Table Of ContentORTIN
An American
Guide
Indian
Human
UT to
Resource
Services in
Montana
ERVICES
Office of Public Instruction
and the
Montana Board of Crime Control
s
362.8497
P11AIHR
1991?
MONTANASTATELIBRARY
3 0864 0010 2101 6
Helena, MT
59620-1800
Table of Contents
Intrcxluction 1
Foreword 2
Health Status ofMontana Youth 3
General Indian Youth Health Statements 4
Local Agencies 5
Community Mental Health Centers 6
Region 1 6
Region II 8
m
Region 9
Region IV 10
V
Region 12
Support Groups 14
Educational Talent Search 15
Student Support Services 15
Social Security Administration 17
Child Support Enforcement Division 17
Department ofFamily Services 18
Group Homes in Montana 19
Pine Hills School and Mountain View School 27
Family Assistance Division 28
Montana State University Extension Service 29
Youth Court Services 30
The Juvenile Justice System 32
Domestic Violence Shelters 34
American Indian Urban Centers 35
Human Resources Development Council 36
Head Start 37
Infant and Toddler Services 40
Even Start 42
Upward Bound Program 42
Yellowstone City-County Health Department 43
Young Families Program, Inc 44
Tumbleweed Runaway Program, Inc 44
Montana Councils for the Prevention ofChild Abuse 45
Youth Residential Facilities 46
Regional Native American Services 51
Bureau of Indian Affairs Social Services 52
National Native American Resources 53
Billings Area Indian Health Service 55
Indian Health Service Mental Health Services 55
Urban Indian Health Centers 56
Bureau ofIndian Affairs Area Education Office 57
Reservation Services 58
Blackfeet Federal 59
Commodities 59
Energy Assistance 59
Blackfeet Agency B.I.A. Social Services 60
Blackfeet Indian Health Service Unit 61
Blackfeet Tribal 62
Tribal Social Service Programs/Development 62
Blackfeet Alcoholism Program/Medicine Pine Lodge 62
Blackfeet Tribal Education Department 63
Blackfeet Community College 63
Public Schools 63
Blackfeet Private Nonprofit 64
White Buffalo Center 64
Crow Federal 65
Commodities 65
Energy Assistance 65
Crow Agency B.I.A. Social Services 66
Crow Indian Health Service Unit 67
Crow Tribal 69
Crow Tribal Alcoholism Center 69
Thunderchild Adolescent Treatment Center 69
Tribal Social Service Programs 70
J.O.B.S 70
Little Big Horn College 70
Education Office 71
Crow Tribal Health Program 71
Area Schools 71
Crow Private Nonprofit 72
Crow Culture Youth Program 72
Mother Share 72
Ft. Belknap Federal 73
Commodities 73
Energy Assistance 73
Ft. Belknap B.I.A. Social Services 74
Ft. Belknap Tribal 75
Ft. Belknap Community College 75
Area Schools 75
Ft. Belknap Indian Health Service Unit 76
Education Office 77
Ft. Belknap Tribal Health Department 78
Assiniboine Gros Ventre Ft. Belknap Chemical Dependency Program 78
Office ofSubstance Abuse Prevention (OSAP) 78
Ft. Peck Federal 79
Ft. Peck Agency Bureau ofIndian Affairs 79
Ft. Peck Area Indian Health Service 80
Ft. Peck Tribal 81
Assiniboine Sioux Ft. Peck Tribal Alcoholism Program 81
Education Office 82
Ft. Peck Community College 82
Area Schools 82
Tribal Contract 83
Ft. Peck Tribal Health Department 83
Special Programs/Facilities 83
Low Income Energy Assistance 83
Commodity Food and Nutrition Program 84
Northern Cheyenne Federal 84
Northern Cheyenne Indian Health Service Unit 84
Northern Cheyenne Tribal 85
Northern Cheyenne Tribal Social Services 85
Commodities 85
Energy Assistance 85
Education Office 86
Dull Knife Memorial College 86
Area Schools 86
Northern Cheyenne Alcoholism Program 87
Thunderchild Adolescent Treatment Center 87
Rocky Boy Federal 88
Rocky Boy Indian Health Service Unit 88
Commodities 88
Energy Assistance 88
Rocky Boy Tribal 89
Rocky Boy Tribal Social Services 89
Community Health Services 90
Rocky Boy Chippewa Cree Alcoholism Program 90
Education Office 91
Area Schools 91
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Federal 92
Flathead Indian Health Service Unit 92
Tots Program 92
Salish-Kootenai Tribal Human Services 93
Tribal Human Services 94
Tribal Health Department 94
Tribal Energy Assistance 94
Commodities 94
Salish-Kootenai College/Education Office 95
Area Schools 95
Salish-Kootenai Tribe 96
Salish-Kootenai Human Services 96
National Native American Resources 97
Urban Area Schools 98
Glossary 99
Bibliography 101
Introduction
This booklet is designed as acompanionpiece to thepreviouslypublisheddocument
SortingoutServices,A Resource GuideforAlcoholandOtherDrugPrevention
Services in Montanapublished by the Office ofPublic Instruction andMontanaBoard of
Crime Control. Itis intended toprovide thereaderwith a basic background on the health-
related status ofAmerican Indian youth and theirfamilies, as well as information on the
access ofhealth-related services.
