American Indian Team: program overviews
American Indian Team
The American Indian Team at the Behavioral Health Division (BHD) empowers and nurtures cultural resiliency and equity for healthier American Indians, their families, children, communities and Tribal Nations living in Minnesota.
The Team focuses on providing resources and developing policies for American Indian families, children, communities and Tribal Nations within Minnesota through authentic and cultural engagement with American Indian partners.
BHD works with the American Indian Mental Health Advisory Council & the American Indian Advisory Council (Substance Use Disorder).
Grounding Acknowledgement
We collectively acknowledge that we are located on the traditional land of Indigenous people that once, and still is, occupied by the Ojibwe, Dakota and other Native peoples from time immemorial. These lands hold great historical, spiritual, cultural and personal significance for these Native nations. We recognize, support and advocate for the sovereignty of these nations in this territory and beyond. By offering this land acknowledgement, we affirm tribal sovereignty and will hold ourselves accountable to the American Indian people and nations.
Grants & Applications for Tribes and Tribal Communities
- The Behavioral Health Division (BHD) oversees Minnesota's mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services that are paid for with state and federal funds. To support these services, BHD awards grants to counties, Tribes, and nongovernmental providers. Behavioral health services include Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and mental health prevention, treatment, short-term and long-term care as well as home and community-based services.
- Tribal Nations and Tribal Communities are eligible to apply for these grants.
- Specific instructions for grant applications are available at each link below:
Tribal Provider/Human Services Referrals
- Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Human Services:
- Nett Lake: (218) 757-3295
- Vermilion: (218) 753-2347
- Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Human Services:
- (218) 879-1227
- Toll Free: 888-888-6007
- Advocacy Crisis Line: (218) 348-1817
- Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Human Services:
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Human Services:
- (218) 335-8382 or (218) 335-8303
- Toll Free: (866) 216-7245
- Lower Sioux Social Services & ICWA Center:
- Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Behavioral Health Services:
- (320) 532-4754 or (320) 532-7776
- Toll Free: (800) 709-6445, ext.7776
- Prairie Island Indian Community Family Services:
- (651) 385-4245 or (651) 267-4027
- Red Lake Nation Chemical Health Programs:
- Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Behavioral Health Clinic:
- Upper Sioux Community Pezihutazizi Oyate Social Services:
- Direct: (320) 564-6319
- Mobile: (320) 226-2267
- White Earth Nation Behavioral Health:
How is BHD Organized?
- The Behavioral Health Division (BHD) is a division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS helps provide essential services to Minnesota's most vulnerable residents and works with many others, including counties, Tribes and nonprofits.
- The Behavioral Health Division (BHD) consists of the following areas:
- The BHD American Indian Team provides technical assistance, nurtures mutual collaborations and supports data collection and analysis that contributes to creating a new system and policies that work towards positive and sustainable systemic changes for American Indian families, children, communities and Tribal Nations within Minnesota.
BHD American Indian Team Staff Members
- Donald Moore: Team Supervisor
- Melissa Favila: SUD Grants and Contracts
- Shawnee Hunt: SUD Grants and Contracts
- Christine Renville: SUD Grants and Contracts
- Perry Moore: Traditional Healing Grants
- Kathleen Preuss: Mental Health Grants and Contracts
- Kimberly Strand: Mental Health Grants and Contracts
- Crystal Weckert: Mental Health Clinical Coordinator
DHS Links
Immediate Assistance:
- Mobile Crisis Mental Health Services
- Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7 NATIVE (1-844-762-8483):
- 24/7, safe, confidential and anonymous domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives
- Suicide Prevention:
