All federally recognized tribes are sovereign entities that share a unique government-to-government relationship with the U.S. government. A combination of numerous treaties, court cases, and legislative decisions has obligated the federal government to provide health care and human services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Health disparities exist in Native American populations. The conditions in the poorest reservations often approach those of third-world nations.
Resources in this guide provide specific information on tribal health and human services disparities, as well as funding sources and tools that can be used to help improve health care and human services for Native Americans.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools
American Indian & Alaska Native (AI/AN) Populations
Web site
Provides overviews of health and related statistics for American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Also offers brochures, slideshows, funding sources, and a variety of external web links.
American Indian / Alaska Native Suicide Prevention
Web site
Designed to help reflect and learn more about the concern of suicide in Native communities, identify their own resources, and use the knowledge and understanding of the communities’ readiness to work toward a common vision for wellness.
American Indian and Alaska Native Resources
Database
Provides statistical information and data on American Indian and Alaska Native populations, including population characteristics, economic data, American Community Surveys, and maps.
American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC)
Technical assistance
Provides information and technical assistance to American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages that helps their members with disabilities live healthy, integrated lives within their communities.
American Indian Health
Web site
Provides links to a variety of resources on issues related to American Indian health and well-being. Includes information on health care access, specific health conditions, and environmental health.
American Indian/Alaska Native Center
Web site
Contains links to information about American Indian/Alaska Native health and Medicare & Medicaid services.
American Indian/Alaska Native Profile
Web site
Presents statistics and data on American Indians and Alaska Natives throughout the United States. Includes demographics, education, economics, insurance coverage, and health.
Center for American Indian Health Training & Scholarship Program
Web site
Training opportunities for American Indian researchers.
Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD)
Web site
Cancer statistics for African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations. Provides information on NCI (National Cancer Institute) research activities related to cancer health disparities, including those specific to rural communities.
Community Development Resources: Native Americans
Web site
Contains links to Native American organizations, planning tools, case studies, funding programs, federal, state and local contacts, statistical data, and online publications.
Economic Stimulus Indian Country Works
Web site
Provides tribal governments information about funding streams available in the stimulus act.
Ensuring the Seventh Generation: A Youth Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Tribal Child Welfare Programs
Web site
Toolkit intended for tribal child welfare workers and care providers discussing: child and youth suicide risk factors, specific risk factors associated with children served in child welfare, warning signs for caseworkers and care providers to be alert to, suicide prevention and intervention strategies that can be applied in child welfare agencies, and mobilization of support networks around particular children.
Get Connected: Promoting Telephone Subscribership in Indian Country
Web site
The Lifeline Assistance program enables participants living on tribal lands to receive basic monthly telephone service at their primary residence for as little as one dollar a month. The Link-Up America program provides a discount on the initial installation of a traditional, wireline telephone or activation of a wireless telephone for a primary residence.
HRSA Information Center
Web site
Provides publications, information, resources, and referrals about health care services for medically underserved individuals and populations.
IHS Fact Sheets
Web site
Offers information on specific healthcare topics concerning American Indian and Alaska Natives. Covers health disparities, treaties and laws, statistics and more.
Index of Native American Non-Profit Resources on the Internet
Web site
Provides links to Native American non-profits and sources of funding for Native America programs.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Database
Contains information on the IHS Loan Repayment Program for health professionals committed to practicing for two years at an IHS or other Indian health program.
MedlinePlus: Native American Health
Web site
Contains links to resources related to Native American health; including organizations, statistics, and publications.
National Indian Country Methamphetamine Initiative (ICMI)
Web site
Represents twenty different entities, including tribal governments, federal agencies, and non-profit organizations. Offers advertisement campaign materials against methamphetamine in Indian Country, plus a tool kit, meth facts, intervention tools, and associated resources.
National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC)
Web site
Offers a variety of programs to help promote education about HIV/AIDS, support prevention efforts, and help foster healthy attitudes about sexuality and sexual health in the Native community.
Native Aging Factsheets
Web site
Presents a list of factsheets regarding Native American aging.
Native America Calling
Web site
Serves as a live call-in program that links public radio stations, the Internet, and listeners together and covers issues specific to Native communities. Call toll-free 1-800-996-2848.
Native American Cancer Research
Web site
Offers resources and research on Native American cancer.
Native American Elderly Service Centers
Web site
Displays a nationwide, interactive map that shows the location of Native elderly services. Map provides the name of the location, which leads to the address, contact information, and lists the services provided.
