Oklahoma Tribal Nations Partner Together to Hold 988 Mental Health Lifeline Summit with Federal and State Officials

Notes to editors/reporters:

• Cameras will be allowed entry on Tuesday, Nov. 14, and Wednesday, Nov. 15, starting at 8:00 a.m. CT for pre-set prior to the start of the summit.
• Representatives will be available for media pull-asides throughout the day.
• A Livestream will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 8:30 a.m. CT (9:30 a.m. ET)

Lawton, OK—Next week, Oklahoma Tribal Nations are coming together for a two-day 988 Mental Health Lifeline Summit planned and coordinated by the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes in partnership with additional 988 Mental Health Lifeline grantees (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Comanche Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Osage Nation, and Southern Plains Tribal Health Board) across Oklahoma. The event brings together Tribal leaders, community advocates and mental health experts, including officials from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT and Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT

WHAT: Oklahoma 988 Tribal Mental Health Summit

Day 1 Tuesday, Nov. 14th

8:30 - 8:45 a.m. - Traditional/Opening Prayer 
8:45 - 9:30 a.m. - Welcome
9:30 - 9:45 a.m. - Update: Tribal Partnerships & Collaboration on 988 grants 
9:45 - 10:00 a.m. - My 988 Story featuring Zachary Blackowl 
10:15 - 10:45 a.m. - Update: Crisis Continuum of Care 
10:45 - 12:00 p.m. - Keynote Presentation by Kasey Nicholson, A’aa’nii’nin (White Clay Nation) 
1:00 - 1:30 p.m. - Spotlight on Tribes
1:30 - 2:00 p.m. - SAMHSA Presentation
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Panel Discussion 

Day 2 Wednesday, Nov. 15

8:30 - 8:45 a.m. - Traditional/Opening Prayer
8:45 - 9:00 a.m. - Opening Remarks by Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon Ph.D.
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Hope Squad and Suicide Education
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. - Working with First Responders
11:15 - 12:00 p.m. - Creating a 988 Workflow 

WHERE: Apache Casino & Resort, 2315 East Gore Blvd, Lawton, OK 73501 (signage will be posted to guide members of the media to the event) & also available via livestream.

RSVP: Please RSVP and send any questions to Don Ramos at donald.ramos@wichitatribe.com, Bonnie Campo at Bonnie.Campo@odmhsas.org or Dani Bennett via email at Danielle.Bennett@samhsa.hhs.gov.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.