Native American Connections, Inc.

Nac Special Diabetes Program for Urban Indians - Native American Connections (NAC) Was Founded in 1972 (as Indian Rehabilitation) to Provide Alcohol Recovery Services and a Safe Place to Live for Homeless Indian People Living on the Streets of Phoenix. in 1976, Indian Rehabilitation Opened a Sober Living Home for Men That Operated at the Same Central Phoenix Location for Over 40 Years, and in 1989 the Organization Opened Its Guiding Star Lodge Residential Substance Abuse/recovery Program for Women. Both Programs Were Originally Funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to Provide Substance Abuse and Recovery Services. in 1999, Indian Rehabilitation Formally Changed Its Name to Native American Connections (nac). in May 2018, Nac Received Formal Approval From Indian Health Service (IHS) and Obtained Status as an Urban Indian Organization (UIO) as Defined at 25 U.s.c § 1603(29). in 2022, Nac Is Celebrating 50 Years Serving the Greater Phoenix Area. Nac’s Mission Is “improving the Lives of Individuals and Families Through Native American Culturally Appropriate Behavioral Health, Affordable Housing and Community Development Services.” Nac Owns/operates 25 Sites in the Greater Phoenix Area, Offering Services to More Than 10,000 Individuals/families Residing in Maricopa County and the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the State of Arizona. Urban Ai/an Individuals Experiencing Distress From a Substance Use Disorder With/without Co-occurring Disorders, Including Those Diagnosed With a Serious Mental Illness And/or Are Experiencing Homelessness Are Nac’s Target Population. the Top Diagnosis of Nac’s Ai/an Clients Entering Residential Treatment Is Alcohol Dependence. Nac’s Client Engagement Philosophy Is to Meet the Client “where They Are at”. Nac Maintains This Client-centered Approach Designed to Support New Program Goals and Ensure That Comprehensive Culturally Acceptable Personal and Public Health Services Are Accessible to the Urban Ai/an Population. This Is Accomplished by Nac’s Integrated Health Program’s Ability to Sustain and Improve Access to Integrated Primary Care Services While a Client Is Enrolled in Substance Use Treatment And/or Mental Health Services. the Purpose of Nac’s Integrated Health Program Is to Decrease the Physical Barriers Clients Encounter When Attempting to Access Substance Use, Mental Health, and Primary Care Services. the Goal of Nac’s Integrated Health Program Is to Enhance the Level Integrated Primary Care Services Available to a Client That Is Enrolled in Substance Use Treatment And/or Mental Health Services and That Will Continue as the Client Steps Down to Lower Levels of Care. Nac’s Integrated Health Program Consists of Two Residential Treatment Facilitates, an Outpatient Treatment Program, Sober Living Housing, and the Integrated Clinic. Nac Proposes to Expand the Scope of the Integrated Health Program With Ihs Special Diabetes Project for Indians Grant Funding by Providing Education and Training to Integrated Health Staff to Increase Their Knowledge, Skills, and Overall Competency to Provide Guidance and Support to Ai/an Clients in Residential Treatment With the Management of Their Diabetes. This Education and Training Will Include: 1. a Basic Understanding of Diabetes as a Disease and Its Management, 2. Understanding How to Use Diabetes Devices, 3. Understanding What Diabetic Medications Are and How They Work, 4. What Healthy Eating Habits Look Like, 5. Understanding the Problems and Developing Strategies With Clients to Self-manage Their Diabetes, and 6. Implementing the Ihs Best Practice of Chronic Kidney Disease Screening and Monitoring Within the Integrated Clinic.