Perch: Indigenous approach to wellness through culture and community
Official title: PERSON-CENTERED RESEARCH ON CULTURE AS HEALTH (PERCH) An Indigenous Model of Wellness
Funded at Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, INC. · NIH-11539112 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A tribally led project with Native youth and families aims to improve wellness and reduce substance use and overdose by grounding care in culturally meaningful practices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lac Du Flambeau, United States) |
| Project start | August 23, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $350,110 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2DA061146-01S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539112 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include Native young people (adolescents and young adults) and their families within the 12 GLITC member Tribes who experience substance use, overdose risk, or behavioral health concerns.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the participating Tribes or without substance use/behavioral health needs may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project builds tribal research capacity with 12 member Tribes to address substance use, overdose, and behavioral health among Native youth and families. In Phase I, researchers will engage communities through outreach, focus groups, and dialogue with health professionals, knowledge holders, and elders to identify priorities and new questions. They will translate these findings into a culturally grounded model of care for an Adolescent Recovery & Wellness Center, and later analyze data to refine priorities and plan the intervention framework with clear outcomes and data systems. The work is part of NIH HEAL, aiming to accelerate solutions for addiction and pain management in Indigenous communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially meaningful improvements in culturally aligned care and outcomes for Indigenous youth and families facing substance use and pain-related challenges.
How similar studies have gone: Previous community-driven, culturally grounded approaches have shown promise in improving engagement and outcomes in Indigenous health settings, though this specific model is being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, INC.
Lac Du Flambeau, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Denslinger, Christina — Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, INC.
- Study coordinator: Denslinger, Christina
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.