PERSON-CENTERED RESEARCH ON CULTURE AS HEALTH (PERCH) An Indigenous Model of Wellness

In 2021, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center reported that Native youth from member Tribes experienced the highest rates of opioid-related overdoses and deaths, and have been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic, with a 68% increase in opioid-related deaths since 2019. This crisis intensified during a period of national health challenges when opioid-related overdoses and deaths rose by 33.5% from 2019 to 2020. These high rates of substance use among Native American (NA) youth reflect deeper issues related to mental health, which are influenced by a combination of Historical Trauma and long-standing unmet needs. In response, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) launched multiple studies and began planning the creation of a first-of-its-kind Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center (ARWC) — a residential facility serving youth ages 13–17 who experience substance use disorder (SUD) and other co-occurring mental health conditions. Since the start, GLITC has prioritized a Person-Centered model that incorporates traditional Indigenous values and healing practices. The NCREW HEAL initiative will support these efforts through the development of a culturally grounded research program called Person-centered Research on Culture as Health (PERCH), AIMS, and enhanced research infrastructure. Key objectives include: Establishing and registering the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. Institutional Review Board (IRB). Creating a sustainable plan for effective, culturally informed treatment and recovery programs tailored to Native youth; and Designing a community-based Healthcare Model to better support Native youth living with SUD and other behavioral health challenges.