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PHOENIX INDIAN CENTER
Prevention Services

We know that in order to be successful in one’s personal, educational and professional life, we need to make good decisions and have a good network of support. This support can be from family, friends and from community organizations such as ours. We offer several programs to help support our urban American Indian families to increase communication, build community and to prevent risky behaviors and promote healthy choices.

To sign up for an upcoming workshop, visit our calendar events page: Click here to register

(UICAZ)
Urban Indian Coalition of Arizona

UICAZ is a grassroots community coalition focused on educating and preventing substance use and abuse by adolescents and suicide prevention in the urban American Indian community. Members share strength in providing resources, bringing diverse perspectives, and collaboration to create awareness and address issues within our community.

Our number one goal is to support our youth and assist them in making healthy choices that will prevent them from drinking while underage. We strive to educate about the dangers of prescription drugs, marijuana abuse and create awareness about suicide. We advocate for the Urban Indian Child Welfare Act to protect Native American children and to promote the preservation of AI/AN families and tribes.

Please join us – your voice is needed! It truly does take a village to make a difference. The coalition meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Join virtually on Zoom at the Phoenix Indian Center for our UICAZ meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. To register, click here 

  • To view the agenda for our March 2025 meeting: Click here
  • To view the February 2025 Meeting Minutes: Click here
  • To view the UICAZ bylaws: Click here

If you haven’t already, please fill out a UICAZ Membership Form: Click here.  Email form to uicaz@phxindcenter.org 

Follow us on social media @UICAZ or @UrbanIndianCoalitionOfArizona on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter

Our Prevention Team is here to help keep our urban American Indian community safe by providing culturally responsive resources and prevention programming. 

See what's coming up...

Urban Indian Coalition of Arizona

Mission Statement: Our mission is to create a sustainable coalition that addresses prevention of suicide, underage drinking and use/abuse of marijuana and prescription drugs through the foundation of cultures to improve the overall well-being of Urban American Indian youth and families.

Indigenous Communities Healing Together: A Journey Through Substance Use Awareness & Recovery

Join the Urban Indian Coalition of Arizona for an informative webinar series to understand, address & learn how we can overcome substance use challenges within Indigenous Communities. This series is brought to you by the Training and Workshops subcommittee of the Urban Indian Coalition of Arizona. Workshops will be held every 3rd Tuesday, every other month starting Jan. 21, 2025.

Key Objectives Include:

  • Summarize the impact of substance use in Native American communities.
  • Apply culturally responsive care by integrating traditional healing practices with modern treatment strategies.
  • Implement prevention strategies integrated with Native cultural values.
  • Identify resources for support and building community resilience.

May Training

Topic: Alcohol & Underage Drinking

  • Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2025
  • Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
  • Location: Virtual
  • Registration: Click here

July Training

Topic: Marijuana

  • Date: Thursday, July 22, 2025
  • Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
  • Location: Virtual
  • Registration: Click here

September Training

Topic: Safeguarding Medication 101

  • Date: Thursday, Sept. 16, 2025
  • Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
  • Location: Virtual
  • Registration: Click here

 

 

safeTALK Training

safeTALK, “suicide alertness for everyone”, is a half-day training that prepares you to become a suicide-alert helper. safeTALK trained helpers can recognize invitations from a person with thoughts of suicide and take action by connecting them to suicide intervention resources. *This workshop is open to those 15 years old and older. Join this workshop to learn what to do when someone reaches out. Suicide is preventable.

March Training

  • Date: Thursday, March 27
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Location: Phoenix Indian Center
  • Address: 4041 N. Central Ave. Building B, Phoenix, AZ 85012
  • Registration: Click here

QPR Question, Persuade, Refer

The QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention is a brief educational program designed to teach “gatekeepers”–those who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide (e.g., parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, caseworkers, police officers) — the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond by following three steps:

• Question the individual’s desire or intent regarding suicide
• Persuade the person to seek and accept help
• Refer the person to appropriate resources

April Training

  • Register Today: Click here
  • Date: Wednesday, April 16 
  • Time: 12:00 – 1:30 PM
  • Location: Virtually on Zoom

For more information about the next QPR training, contact the Prevention Services Team at (602) 264-6768 or at UICAZ@phxindcenter.org

Network Support Virtual Roundtable

Are you trained in suicide prevention? If so, please join us for our upcoming roundtable discussion. The Urban Indian Coalition of Arizona’s network of support is for anyone who has been trained in ASIST, safeTALK & QPR. This forum is to establish a safe place to discuss any matters pertaining to suicide prevention, such as barriers, successes, challenges, and other experiences we have encountered in suicide intervention/prevention. As we work towards establishing suicide-safer communities, let’s get together to support each other!

For more information about the next roundtable, contact the Prevention Services Team at (602) 264-6768 or at UICAZ@phxindcenter.org

ASIST Training

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is 2-day interactive in-person training that teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and to work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. There is no cost for this nationally accredited training. Lunch, snacks, and beverages will be provided. Each participant must attend the training in its entirety to receive a certificate of attendance. For more information, contact the Prevention Services Team at (602) 264-6768 or at UICAZ@phxindcenter.org

Parenting In 2 Worlds

We invite all parents and guardians of American Indian youth to enroll in Parenting in 2 Worlds (P2W). P2W is an evidence based curriculum that was developed by Native parents in collaboration with the Phoenix Indian Center and ASU Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center. P2W is designed for parents to learn the following:

  • Strengthen family communication skills
  • Better support and empower yourself as a caregiver of an urban American Indian youth
  • Enhance parenting skills through culturally relevant activities
  • Learn about child & youth development
  • Learn how to prevent and reduce risky behaviors in youth

See below for upcoming cycles! 

