Health Organizations (UIHOs) have been working with the state of Washington to develop culturally appropriate access to behavioral health services. AIHC has taken the lead in supporting Tribal Designated Crisis Responders.
It is important that this work be done in a Tribally driven process. The Tribes and Indian Health Care Providers in Washington State are the subject matter experts on how their systems work. State partners need to honor that knowledge, listen and hear the solutions coming from each community and use their power and resources to rectify decades long barriers to care.
Milestones to date include:
- 1st Tribal Designated Crisis Responder Training (2019)
- Passed the Indian Behavioral Health Act in the state legislature (2020)
- Multiple presentations on Tribal Jurisdiction and PL 280 (2020 and ongoing)
- Native Resource Hub staffed (May 2021)
- Washington Administrative Code (WAC) language for Tribal DCRs (Effective January 2022)
- Native and Strong Lifeline – 988 Crisis Line for Natives staffed (July 2022)
- Tribal Behavioral Health code templates (Third revision fall 2023)
- Tribal Designated Crisis Responder Checklist (2022)
- Tribal Designated Crisis Responder Policies and Procedures (2022)