Opioid Awareness Coalition (OAC)
The Opioid Awareness Coalition (OAC) was founded in February of 2019 by UIHS’ Tribal Public Health Department as a monthly community coalition group with UIHS leadership, our Tribal Partners, law enforcement, community partners, cultural leaders, and individuals with lived experience to combat the opioid epidemic in our region.
The Opioid Awareness Coalition (OAC) developed a strategic plan that identified and
prioritized the need for:
- Cultural activities, Ceremonies, and Sweats
- Methods to provide education to our tribal and non-tribal communities on opioid
related topics - Utilization of herbs, teas, and salves to address wellness, including traditional and
pain management - Cultural trainings
- Reducing stigma
- Alternative pain management options
OAC’s plan includes providing education through community events, youth and elder activities, traditional arts and crafts, working with schools, social media posts, talking circles, lived experience presentations, and sharing data with others. It also highlights the need of robust prevention activities, methods to manage pain, effective treatment services and ways to prevent opioid overdose deaths within our tribal communities.
OAC meets virtually on the second Friday of each month!
For more information, please call Tribal Public Health at (707)825-5070
Samantha Hooven, HPE Supervisor
Melissa Defenbaugh, HPE Specialist
Bonnie Sherman, Peer Specialist/Client Advocate
Stormy Escamilla, HPE Specialist
SuWorhrom David Baldy, HPE Specialist