Circles of Care

Circles of Care is a program that supports children with severe emotional disturbances and their families. It is also a grant program for AI/AN communities. 

The interconnectedness of physical and mental well-being has long been recognized by American Indians and Alaskan Natives.UIHS is an organization that exemplifies this connection, as it provides services (medical, dental, behavioral and community health) that reflect the cultural values of the AI/AN community.

However, there is a clear need for an enhanced infrastructure to increase the capacity of UIHS to improve and sustain mental health and support services that weave together a system of care to provide a spectrum of services and a continuum of care. These internal (tribally-based) and external (community-based) supportive services need to be organized into a coordinated network. UIHS has built meaningful partnerships with Tribal, as well as community-based entities, which this project, He-wo-lo’ (We survive) can utilize to reduce the gap between the need and availability of mental health and supportive services.

Staff: Alissa Johnson

What is the Circles of Care (CoC) Grant?

  • 3-year grant to identify and analyze community needs systematically.
  • This is a planning grant, NOT an implementation grant. 
  • Create a coordinated network of services and supports across agencies to meet the multiple and complex needs of our AI/AN children, youth and their families and caregivers.
  • Provide tribal and urban Indian communities with tools and resources to plan/design a holistic, evidence and community based, coordinated system of care to support mental health for children, youth families and caregivers.