Mid-Central Regional Center Sponsors Successful Opioid Conference
Officer, Osage Nation.
The second State and Regional Opioid Summit entitled, Building Solutions, Healing Communities held on June 12th and 13th by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe in partnership with the Mid Central AHEC, was a resounding success. The conference drew members from tribal communities from across the state including the Hannahville Indian Community, the Little Traverse Bay Band, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewas along with members and staff from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Attendees from other agencies and organizations across the state with over 350 people attending this year's conference.
The Mid Central AHEC applied for opioid funding from through the Michigan AHEC Program Office last fall and was awarded approximately $48,000 in HRSA dollars for opioid programming. The tribe conferred Title Sponsor status upon the Mid Central AHEC for not only funding the conference, but also its immersion in the weekly workgroups and collaboration with various tribal departments on conference planning workgroup for almost a year.
The Opening speaker for the first day of the conference was Dr. Ron Shaw, who currently serves as the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Osage Nation Health Service in Tulsa Oklahoma. He is board certified in Internal and Addiction Medicine and previously served as the past president of the Association of American Indian Physicians. His talk set the stage for the rest of the conference as he presented data on the high rate of opioid addiction in Indian country per one thousand compared to other population groups. He emphasized Medically Assisted Treatment and the need for culturally appropriate programs to more fully engage tribal community members.
Additional speakers included: a representative from Department of Justice and criminal prosecutions of physicians and pharmacists running "opioid mills," Commander Patrice Walker, Deputy Director of the Health and Resource Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health care speaking on resources for communities to access funding for opioid prevention and Dr. Jeannette Betancourt, Vice President for US Social Impact at Sesame Street who directs research based initiatives designed to impact children's early learning, health and wellbeing to counteract the effects of trauma.
The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe is looking forward to working with the Mid Central AHEC to plan next year's conference. The Mid Central AHEC is grateful for the leadership of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and the positive partnership with the tribal community.
Conference photos by: Marcella Hadden
