Opioid Response Workgroup
We encourage a compassionate shared commitment for the health, including behavioral health, of our Tribal and Urban Indian communities. Behavioral health includes substance use, opioid use, and issues and factors that contribute to it, as well as comprehensive prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services.
The Washington State American Indian and Alaska Native Opioid Response Workgroup (AI/AN ORW) was convened as a short-term workgroup to engage Tribal Leaders, Urban Indian Health Leaders, their staff, Indian Health Care Organizations (IHCOs), and community members to better understand the opioid public health crisis and to develop goals, objectives, and strategies to address the crisis in Indian Country in Washington State. This work is funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response Grants Funds through a contract with the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA).
The AI/AN ORW’s goals, objectives, and strategies strengthen our efforts to prevent and treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in our communities in a kind and compassionate approach and become a part of the statewide American Indian and Alaska Native Opioid Response Plan.
Through the work and recommendations of the AI/AN ORW, AIHC has/will:
- AI/AN ORW adopted the Pulling Together for Wellness Indigenous methodology in 2019 to guide the work.
- Conducted and presented gaps and resources assessments. The AI/AN ORW implemented an assessment in 2019 with an updated assessment in 2020 to understand the impact of COVID on this work. The AI/AN ORW may implement an updated assessment in 2025.
- Continue to develop goals, objectives, and strategies to address gaps and build on successes as part of the statewide Tribal Opioid Response Task Force.
- Present AI/AN ORW recommendations to the Task Force.
- Develop and present an AI/AN ORW sustainability plan.
- Partner with the WA Tribal Opioid Response Task Force to plan and implement an annual statewide AI/AN Opioid Summit.
- Submit final reports as requested.
The AI/AN ORW paused for most of 2021 as AI/AN communities attended to the health of communities during the COVID pandemic. The AIAN ORW resumed in March of 2022 and meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month.
Contacts
Project Manager: Lisa Rey Thomas, PhD, Tlingit
To find out more about this group or to join the meetings, please contact Vicki Lowe