Itis notintendedto be an all inclusivedocument, butinstead to assistin the
determination ofthe types ofservices available, theirlocation and accessibility. Itis
designed to allow the readerassistance in the sorting outofhealth-related services for
prevention, intervention and treatment.
Itis well documented that Montana youth exhibit the same health-relatedrisk factors
as those ofother youth in more urban states. Substance use and abuse, nutrition, physical
inactivity, sexual activity, intentional and unintentional injury and tobacco use all pose
problems forMontana youth. These problems are multiplied inrural, sparsely populated
states like Montanawhereresources are limited and regionally located. However, the
health-relatedproblems ofIndian youth aremultiplied again, andeven more soforIndian
youth not livingon the reservation.
The resource information provided in this booklet was gathered by the Native
American Family Empowerment Project (NAFE) which was funded by an Extension
Service youth atrisk grant from the Montana StateUniversity Extension Service, 4-H
Youth Development program and the U.S. DepartmentofAgriculture. This project
targets American Indian youth at riskon ornearreservations in Montana. Appreciation is
extended fortheircooperation.
Forfurtherinformation on initiating adrug and alcohol prevention program in your
school and community, referto the documentProgram PlanningGuidelines and
CommunityInventory. Formore information on the riskfactors facingour youth, as well
as the protective factors which the school, community and parents can enhance, referto
the documentFosteringResiliencyin Kids:ProtectiveFactorsin theFamily, School,
andCommunity. Both documents are available from the Office ofPublic Instruction or
the Montana Board ofCrime Control.
Foreword
MontanaIndian youth represent a significantproportionofour student population.
While many ofthese youthreside on or nearone ofMontana's seven reservations, many
others arefound in rural orurban areas away from thereservation. The health statusof
Indian youth has long been a concern, butfew comprehensive surveys had been
conducted until the past few years. Now, we can look at thehealth-related risk factors
exhibited by Montana Indian youth and, hopefully, workto preventnegative health
behaviorfrombeginning orinitiate early intervention programs foryouth already in
trouble. This booklet is designed toprovide the resources necessary to assistin these
processes.
Itmay be helpful to look at some ofthe things we now know concerning the health
status ofIndian youth. Between 1988 and 1990, the Adolescent Health Programat the
University ofMinnesota, in conjunction with the Indian Health Service, conducted a
survey of 4,000 American Indian and Alaskan Native youths across the country.
1
Students from 50 different tribes, in nearly 200 schools in adozen states, including
Montana, participated. In 1991, the Montana Youth Risk BehaviorSurvey was given to
more than 13,000 students in over 135 Montana schools. The results ofthese two surveys
provide us with acomprehensive view ofthe health risks facing American Indian youth
and theirfamilies.
Many American Indian youth live inextended family situations. Less than one-halfof
the youth surveyed reported livingin homes with twoparents, and 37 percent livein
homes with only one parent About 20percentreportedliving in a home with a
grandparentoraunt/uncle. Just underone-thirdreported theirparents were divorced or
separated. Well overone-third ofthe studentsreported worrying about the economic
survival oftheirfamilies. Economic insecurity and alackofjobs are a wayoflife on
many reservations. In addition, the numberonerisk factorforalcohol and drug abuse has
been nationally identified as poverty. Otherworries forIndian students included the
possibility ofparental divorce, fearforpersonal safety and parental abuse.
