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About NAC

Since 1972, we have been changing lives, strengthening families, and building healthy communities. We began as a small grassroots organization operating one program for Native American men in recovery from substance use disorder. Today, Native American Connections owns and operates 24 sites throughout Phoenix offering a continuum of affordable housing, health, and community development services which touch and change the lives of over 10,000 individuals and families each year.

Our History Learn about our organization's growth.

Our Mission

Improving the lives of individuals and families through Native American culturally appropriate behavioral health, affordable housing, and community development services.

Our Values

Collaboration, empowerment, integrity, stewardship, wellness, compassion, family, spirituality, teamwork and volunteerism.

Our Services

Native American Connections' services are open to everyone and no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, familial status, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination.

Meet our Team

Members of the Native American Connections' Leadership & Board of Directors have witnessed the positive impact of NAC's affordable housing, behavioral health, and community development services on the lives of Native American individuals and families.

Our Leadership

Under the leadership of Trula Breuninger and her committed staff, Native American Connections has transformed into one of the oldest and most respected nonprofit organizations reaching those in need throughout Phoenix.

Leadership

Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors share a common vision and enthusiasm to continue growing and strengthening the services of Native American Connections. Staying true to our roots, over half the board members are Native American, and to ensure the integrity of our services for homeless men and women, the board includes an individual who experienced homelessness.

Board of Directors

Our Vision is to be recognized as an innovative Native American service & development organization.

  • We are a leader in developing, building and managing high quality housing communities
  • We participate in community efforts to end homelessness
  • We offer compassionate behavioral healthcare and support individuals in recovery
  • We integrate Native American healing with evidence based practices
  • We champion community development projects that strengthen the Native American Community and celebrate our rich cultural history

Native American Connections furthers the agency commitment to the community with: 

  • CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services) and Cultural Competency Committee - meets a minimum of twice annually to ensure that NAC is responsive and sensitive to the needs of special and under-served populations. The Committee reviews staff demographic make-up against client demographic make-up to ensure staff closely mirrors the clientele served.
  • 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. Participants also learn new skills and ways to restore balance in our families, our communities, and ourselves, and to plan ways to prevent substance use through increased collaboration and resources.
  • Recovery and Peer Committee includes former program participants to advise NAC leadership on identified community needs and gaps in services around recovery services and ending homelessness.

A Recognized Urban Indian Organization

Serving the Urban Indian community in Phoenix, AZ

On May 2, 2018, Native American Connections officially became recognized as an Urban Indian Organization through the Office of Urban Indian Health Programs under the banner of the Indian Health Service. Given this designation, our organization has the capacity to serve a more diverse population offering a wider array of health care options including medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral health etc. Achieving this status allows NAC to gain more access to funding, healthcare resources and additional staffing needs to better serve the local community.

Telling Authentic Stories

Our traditions are the foundation of our organization - explore, learn, and utilize resources available for all.

Getting Help

Help is Here

Get the support you need with health, housing, and community services available at Native American Connections.

Getting Help

Ways to Get Involved

Your support changes lives and builds healthy communities. Find ways to get involved.

Getting Help

A "chronically homeless" individual is defined to mean a homeless individual with a disability who lives either in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter or in an institutional care facility if the individual has been living in the facility for fewer than ninety (90) days and had been living in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven or in an emergency shelter immediately before entering the institutional care facility. In order to meet the ‘‘chronically homeless’’ definition, the individual also must have been living as described above continuously for at least twelve (12) months or on at least four (4) separate occasions in the last three (3) years, where the combined occasions total a length of time of at least twelve (12) months. Each period separating the occasions must include at least seven (7) nights of living in a situation other than a place not meant for human habitation, in an emergency shelter or in a safe haven.

Federal nondiscrimination laws define a person with a disability to include any (1) individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) individual with a record of such impairment; or (3) individual who is regarded as having such an impairment. In general, a physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to, examples of conditions such as orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), developmental disabilities, mental illness, drug addiction, and alcoholism.