First Face for Adolescents (adapting a tribal program for teens)
Official title: First Face for Adolescents
Funded at Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations · NIH-11366301 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A youth-focused mental health and substance-use program is being adapted for AI/AN teens to help with self-management, peer support, and when to seek professional help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Spokane Valley, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,651 |
| NIH project number | 1S06GM164729-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366301 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are AI/AN adolescents aged roughly 12–18 who experience behavioral health challenges and live in rural AI/AN communities.
✕Less likely to help
TEENS without access to AI/AN community resources or who do not experience behavioral health concerns may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project adapts an existing program with strong Tribal cultural grounding to an adolescent audience. It aims to teach self-management skills for behavioral health, encourage healthy peer support, and reduce stigma around seeking professional help. The effort focuses on AI/AN youths in rural and Alaska Native communities, supporting earlier access to care and culturally safe practices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce barriers to mental health care and substance-use support for AI/AN adolescents, improving transitions into adulthood.
How similar studies have gone: Similar culturally grounded teen programs have shown potential benefits in engagement and help-seeking, but this adolescent adaptation is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
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Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations
Spokane Valley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gray, Heather M — Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations
- Study coordinator: Gray, Heather M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Research Operations and Technical Assistance for Indigenous Health Research
A program to strengthen how Indigenous communities lead and participate in health research, with activities at Tribal sites and youth involvement.
-
Optimizing Tribal Youth Outcomes for Leas & Legal Professionals
A culturally grounded training program for Tribal law enforcement and legal professionals to better support youth with mental health and substance-use challenges.
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First Face in the Classroom: Helping Youth Thrive with Mental Health Training
A school-based mental health training program, adapted from First Face, is being developed to support youth in preventing and responding to mental health crises.
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Administrative Core supports tribal youth mental health research and collaboration
This grant funds an Administrative Core to boost collaboration, planning, and culturally grounded mental health work with Indigenous communities and youth.
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Advancing Cultures of Recovery in Tribal Communities
A tribal youth addiction-recovery program is partnering with researchers to strengthen culturally grounded support and mental health services for American Indian youth in recovery.
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Strengthening Tribal community recovery and mental health support
This project will build and train a local research and training team to improve culturally grounded mental health and substance use supports for Tribal communities.
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.