WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – No matter your coordinates within the four sacred mountains, topics surrounding suicide prevention, violence, substance abuse, missing and murdered, budget, and streamlined communication remain common issues within communities across the Navajo Nation that are overwhelmed in addressing these issues.
Office of the President and Vice President Executive Director of Social Services Thomas Cody facilitated the Diné Action Plan Task Force Meeting, with participants from Navajo Police, violence shelters, non-profits, advocacy, mental and behavioral health resources, and many others were eager to share resources and progress on the joint mission.
President Buu Nygren’s Chief of Staff, Patrick Sandoval, gave an eye-opening demonstration of what it takes to service one domestic violence call.
He called up participants to stand next to each other, representing the various departments from dispatch, fire, police, and many others, eventually filling the stage area with all of the staff, providing a visual of the coordination and execution of resources in the workforce necessary to respond to a single call.
Joining Director Cody was Executive Assistant for Missing and Murdered Affairs, Yolanda Azua, who also serves on the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force with the Navajo Nation Council.
The task force and advisory group discussed a plethora of topics, including funding needs and local-level resources, also stressing the importance of resource sharing and building a shared calendar of events and meetings. DAP will meet again in three months to review progress.
###
