TACUNA (Traditions and Connections for Urban Native Americans)

TACUNA provides three virtual workshops (one hour each) that use motivational interviewing and a virtual Wellness Circle (WC). The workshops combine a 30-minute discussion of opioid, alcohol and marijuana use, and social networks with another 30 minutes focused on three different traditional practices (one per workshop). TACUNA was adapted from our three-session workshop, MICUNAY (Motivational Interviewing and Culture for Urban Native American Youth) protocol, which was developed and tested for urban AI/AN adolescents and from focus groups conducted in Year 1. For the Wellness Circle, youth will have members of their social network virtually attend these once-a-month gatherings. The WC will bring people together to celebrate health and wellness and tradition. The WC will focus on the importance of social networks in making healthy choices, and provide discussion on the role that AOD use and engagement in traditional practices among members of their social networks affect their choices.

The virtual opioid education workshop draws from prevention and education materials supplied and recommended by the National AI/AN Technology and Transfer Center, which is funded by SAMHSA. Materials are culturally relevant educational packages addressing opioid use through recorded webinars, toolkits, and other resources.