Project Making Medicine (PMM) is a national training program for mental health professionals from tribal and Indian Health Service agencies in the prevention and treatment of child abuse. PMM is funded by a grant from the Indian Health Service and the Office of Child Abuse and Neglect in HHS and is directed by Dolores Subia BigFoot, PhD.

To download the announcement and application to participate in Project Making Medicine, click here.

This project developed a series of booklets to assist individuals in better understanding issues affecting Native communities. The booklets increase the amount and quality of resource materials available to community workers so that they can assist Native American victims of crime and the general Native public. This project was funded by the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. You can download the monographs by selecting the title below:

• Abusers Who Were Abused: Myths and Misunderstanding
• Community Readiness: A Promising Model for Community Healing
• Confidentiality Issues in Child Physical and Sexual Abuse Case
• Dealing with Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse
• The Difference Between Forensic Interviews and Clinical Interviews
• Child Advocacy Centers in Indian Country
• History of Victimization in Indian Country
• Developing and Implementing Memorandums of Understandings Between Tribes, the Federal Government and the State Government
• Native Americans and HIV/AIDS
• An Overview of Elder Abuse in Indian Country
• Psychological Evaluations
• Public Law 280: Issues and Concerns
• Tribal Courts
• Multidisciplinary Teams and Child Protection Teams

This curriculum was designed for Federal Criminal Justice Personnel working in Indian Country. “Upon the Back of a Turtle…” contains a 22 minute video and sections on Introduction to Indian Country, Historical Overview of Federal Policies and Events, Historical Trauma and Present Impact, History of Federal Victim Assistance Services and Programs, Issues and Cultural Considerations in Delivery of Victim Services in Indian Country, and Justice in Indian Country. The project was funded by the Office for Victims of Crime. Contact the Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center at 1-800-627-6872 to request a copy.

CCAN provides administrative oversight for a consultant to provide on-site training in the prevention of domestic violence to both developing and established programs in Indian Country. In addition, the consultant will provide training at regional and national conferences as well as phone consultation. To request training or technical assistance, contact Dolores Subia BigFoot, PhD.

CCAN has received a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop the Indian Country Child Trauma Center (ICCTC). The goal of the ICCTC is to develop trauma related treatment protocols, outreach materials, and service delivery guidelines specifically adapted and designed for Native American children.
These treatment protocols will incorporate both common and tribal specific Native cultural perspectives and traditions; principles of current evidence-based models; and will be sufficiently flexible to accommodate the varying cultures within Native people and communities.

The models the ICCTC will be adapted include:

• Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
• Children with Sexual Behavior Problems (CSBP)
• Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)