Scholarship Program for Native Americans to Create Pipeline of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Professionals in North Dakota
May 03 2018 - 10:30AM
Business Wire
- American Indian College Fund and
United Health Foundation partner to create solutions to substance
abuse and opioid crisis
- Program to include scholarships,
mentoring, academic support, job training and research
opportunities
The American Indian College Fund, in partnership with United
Health Foundation, has launched The United Health Foundation Tribal
Wellness Scholarship Program to create a pipeline of mental health
and substance abuse professionals in North Dakota to serve remote
and rural communities.
This pilot scholarship program, funded through a $360,000 grant
from United Health Foundation, will help individuals, families and
communities affected by substance abuse to rebuild their lives and
ensure their tribal heritage and traditions are passed along to the
next generation.
The United Health Foundation Tribal Wellness Scholarship Program
will include scholarships, mentoring, academic support, job
training and research opportunities. A cohort of 12 Native American
students from North Dakota pursuing degrees in recovery-related
fields will receive educational support, with six awards designated
for associate degree candidates and six for students seeking a
bachelor’s or master’s degree.
This program was discussed at a recent event at the Cankdeska
Cikana Community College in Fort Totten. The event, attended by
North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, highlighted the need for holistic
solutions to address substance abuse within Native American
communities.
“As tribal communities face the ongoing opioid and meth crisis,
it’s critical that we improve access to high-quality health care on
North Dakota reservations, including behavioral health services and
addiction treatment,” said Sen. Heitkamp. “Through this new
program, the American Indian College Fund and the United Health
Foundation are demonstrating the importance of training the next
generation of health care professionals in the fight against
addiction in rural communities and Indian Country. I look forward
to following the program’s progress as we work together to put more
tribal members on a path to long-term recovery.”
“Substance abuse has devastated communities in North Dakota. All
of us know people who have been affected by it,” said Cheryl Crazy
Bull, president and CEO of the American Indian College Fund.
“Expanding access to culturally relevant treatment is an important
step forward. Together, we can improve our society and build a
better world.”
Finding suitable drug treatment within a reasonable travel
distance in primarily rural North Dakota is a challenge. While the
rate of drug deaths is lower in North Dakota than in the nation
overall, the drug death rate in the state is rising sharply. In the
past three years, North Dakota drug deaths increased 90 percent,
according to the 2017 America’s Health Rankings report.
“The people of this community said the biggest issue we have is
the lack of resources to address addiction,” said Dr. Cynthia
Lindquist, president of Cankdeska Cikana Community College, a
tribal college serving the Spirit Lake Dakota Community in North
Dakota. “There is much work to be done, but everything we do today
builds a better tomorrow. This new partnership is bringing forth
new opportunities for our people.”
“Thousands of Americans are dying across the country from
addiction and opioid abuse, and people living in rural areas often
suffer more due to the lack of easily accessible health care,” said
Martha Temple, CEO of Optum Behavioral Health, a UnitedHealth Group
company. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the
American Indian College Fund to support the training and education
of tomorrow’s health care professionals who will bring quality care
to people who need it most.”
About the American Indian College
FundFounded in 1989, the American Indian College Fund
has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher
education for more than 28 years. The College Fund believes
“Education is the answer" and provided 6,548 scholarships last year
totaling $7.6 million to American Indian students, with more than
125,000 scholarships totaling over $100 million since its
inception. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and
support programs at the nation’s 35 accredited tribal colleges and
universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations,
ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their
careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from
independent charity evaluators, and received a four-star rating
from Charity Navigator and is one of the nation’s top 100 charities
named to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For
more information about the American Indian College Fund, please
visit www.collegefund.org.
About the United Health
FoundationThrough collaboration with community partners,
grants and outreach efforts, the United Health Foundation works to
improve our health system, build a diverse and dynamic health
workforce and enhance the well-being of local communities. The
United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group
(NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation
dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, the United
Health Foundation has committed nearly $358 million to programs and
communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at
www.unitedhealthgroup.com/SocialResponsibility
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Group.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005147/en/
American Indian College FundDina Horwedel,
303-430-5350dhorwedel@collegefund.orgorUnited Health
FoundationJenifer McCormick,
952-936-1917jenifer_mccormick@uhg.com
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