The Social Mission Champion series (formerly the Social Mission Ally series) highlights the important work done by those who are engaging in social mission by advancing health equity and addressing the health disparities of the society in which it exists.
This month, we spoke to the Native American Connections Patina Wellness Center. Formed in 1972 as a grassroots program, Native American Connections (NAC) has since expanded their services to include “Native American culturally appropriate health, affordable housing, and community development services.” The Patina Wellness Center is one of two NAC Residential Treatment Centers in the Phoenix, Arizona area, providing residential substance use treatment.
Native American Connections maintains its commitment to the community through their Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) and Cultural Competency Committee, which ensures “NAC is responsive and sensitive to the needs of special and under-served populations,” in part by reviewing “staff demographic make-up against client demographic make-up to ensure staff closely mirrors the clientele served.” Additionally, NAC holds an Annual staff training on the Gathering of Native Americans (GONA), “which brings together staff to learn how historical events and trauma of Native people continues to impact the individual, family, and community today” and a Recovery and Peer Committee, where “former program participants…advise NAC leadership on identified community needs and gaps in services around recovery services and ending homelessness.”
The Patina Wellness Center reflects this commitment by providing innovative support services, including on-site childcare, services for pregnant and postpartum women, family unification support, substance use disorder treatment, and traditional healing. In 2022, Social Mission Alliance Conference (then the Beyond Flexner Alliance) attendees had the privilege and honor to visit the Patina Wellness Center to learn more about their Community-Based Recovery Model and the Traditional Talking Circle, one of the Center’s traditional healing practices.
Read below for our interview with the Native American Connections Patina Wellness Center to learn more about their work.
Q&A
Why was the Patina Wellness Center formed?
The Patina Wellness Center is a residential substance use treatment center designed to support women and families in recovery from addiction or substance use disorder and prevent family separation.
What is Patina Wellness Center’s vision for its role in the community it serves?
Patina Wellness Center houses 70 beds for adult women, their young children from birth to 5 years old, and [in] certain circumstances coupled families in recovery. Patina maintains a number of supportive services; residents can expect the following and more during their stay.
The Patina Wellness Center’s supportive services include on-site childcare, services for pregnant and postpartum women, family unification support, substance use disorder treatment, and traditional healing. How did PWC come to identify those areas of support?
[The Patina Wellness Center identified areas of support] through client testimonials and research.
Since 2022, has anything changed for the Patina Wellness Center, and what do you hope to achieve moving forward?
Patina Wellness Center will continue to provide clinically structured services to men, women, two-spirit individuals and families.
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The Native American Connections-Patina Wellness Center is located at 337 E. Virginia, Phoenix AZ, also the future site of NAC’s Outpatient Services Bldg. houses residential rooms, clinical team offices, the nursing station, community room and dining area. You can learn more about their history and services at their website, https://www.nativeconnections.org/behavioral-health/patina-wellness-center.
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Social Mission Alliance would like to thank Danelle Trottier, MBA, BS, the Senior Director of Operations at Native American Connections Patina Wellness Center, and the greater Native American Connections Patina Wellness Center, for taking the time to talk with us, and for their continued commitment to social mission.
