Some AI/AN communities have experienced suicide clusters, in which a group of suicides or suicide attempts happen close together in time and space. These suicide clusters are rare and occur almost exclusively among teenagers. This report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides information about suicide clusters and responses in tribal communities and identifies strength-based approaches to prevention and response. The authors begin with background information on the prevalence of suicide among AI/AN populations, a description of suicide clusters, and a discussion of the risk and protective factors for suicide. Next, the authors describe the results of a qualitative study of two communities that experienced suicide clusters: a tribal reservation near Albuquerque, New Mexico and three villages on the Bering Sea coast of Western Alaska. Those communities also provide their perspectives on the resources necessary to prevent and respond to suicide clusters and the barriers to effective response.

This brief from the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center provides an overview of key concepts and statistics about trauma in Indian Country. First, the brief provides data on traumatic experiences and exposure to trauma among AI/AN populations. Next, the authors define several key concepts related to trauma, such as historical trauma, historical oppression, adverse childhood experiences, and resilience and resistance. The brief concludes with a discussion of the associations between trauma and health, organizational and community responses to trauma, and future research and policy directions.

This newsletter from the National Indian Child Welfare Association describes the secondary traumatic stress that may occur among providers who work with AI/AN youth and adults. Also known as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, or burnout, secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that comes from hearing another person’s traumatic experiences firsthand. Left unchecked, this secondary trauma can lead to burnout and turnover among social workers. To combat secondary trauma, the authors suggest a strategy of relationship-based prevention. Building trust and safety among coworkers and allowing staff members to practice self-care will help prevent secondary trauma symptoms from escalating to burnout. The newsletter also provides self-care tips and resources for social services professionals who are concerned about secondary traumatic stress.

This article from Indian Country Today discusses how the science of epigenetics suggests that human genes can carry “memories” of trauma experienced by ancestors, and may influence how individuals react to their own trauma and stress. According to Lee Bitsoi, a Research Associate at Harvard University, “Native healers, medicine people, and elders have always known this and it is common knowledge in Native oral traditions.” The article describes the research being conducted on this topic and its implications for Native Americans.

Language assessment and proficiency tools are often the best gauges of language acquisition. There are a variety of tools that language projects can use, such as the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages or ACTFL. Choosing the right assessment tools and providing staff training and support in their use can be difficult. Ku Kahakalau is the Project Director of the Institute for Native Pacific Education & Culture or INPEACE’s Administration for Native Americans (ANA) Funded Project located in Kapolei, Hawaii. The webinar was presented by ANA's Alaska Region Training and Technical Assistance Center on the Indigenous Language Proficiency Scale and other language assessment tools.

In this compendium, the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) details their language projects organized by state from 2010-2012 as a way to demonstrate the breadth and diversity of language activities funded under ANA’s Native Languages program area.

This report from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation describes the implementation of the Tribal Home Visiting Program, which utilizes an evidence-based, two-generation approach. The report includes information about the technical assistance provided to support grantees, recommendations for legislative or administrative action to improve services, and more aspects of the program.

In the United States, there are 1.2 million American Indian and Alaska Native individuals under age 25. This website from the National Congress of American Indians highlights their year-round, ongoing programs for Native Youth.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Regions IX and X hosted the Tribal Technical Assistance Meeting on July 25‐27, 2016 at the Isleta Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The meeting brought together Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) stakeholders to discuss innovative strategies and collaborations to promote economic and social well‐being for individuals, families, and tribal communities. During the meeting, tribal representatives engaged in listening sessions, shared best practices, and participated in workshops in order to more successfully serve the program participants in their communities.