One-line solution summary:
Providing Pine Ridge, SD with a mobile Telehealth unit to aid in the mental health crisis.
Pitch your solution.
Pine Ridge is one of the most impoverished communities in the US, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the mental health status of the community. Families have been emotionally stressed with further financial hardship, and the need to aid in their children's education due to school closures. Data from 2009-2018 “shows suicide rates for Native Americans in South Dakota are 2.7 times higher than for whites” and has been on the rise during the pandemic. As of September 1st 2020 there were 177 suicide attempts and 9 successful suicides, including verterens and childeren as young as 14. Furthermore, child abuse and neglect cases has increased as well.
Doctors, transportation, wifi and electricity are some of the barriers to accessing mental health support on the reservation. We want to work with the community and medical providers, via a Mobile Telehealth Unit, to help provide mental health support.
What specific problem are you solving?
Mental health issues such as PTSD and depression are more common than people expect, and with the COVID-19 pandemic they have been on the rise. Utilizing a mobile Telehealth unit in underserved, impoverished, and rural communities can help people get the support they need. Initially, our team will be focusing our efforts on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. However, we would like to include other tribal communities later on.
What is your solution?
The Mobile Telehealth Unit (MTU) would consist of a van and trailer that could handle off-road conditions (South Dakota roads can be difficult to travers during the winter and rainy seasons). The MTU would also have its own power supply, wifi capabilities (hot spot or satellite), as the Pine Ridge reservation has limited wifi, cell service, and electricity. In the trailer, there would be a space for patients to sit and use a computer/monitor to have mental health support sessions (which would include western and traditional methods, i.e. PTSD counseling, couples counseling, traditional knowledge mentoring, support groups, career counseling, etc.)
Strong preference will be given to Native-led solutions that directly benefit and are located within the Indigenous communities. Which community(s) does your solution benefit?
Our team has traveled to Pine Ridge several times to meet with; community leaders and members; non-profit organizations; individuals; and groups too better understand the challenges they have been facing. During a "Community Conversation" hosted by a local non-profit, the community talked a lot about the pain the community has been feeling from the loss of life to suicide.
Which dimension of the Fellowship does your solution most closely address?
Improve healthcare access and outcomes, including around mental health and substance use disordersExplain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.
When people are depressed they have feelings of loneliness and isolation. We are looking to help people connect with medical health professionals, people within their community, and within the OSF network (including our teams personal networks).
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Broomfield, CO, USAWhat is your solution’s stage of development?
Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea.Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.
Although there are already models for Mobile Telehealth Units available, our team considers this a "concept" because this is a new venture for us.
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Melissa Carnicle (Mel): CEO and founder of OSF
Please indicate the tribal affiliation of your primary delegate.
Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Is your primary delegate a member of the community in which your project is based?
NoWhich of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new application of an existing technologyPlease select the technologies currently used in your solution:
Select the key characteristics of your target population.
Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
In which state(s) will you be operating within the next year?
In which state(s) do you currently operate?
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
How many people work on your solution team?
Initially, there will be 2 people that will be working full-time, and 3 part-time.
How long have you been working on your solution?
1
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The ASA Prize for Equitable Education? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Innovation for Women Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The AI For Humanity Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution
Solution Team
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Solution Name:
OSF Mobile Telehealth