Substance abuse council pledges $17M for local rehab programs

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Health planning phase establishing the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council (CSAC) includes the development of a $17M local rehabilitation program.

This was confirmed by Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga in the written version of his English speech provided at the opening of the Fono last week.

Two months ago, the Governor issued an executive order establishing the CSAC composed of government, private, and at-large community members with a focus on education/outreach, enforcement & investigation, and treatment/ rehabilitation.

The Governor says the $17M local rehabilitation facility would provide long overdue care to community members seeking treatment and other evidence-based interventions.

He added that the National Governors Association Policy Academy American Samoa was selected by the National Governors Association (NGA) to participate in a year-long policy academy focused on improving state and territorial strategies to address poly-substance and stimulant abuse.

 “In the past year, the local National Governors Association Policy Academy (NGAPA), led by the Office of the Governor, have met with national experts, participated in webinars, and received technical assistance to develop an action plan focused on improving collaboration between departments, data sharing, and leveraging funding opportunities within the Federal government and our Territorial government.

The NGAPA will be representing American Samoa in Washington D.C. in September.”

In addition to that the Veterans Affairs Office is leading a local team as participants in the “Governors Challenge to Prevent Suicide for Service members, Veterans, and their Families” (SMVF).

 “Administered by the US Department of Veterans Affairs & Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 7 Administration (SAMHSA), the 2-year initiative will result in the planning and implementation of key priorities and goals to improve services and programs for our veteran community.

“Our local team will be representing American Samoa at a nationwide conference in Washington D.C. in August.”

Also included in his written speech, the Governor said the Broadband Equity, Resilience and Inclusion as part of the Broadband Core Working Group, the American Samoa Technology Office has been working diligently to focus efforts on broadband resources for American Samoa.

He said the effort is aligned with the American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy.

 “Since, American Samoa has been the first to submit its Letter of Intent for American Samoa to participate in the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment and the Digital Equity Act out of any state or territory last month.

 “It was announced at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) conference held in June, 2022.

 “This is a testament to the administration’s commitment to taking advantage of the opportunity to provide digital equity and inclusion, which would total approximately $4.5M for the territory.”

Adding the Broadband Core Working Group (BCWG) is working diligently in preparing for submission, applications to all the appropriate funding sources to assist with two priorities.

 “The first is to secure funding to assist with public and private sector broadband projects, and second to provide affordable broadband coverage at lower rates to all communities.”