Person-centered Indigenous model of wellness (PERCH)
Official title: PERSON-CENTERED RESEARCH ON CULTURE AS HEALTH (PERCH) An Indigenous Model of Wellness
Funded at Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, INC. · NIH-11367179 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Building a culturally rooted recovery and wellness program to help Native American teens ages 13–17 who are dealing with substance use and mental health challenges.
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 | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $264,826 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2DA061146-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367179 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Native American adolescents (ages 13–17) experiencing substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions, and tribal communities helping implement the program.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not Native American adolescents (for example adults, non-Native youth, or youth without SUD) or those outside the participating tribal region are unlikely to benefit directly from this grant.
What this research studies
You would see a planned residential Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center that combines clinical care with traditional Indigenous values and healing practices for youth aged 13–17. The project will set up a local tribal Institutional Review Board and strengthen research and program infrastructure so the community can guide how care and data are handled. Staff training, person-centered care protocols, and partnerships across member Tribes will be developed to support continuity of care. The focus is on planning and building community-led services rather than testing a specific medication or device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve culturally relevant recovery support and mental health outcomes for Native American adolescents with substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Culturally tailored Indigenous wellness and recovery efforts have shown promise in community settings, but a residential adolescent recovery center combined with a tribal-led IRB and formalized research infrastructure is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Perch: Indigenous approach to wellness through culture and community
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.
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Great Lakes Tribal College Research Network capacity building
This grant aims to strengthen and connect Tribal Colleges in the Great Lakes region to build shared research capacity and collaboration.
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Great Lakes Indigenous Student Career Enhancement Program
Aimed at helping Indigenous students enter healing and health-related careers through mentorship, internships, networking, and tailored resources.
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Great Lakes Native Students Biomedical Path to College
A Native American student program blends tribal traditions with hands-on biomedical experiences to broaden exposure and education in science.
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Great Lakes Native American Health Centers Administrative Core
A Native American health research administrative core supports partnerships and training across a regional network to improve health research capacity.
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Great Lakes Native American Research Center for Health (GLNARCH) initiative to grow Native biomedical research talent
A Native-led NIH program is funding a multi-component effort to build research capacity and support Native students and researchers across the Great Lakes region.
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.