My project is a community needs assessment for the Bear River Band of Rhonerville Rancheria, who are my community partners. I am working with Liana Whiteley, Director of Social Services. This needs assessment is needed to effectively assess and address the educational needs of the youth in their community. It is also a way to assess how the local school districts can better support the education of the tribes youth, their families, and their community. With this needs assessment, I hope to be able to capture the necessary information to demonstrate Bear River Rancheria’s need for an educational system that is supportive and inclusive of their community and culture.

Humboldt County, California is comprised of Indigenous tribal lands. The county has no residential substance use treatment program to meet the needs of the Indigenous Community. The purpose of this project is to implement Indigenous practices within the residential substance use treatment program. The following healing activities will be incorporated into the treatment program, both on and off-site. Red Roads will be offered to individuals once a week on site. Gender appropriate talking circles while beading will be offered on-site weekly. Individuals will have the opportunity to sweat twice a month, off-site.

The Blue Lake Rancheria community has had visibly polluted air and matter emitted from the local biomass plant over the recent past. The Rancheria is concerned about the negative health impact the biomass plant could be having on the environment and community. This literary review hopes to establish an understanding of the impact of the Blue Lake biomass energy plant’s impact on air quality, determine standards of emissions which it operates and examine the gaps between current healthy standards of emission and that of the Blue Lake biomass plant. The findings will inform the Blue Lake Rancheria and will raise public awareness of the air quality and health impact of the biomass energy plant.

Tri-Mindful is a community wellness event that will raise money for our Mother (Earth) and our Sisters (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women). The mindfulness triathlon will consist of: 3k fun run/walk or 5k race, grounding exercise, and a guided meditation. The event will culminate to a space with Indigenous artists, speakers, and activities. By partnering with Seventh Generation Fund, our aim is to promote: (1) social, economic, and environmental justice for sovereign Tribal communities; (2) community wellness; and (3) holistic healing through the Indigenous traditional contemplative practice.

Bake the World a Better Place is a non-profit organization based out of Denver, Colorado that aims to holistically improve the community. Presently, the organization engages in job training and job placement of marginalized populations such as those experiencing homelessness. Additionally, continuing collaborations are being made with local hotels to assist with housing individuals during the job training process. Products made during the classes are shared with individuals living on the streets. Through building community partnerships between business, social service agencies, and vulnerable populations, each entity is taking an active role in helping improve their community.

Brain health, and the benefits of physical exercise, have been linked to a biological signaling molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Numerous studies have investigated BDNF levels before and after exercise. Some benefits of increased BDNF concentration have been associated eith better cognitive functioning, memory and neuronal support. Decreased BDNF levels have been linked to poorer cognitive functioning, poorer memory recall, and apoptosis (cell death). This study investigates BDNF variability over a longer duration (30 days) through capillary-drawn blood and will do a correlational analysis to see if recent physical exercise increases circulating BDNF concentrations.

The Institute of Harm Reduction Research, Policy and Practice (IHRRPP) seeks to reduce harms associated with alcohol and other drugs (AOD). Such harms affect individuals, families, and the local community. Harm may be the result of problematic substance use, or the laws and policies which pertain to substance consumption. The Zendo Project is an offshoot of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and seeks to provide education on the nature of psychedelic harm reduction. By providing best-practice training for attending to psychedelic crises, Zendo Project reduces harms that can arise from erratic behavior, penal responses, and other negative experiences.

Utilizing Photovoice, my project supported youth exploration of the causes creating problems faced locally, as well as the ways in which the youth feel we can come together to help find solutions as a community. Through a series of focus groups, photography, and photo analysis, the youth chose a contemporary challenge that either affected them personally, or their community, and took photos of what they felt are possible causes and solutions to these social problems. This method allowed the youth to bridge connections with their community and was a form of empowerment research that supported building their self-esteem, relationship with their community, and their problem-solving skills.

This project concists of my participation as a co-facilitator in a substance abuse relapse prevention group through the Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) located at Waterfront Recovery Services in Eureka. This group meets once a week with participants who are in the early stages of recovery and who are ready to learn new coping skills that will enhance the rate of success and minimize relapse incidents. Evidence-based practice methods as they pertain to the five models of group therapy used in substance abuse treatment is being utilized in addition to traditional cultural elements congruent with the Native American worldview.

The community need I addressed is part of the Department of Health and Human Services Mental Health branch of Hum WORKS. I evaluated the fidelity of Seeking Safety group facilitation compared to the specifics of the book. I collected data on how well the Seeking Safety group is facilitated through an assessment tool with a scale from 0 to 3. Addressing mental health needs for PTSD and substance use co-occurring disorders in Humboldt County. There are two rating scales one is the quality the facilitator is providing to the Seeking Safety group. The second is helpfulness of the facilitators quality of mental health services provided overall for the clients last twelfth classes.