Urban American Indian Practice Improvement Collaborative

MISSION

The purpose of the Urban American Indian Practice Improvement Collaborative (UAIPIC) is to enhance the quality and cultural appropriateness of substance abuse services for American Indian youth by working with treatment counselors to adapt best practices to American Indian treatment settings. The role of this Practice Improvement Collaborative (PIC) is to provide the infrastructure for testing and applying the results of treatment effectiveness research that will be pertinent to the real world of American Indians.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
• Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB)
• Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, Inc. (NARA)
• Chemawa Alcohol Education Center (CAEC) at the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon

GOVERNANCE

Members of the UAIPIC represent research, provider, and policymaking organizations. The PIC is governed by an Executive Council of 10 representatives that has acted as the decision-making group during year 1, and the members of which met quarterly in person or by videoconference. Staff meetings are held twice a month at OHSU to prepare project materials and activities to present to the Council. The role of the Executive Council is to review project milestones and timelines, consult on project activities, and address problems and issues facing the PIC. Council members generate working papers for the Stakeholder Council to review and comment on. The Stakeholder Council meets once a year and serves as a "think tank" for the PIC and assists in identifying new partnerships and opportunities to ensure ongoing collaborations.

STAKEHOLDER EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT

The UAIPIC has organized a series of biweekly meetings of its Executive Council and annual meeting of the PIC Stakeholder's Council, and has provided teleconferencing of the stakeholder meetings. The PIC has participated with the Portland Area Indian Health Services Advisory Group to discuss the critical needs of American Indian students attending a school for children with behavioral health needs (mental health, drug, and alcohol treatment). The PIC held a meeting with the Oregon American Indian Provider Association where both discussed the need for evidence-based practices in American Indian communities. The PIC hosts a website on which it disseminates practice improvement materials to its community of providers, researchers, and policymakers.

PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES

• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) for American Indian youth
• Use of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) in adolescent treatment
• Cognitive behavioral therapy for American Indian youth

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

• Provide MET training and followup support for substance abuse and mental health counselors
• Provide cognitive behavioral therapy training and followup consultation
• Conduct training in the use of ASI in treatment programs for American Indian adolescents

EVALUATION ACTIVITIES

• Evaluate the effectiveness of MET training, combined with booster sessions (bimonthly televideo and face-to-face case reviews)
• Evaluate the effectiveness of a train-the-trainers model in cognitive behavioral therapy for American Indian youth with co-occurring disorders (depression and alcohol abuse)

CONTACT INFORMATION