Culturally tailored recovery care for Native mothers
CEREMONY: Culturally Engaged REcovery - MOms connected through Native community
A culturally tailored program that combines pregnancy and postpartum care with substance use and mental health support for American Indian and Alaska Native mothers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138665 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered pregnancy and postpartum care that includes substance use treatment (including medications for opioid use disorder), mental health services, and stronger social support. The team is adapting proven perinatal care models to fit Native cultural needs and working with the Sacred Circle Clinic and tribal partners to deliver services. Care coordination, stigma reduction, and community-informed supports are emphasized, especially during the high-risk postpartum months. The project focuses on adult American Indian and Alaska Native mothers in tribal communities and the Utah region.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adult American Indian and Alaska Native women who are pregnant or within the postpartum period, especially those experiencing substance use or mental health concerns.
Not a fit: People who are not American Indian/Alaska Native, those without substance use or mental health needs, or those unable to access local tribal clinics are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce preventable maternal deaths and complications by improving access to culturally appropriate SUD and mental health care during pregnancy and after birth.
How similar studies have performed: Integrated perinatal care combining SUD and mental health treatment has shown benefits in other groups, but culturally adapted programs for American Indian and Alaska Native mothers are relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Debbink, Michelle Precourt — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Debbink, Michelle Precourt
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.