BTM214 – Dr Melita “Chepa” Rank – Support for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

Show SummaryOn today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Dr. Melita “Chepa” Rank, a member of the Húŋkpati Dakota Tribe and a dedicated social worker whose mission centers around holistic wellness and well-being within Tribal and Indigenous communities.Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today’s GuestDr. Melita “Chepa” Rank, a member of the Hunkpati Dakota Tribe, is a dedicated social worker whose mission centers around holistic wellness and well-being within Tribal and Indigenous communities. Her work is driven by innovative practices aimed at tackling the significant challenges faced by our Tribal communities knowing our people are a vital resource and asset.  Dr. Rank’s impactful work includes integrated systems for wellness with the emphasize on cultural strengths as a pathway to wellness and well-being knowing our cultural traditions, customs, beliefs, and practices are the foundation to well-being and wellness. Dr. Rank champions the belief-as relatives we are the primary responders who are critical in providing the help where needed and lead the way in centering our well-being.    Recognizing the alarming rates of suicide in Indigenous nations, Dr. Rank works tirelessly on suicide prevention initiatives. Her efforts aim to provide support, resources, and hope.  Within Tribal nations, Dr. Rank advocates for services centered in physical, mental, and spiritual well-being that fosters a culture of overall wellness. A cornerstone value she holds at the forefront is utilizing a collective impact approach to improve health and utilization of data for programmatic decision-making.Dr. Rank journey in early foundational learning began in Head Start, an experience she proudly carries forward as a testament to the importance of early childhood education.  Her academic pathway includes: Doctor of Social Work -University of Southern California Master of Social Work -Florida State UniversityBachelor of Social Work-University of KansasAssociate of Arts-Haskell Indian Junior College As a dedicated professional, Dr. Rank serves as a National Trainer and is a certified trainer in Adverse Childhood Experiences along with various other prevention-based programs. She resides on the Hunkpati Nation, where she finds joy in raising her family, cherishing time spent with her grandchildren and family amid the beauty of her Tribal Nation.    Links Mentioned in this Episode Húŋkpati Oyáte Web SitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week’s resource of the week is a previous conversation about Native and Tribal veterans on the Behind the Mission podcast, episode 141 with Dean Dauphinais. Dean is a Marine Corps Veteran and Veteran, as well as an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and is focused on supporting his fellow Native and Tribal veterans.  You can find the resource here:  https://psycharmor.org/podcast/dean-dauphinais Episode Partner: This week’s episode is brought to you by Humana, a leading health and well-being company that has joined forces with PsychArmor to develop campaigns and courses that support veterans and their families in achieving their best health. To learn more about how Humana honors and serves veterans visit healthequity.humana.com/veterans” Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com