March P2W Classes:

  • Date: Starting Tuesday, March 18
  • Time: Tuesday evenings (5:30 – 7:30 PM)
  • Location: Virtually on Zoom
  • Register here: Click here
    • Deadline to register: April 01
  • Date: Starting Tuesday, March 19
  • Time: Tuesday evenings (5:30 – 7:30 PM)
  • Location: Virtually on Zoom
  • Register here: Click here
    • Deadline to register: April 02

GCAHR Parenting Study

Calling all American Indian and Alaska Native parents with children aged 12 to 17 in Maricopa County! The ASU Global Center for Applied Health Research (GCAHR) is conducting a parenting research study to promote health in urban indigenous families. Join our 10-week program and earn up to $200 in gift cards.  For information, contact Loren Bahe: 602-264-6768 ext. 131 or email lbahe@phxindcenter.org

  • Time: Tuesday evenings (6:00-8:00 PM)
  • Location: Phoenix Indian Center, 4041 N. Central Ave. Building B, Phoenix, AZ 85012
  • Register Today: click here

Living In 2 Worlds Summer Camps

SAVE THE DATE: We are hosting two FREE Living in 2 Worlds Summer Camps! All American Indian Middle School youth are invited to join us for fun filled days with learning valuable prevention skills, cultural activities, and spend time with other youth like you! This camp will be offered from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, starting June 17th! If you can’t make the first camp, we also have a second camp starting July 07! We will also have free early and after childcare! Breakfast, lunch & snacks are included. Seating is limited. Check out our camp dates below. Registration information is coming soon! For more information, call our Prevention Services Team at 602-264-6768 or email UICAZ@PhxIndCenter.org

Camp Session One

Date: Monday-Friday, June 16-27 (No class June 19th)
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: TBD
Sign Up Deadline: June 15

Camp Session Two

Date: Monday-Friday, July 07 – 18
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: TBD
Sign Up Deadline: July 06

What is Living in 2 Worlds (L2W)?

Calling all American Indian Middle School Students! Are you interested in learning about how your American Indian culture and values can help you say “no” in everyday conflicts? Join us for fun discussions about how to deal with risky situations at school and home and time to spend with other youth like you! Other workshop opportunities include door prizes, gift cards, and free food!

This curriculum was developed by the Phoenix Indian Center in partnership with ASU’s Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center using the Keepin’ it REAL drug resistance strategies project as a program for our American Indian youth. Living in 2 Worlds draws on American Indian culture and values as effective drug resistance strategies. We provide youth with different ways to say no to negative choices that confront youth every day, and at the same time, we give youth ample opportunity to express their pride in their American Indian culture(s) and teach them the positive value in the nurturing of that pride.

Living in 2 Worlds, draws on Native culture and values as effective drug resistance strategies. The L2W also teaches, a variety of ways to say no to negative choices that confront youth every day, while learning about different cultures. The students take home Cultural Heritage projects to open communication with family and discuss lives in urban and reservation homes.

 

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Prevention Team at 602-264-6768.

Community Gathering of Native Americans (GONA)

This FREE workshop is open to all community members 15 years & older. We will explore the four cultural components of embracing community & healing: belonging, mastery, interdependence & generosity.

April GONA Session

  • Two Spirit Gathering of Native Americans: 2SLGBTQ+ Talking Circle, Safe Space
  • Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Location: Phoenix Indian School Visitors Center
  • Address: 300 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012
  • Registration: Click here

Safeguarding Medications 101

Safeguarding Medications 101 brings awareness to the harmful effects of prescription drug abuse. We’ll give parents, grandparents, and community members tips for preventing fatal overdoses. While medication is meant for healing, when in the wrong hands, it can lead to lifelong problems of substance abuse, addiction, and death. Join us at our workshops as we combat the prescription drug epidemic disporportionately impacting our American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal communities. See below for upcoming workshops.

Safeguarding Medications 101 Facts

Did you know that 77% of American Indian youth in Maricopa County perceive little or no risk in abusing prescription drugs? Rx360 brings awareness to the harmful effects of prescription drugs, and gives parents and community members tips for preventing their misuse and abuse.

Do you have old medications that were prescribed to you for a surgery or broken bone, but you never took all of them? Are your prescription meds too easily accessible in your medicine cabinet at home? Rx360 brings awareness to the harmful effects of prescription drugs and gives parents and community members tips for preventing their misuse and abuse. While the medication is meant for healing, when in the wrong hands, it can lead to lifelong problems of substance abuse, addiction and death. Join us at our virtual workshop as we reclaim our American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal communities and combat the prescription drug epidemic.

Culture of Pride – Positive Habits Build Tradition
Watch all four important video messages!

Strengthen Our Community: Prevention Works

a 501(c) 3 non-profit recognized by the IRS. Tax ID Number: 86-6006566