Native Vision: A Focus on Improving Behavioral Health Wellness for California Native Americans
Source: Native American Health Center
Resource Type: Documents and Publications
Focus Population: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), Family Members, Peers, People experiencing Homelessness, People who have experienced Trauma, People with Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
Topics: Culturally Specific Strengths and Resilience, Mental Health Treatment
The California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP) was founded in 2009 with the goal of achieving mental health equity for five priority populations in California – African American, Latino, Native American, Asian and Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+. The Native American Health Center, Inc. through the Native American Strategic Planning Workgroup (also known as the Native Vision Project), has developed a significant and meaningful community-based report to the State of California Department of Mental Health, Office of Multicultural Services. The Native Vision project has accumulated and provided community-defined best and promising strategies for addressing mental health disparities among Native Americans, particularly with regard to prevention and early intervention. This has been completed through the development and input of a workgroup that is broadly representative of the diverse Native communities throughout California, and by facilitating 11 community-based regional focus group gatherings over two years, and is documented in this report. 2 This report includes recommendations for community-identified tools, such as projects and programs, and grassroots community member recommendations to address disparities, as well as strategies for creating culturally competent prevention and early intervention to promote the mental well-being of Native people throughout the state. The Native American Health Center’s Community Wellness Department staff that contributed to the project delivery and/or final report are listed below with accompanying tribal affiliations when appropriate.