Traditional Health Care Practices Benefit Implementation

   

As a Native American, a member of the Chumash tribe, and a clinical psychologist, Dr. Art Martinez shares a unique melding of cultural and clinical experiences. He has served as a forensic expert witness in many state and tribal courts within the US. Dr. Art has been active in cultural ways and traditional ceremonies throughout his lifespan. Dr. Martinez has many publications to his credit which focus upon cultural engagement in care and evaluation. While Dr. Martinez currently serves as a consultant in the development of programs and services primarily to the Tribal Law and Policy Institute and Kauffman and Associates, he continues in consultation with courts and clinicians alike. In 2024 Dr. Martinez was appointed to the Nevada Indian Commission by the Governor of Nevada.

Holly Echo-Hawk is a former county mental health director and former Lummi Nation behavioral health director. Currently, she serves as National co-chair for Indigenous Communities Workgroup, Opioid Response Network. She is the founder and creative lead for Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance series and has special knowledge in the areas of traditional practices within behavioral health services, tribal council and tribal health board briefings, licensing and accreditation, long-term sustainability, and international Indigenous behavioral health partnerships.

Danica Love Brown, MSW, CACIII, PhD, is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma born and raised in Northern New Mexico. Danica is the Vice President for Resilience and Healing at Kauffman and Associates, Inc and has worked as a mental health and substance use counselor, social worker, and youth advocate for 30 years. She is an Indigenous Wellness Research Institute ISMART fellow alumni, Council of Social Work Education, Minority Fellowship Program fellow alumni, and Northwest Native American Research Center for Health fellow alumni. Her research has focused on Indigenous Ways of Knowing and decolonizing methodologies to address historical trauma and health disparities in Tribal communities.

Twila Mallari (Diné/Navajo) born and raised on the Diné – Navajo Reservation in Nakaibito, New Mexico. She has more than 13 years of experience working with AI/AN populations, across multiple systems, which include social services, healthcare, and policy and legislation. She serves as a technical assistant specialist for California’s groundbreaking 1115 waiver implementation supporting traditional health care practices in the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System. Twila earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington and a bachelor of arts degree in sociology, with a minor in pre-law, from Fort Lewis College. She is currently pursuing an advance paralegal certificate approved by the American Bar Association at Edmonds College.

Karol is Deg Hit’an Athabascan and an enrolled Tribal member. Karol has a B.A. in economics from the University of Alaska Anchorage, a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, and a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.  She also achieved Improvement Advisor status from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Karol brings significant experience working with Medicaid, Medicaid waiver programs, public health and tribal health organizations. Karol has managed health programs from planning and design through implementation and evaluation, including ensuring compliance with federal, state, and nonprofit requirements. She has a personal commitment to health and well-being. When not working, Karol recently started playing pickleball and enjoys spending time outside, hiking, camping, and traveling.

Caroline Cruz is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Tenino, Nisqually, Pit River, Hawaiian and Yaqui. Caroline is an internationally recognized health systems change leader. With over 35 years of experience across the full continuum of care in behavioral health, substance use, and human services, she serves as KAI’s tribal-based practices advisor. She currently serves as Health and Human Services Tribal Liaison for her Tribe, advising health, behavioral health, and human services systems that center community wellness. Caroline has held key leadership roles at Oregon’s Department of Human Services, where she authored the Oregon Tribal Best Practices framework and led statewide training, prevention, and diversity initiatives. Her expertise spans prevention, mobilization, treatment, curriculum development, grant writing, and administration. A former Deputy Sheriff and award-winning advocate, Caroline’s work has been cited globally and continues to shape policy and practice across Indian Country.

Monica Super serves on KAI’s training and technical assistance (TTA) team as a TTA specialist, bringing more than 20 years of experience in social and health care services. Monica specializes in behavioral health and substance use disorders, especially for American Indian and Alaska Native youth, and tribal communities. Her experience includes leadership, project and grant management, American Society of Addiction Medicine assessments and treatment planning, individual/group counseling, and training.

   

Nicole Pino (Diné/Navajo) serves as a project manager at KAI, where she is responsible for overseeing contracts, staffing, budgets, timelines, and deliverables. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from New Mexico State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from the University of New Mexico. With over six years of experience in public health and has developed a strong focus on program management and community outreach. In her previous role as a tribal program development supervisor at Western Sky Community Care, she was tasked with managing tribal relations and facilitating community engagement initiatives related to Medicaid and healthcare systems.