Strategic Initiatives Unit

Based on a request from Louis Tagaban, First Responders Addiction and Recovery Coordinator, Central Council of Tlingit and Haida (a FY20 COSSUP grantee), the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College (NCJTC) requests to facilitate Drug Trend Awareness to Support Tribal Justice Training and Drug Influence Detection Training during the Tribal Opioid Statewide Conference scheduled as a repeat event on two sets of dates.

Drug Identification and Recognition to Support Tribal Justice

TTA Need: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe hosted TTA on Tribal Law Enforcement Intervention and Deflection, including a grandfamilies talking circle on November 1-2, 2-2023. The tribal police department is interested in further implementing diversion/deflection programming.

Join guest Jeff Guido, SUD Counselor/Program Manager with Trinidad
Rancheria for this community of practice discussion regarding the connection
between the trauma of victimization, substance misuse and mental health.
Engage in a peer exchange with other service providers focused on the
importance of a wholistic approach and use of a warm hand off within a single
agency. Discussion will also center around reducing barriers by providing as
many services as possible within a single agency and using culture as

Meet with Bimaadiziwin “Good Life” Case Management Program Staff to Discuss Findings from the Training and Future Program Plans. Will set up select meetings with shelter, behavioral health, and substance use treatment staff.

Discuss culturally responsive strategies to working with tribal members experiencing mental health and substance use disorders (SUD). Explore how trauma contributes to SUD and mental health needs. Identify how to integrate cultural practices into the healing and recovery process, including the Red Road to Wellbriety approach to addressing substance use.

The conference takes place May 6-9, 2024 in Fairbanks, AK. Drug Trend Awareness topics will be taught on May 7, 2024 in a 1.5 hour plenary session, followed by two 1.25-hour breakout sessions the same afternoon. The target audience for the conference is tribal leaders, tribal administrators, tribal court judges, law enforcement officers, and lawmakers. The expected attendance is approximately 300 participants representing roughly 70 tribal nations across the State of Alaska.

Engage in discussion with tribal and state law enforcement and corrections personnel to aid in the development of culturally responsive practices for working with tribal populations experiencing trauma and substance use disorders. Summarize key components and benefits of a law enforcement led intervention and deflection program. Discuss ways to build tribal community partnerships to provide comprehensive resources and services to tribal members in the criminal justice system. Deploy action planning steps to implement culturally responsive law enforcement and corrections practices.

Engage in discussion with peers working in tribal and state diversion focused on the common work being done as well as shared needs, challenges and successes. Examine key concepts related to implementing a juvenile diversion program for tribal youth. Review collaborative multidisciplinary approaches to support youth, including tribal law enforcement led diversion and intervention approaches and providing wraparound services from a cultural perspective.

This webinar explores the critical challenges faced by tribal populations during the post-incarceration and post-treatment reentry and reintegration process. We will examine issues such as cultural disconnection, limited access to resources, systemic discrimination and stigma, substance use disorders (SUDs), co-occurring mental health issues, and other significant barriers.