The school dropoutrate for Indian youth is estimated to beas high as 40 percent, yet
most students indicated they felt good about going to school. More girls than boys liked
school and more boys than girls hated school. As with all students, academic performance
and attitudes toward learning seem toconform to the expectations ofparents. Teens who
reported high expectations from parentsconsistently showed better school performance
and a more positive attitude toward school. Surprisingly, relatively few ofthose who
disliked school reported skipping regularly.
The mostdeviant behaviors both on andoffthe school grounds were drinking and
drug use. Fighting and inhalant use were more common among thosein youngergrades
than those in uppergrades. Students who skippedclasses were alsomore likely tobe
involvedin these risky behaviors.
Health Status of Montana Youth
Approximately 25 percentofIndian youth can be classified as obese. This is
predictive ofadult health problems such as diabetes, cardiovasculardisease andcancer.
This may be due to a variety offactors including poornutrition, pooreating selection and
lack ofregularexercise programs.
Because the use ofalcohol is associated with a majority ofthevehiculardeathsof
teenagers, drinking anddriving is among themostdeadly ofmotorvehicle risks. Ofall
Indian youth surveyed, over20 percent reported that they often or sometimes ride in a
vehicle operated by someone who has been drinking.
Approximatelyone-thirdofthe Indian youthindicated that they rode amotorcycle at
leastonce a month and almost one-halfindicatedthatthey rarely orneverwore ahelmet.
Well over50 percentofboth Indian male and female students say theyrarelyornever
use seat belts while riding in an automobile. In addition, anotherdangerouspractice of
youth living on reservations wasriding in the backofopen pickup trucks.
Almost one-halfofall Indian respondents indicated thatthey had been involvedin a
fightduring the past year, and almostaquarterhad been involved in a group fight.
Students who are regularusersofalcohol and drugs are more apt toengage in violent
behavior.
Over20 percent ofIndian youthreported thatthey had attempted suicide in thepast
12 months. Suicide is the third leadingcauseofdeath among youth aged 15-24. Montana
has one ofthe highest suicide rates in the nation in suicidesper 100,000people. The
suicide rate forMontana youth remains in the top ten in the nation.
Almost one-third ofall Indian studentsreported that they had sexual intercourse, with
males more likely tobe sexually active than females. By the 12th grade, 65 percentof
males and 57 percent offemales have had sexual intercourse. The average age offirst
intercourse is 14.2 years forfemales and 13.6 years formales.
Nearly one-halfofIndian males and females in grades 7-9reported everhaving used
beerorwine, forgrades 10-12 overtwo-thirdsofthe females and three-quarters ofmales
reported having used beeror wine and forthe 12th gradeover 80percentofthe males and
70 percentofthe femalesreported having used beerorwine.
General Indian Youth Health Statements
Thedeath rate forIndian adolescents is twice that ofadolescentsofotherracial/
ethnic backgrounds.
Comparing Indian males ages 10-19 with "all races"data, the death rate forIndian
males is nearly three times higherthan those of"all races,"and 2.7 times higher
than forblacks.
In 1983, the Indian Health Servicefound that by age 17 Indian teens have five and
one-halftimes the decayed, missing, and filled teeth ofotherteens.
Among 15 to 19-year-old American Indian youth, death frommotorvehicle
injuries occurs attwice the rate than forall otherraces.
Suicide is the second leadingcause ofdeath forAmerican Indian adolescents. In
1986, the age-specific mortalityrates forsuicide for 15 to 19-year-old Indians was
an estimated 26.3 deaths per 100,000compared to 10per 100,000for"all races."
Suicide rates for 10-14 yearolds are approximately fourtimes higher than for"all
races."
Child and adolescent abuse may be as high as 33 percent and sexual abuse and
physical abuse appearto be higher among Indian youth than white youth.
Fertility rates for Indian adolescents ages 15-17 were overtwo and one-halftimes
higherthan for"allraces." Indian adolescent females report a higherpercentage of
teen pregnancies and births than the white population.
By the 11th grade, the use ofalcohol iscomparable between Indian and white
youth. YoungerIndian youth use all substances morefrequently than white youth.
By the 12th grad, more than one in fourIndian youth can be classified as problem
drinkers.
Results ofthe 1991 Montana Youth Risk BehaviorSurvey indicate that Indian
youth exhibit health-related risk factors at the same level or higherlevel than their
white counterparts. Furthermore, Indian youth in the non-reservation setting
exhibit a higherlevel ofhealth risk than reservation Indian youth.
