What is the BeWeL Project?

Because
We
Love
You

helps Alaska Native
youth get cultural
services

This is a research project that includes Alaska Native facilitators along with staff with many years of experience working with Alaska Native communities.

  • We want to help communities understand the best ways to keep Alaska Native young people healthy.
  • We will provide the Tools for Life program, which helps Alaska Native young people connect with their culture and learn about strengths and resources in their communities
  • Young people will also have the chance to talk about their social relationships and how to get support in their communities.

Who is being asked to take part?

Alaska Native young people aged 15 to 24 who come in for clinical care with mental health concerns and are in need of cultural services.

What are we asking young people to do?

Survey 1 (canoe shaped icon)

Culture & Strength +- Social Talk

Everyone receives a 45-minute brief virtual intervention focused on culture and strengths. Some will also talk about social relationships.

Everyone will also get two virtual visit sessions to see how they are doing. 

House visit 1

House visit 2

Young people will get up to $340 to do confidential surveys so we can see how the program helps them. 

Survey 2 (canoe shaped icon)

 

Survery 3 (canoe shaped icon)

Survery 4 (canoe shaped icon)

The project is voluntary and young people can leave at any time.

What kind of questions will the survey ask?

  • Connections with culture, family and social relationships.
  • Opinions about experiences with things like alcohol and drugs.
  • Opinions about experiences with mental and physical health.
  • Young people can skip any questions they do not want to answer.