Native Health Database
Database
Includes citations and abstracts of health-related articles, reports, surveys, and other resource documents pertaining to the health and health care of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Canadian First Nations.
Office of Family Assistance Division of Tribal TANF Management
Web site
Provides Tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) contacts, programs, announcements, and guidance.
Office of Minority Health Resource Center Information and Referral Services
Web site
A resource center that provides publications, articles, statistics, data, funding sources as well as database searches on minority health topics. Can be contacted by phone at 1.800.444.6472, or by e-mail at info@omhrc.gov.
Office of Native American Programs (ONAP)
Web site
Provides administration of programs, including working closely with tribes and tribally designated housing entities to help address housing and community development issues.
Online Search, Consultation, and Reporting (OSCAR) System
Database
A collection of best practices, promising practices, local case studies, resources, and policies concerning health care for Native American communities.
Rural Health Research: American Indians and Alaska Natives
Web site
Provides summaries of current and completed rural health research projects and related publications addressing the topic of American Indians and Alaska Natives, produced by the Office of Rural Health Policy's funded rural health research centers.
Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center (TriTAC)
Web site
Supports Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations in their efforts to enhance the quality, affordability and supply of child care available for all families.
Tribal Court Clearinghouse Domestic Violence Resources
Web site
Provides links to publications and resources related to domestic violence. Includes summaries of laws related to domestic violence issues.
Veterans Rural Health Resource Centers: Western Region
Web site
Located in Salt Lake City, UT, this center focuses on outreach, access issues, and the needs of Native Veterans and Aging Veterans.
Funding
2012 Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award
The award provides nurses, healthcare workers, their colleagues, and the public a national opportunity to recognize exceptional service, sacrifice and innovation resulting in encouraging and inspirational accounts that we share with the nation.
Affordable Care Act - Grants for School-Based Health Center Capital (SBHCC) Program
Grants to support school-based health center efforts to expand capacity to provide primary healthcare services to school-aged children.
Austin Family Scholarship Endowment
Scholarships are offered to American Indian students attending mainstream universities and tribal colleges for American Indian students pursuing undergrad, graduate and professional degrees.
Center for American Indian Health Training & Scholarship Program
Training and scholarship program to support current and future American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health professionals in their educational development.
Citi Foundation Scholarship Program
Annual scholarships to students attending tribal colleges in South Dakota.
Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Resident Funds Program
Grants to support pediatric residents in the planning of community-based child health initiatives.
Cooperative Agreements for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health Short Title: Project LAUNCH
Grants to promote the wellness of young children, birth to 8 years of age, through the implementation of a systematic community planning process.
Disaster Assistance for State Units on Aging (SUAs) and Tribal Organizations in National Disasters Declared by the President
Grants to provide disaster relief and assistance funds to those State Units on Aging (SUAs) and tribal organizations who are currently receiving a grant under Title VI of the Older Americans Act.
Environmental Infrastructure Loans
Loans to finance water and waste facility projects in the rural West.
Fiscal Year 2012 Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program
Grants are available for the development and operation of tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions in Indian country.
Ford Motor Company Tribal College Scholarship
The Ford Motor Company Tribal College Scholarship is offered to American Indian students attending mainstream universities and tribal colleges for American Indian students pursuing undergrad, graduate and professional degrees.
FY12 In Community Spirit - Prevention of HIV/AIDS for Native/American Indian and Alaska Native Women Living in Rural and Frontier Indian Country Program
Funding to increase HIV prevention knowledge and reduce the risk of contracting HIV among Native/American Indian and Alaska Native women living in Indian Country.
General Mills Tribal College Scholarship Program
Need-based scholarships of $2,000 to outstanding American Indian students currently enrolled at a tribal college or university in the states of Minnesota and New Mexico.
HIV Early Intervention Services (EIS) Program Existing Geographic Service Areas (EISEGA)
Funding to provide, on an ongoing outpatient basis, high quality early intervention services/primary care to individuals with HIV infection.
Implementation Cooperative Agreements for Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program
Grants to improve the behavioral health outcomes of children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions Educational Loans
Loan repayment program for health professions educational loans (undergraduate and graduate) in return for full-time clinical service in Indian health programs.
Nissan North America, Inc. Scholarship
Scholarships to outstanding American Indian sophomore students currently enrolled in tribal colleges and universities.
Promise Neighborhoods Program - Implementation Grant Competition
Grants to organizations in carrying out their plans to create a continuum of solutions that will significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in the target neighborhood.
Promise Neighborhoods Program: Planning Grant Competition
Planning grants will support eligible organizations that need to develop feasible plans to create a continuum of solutions with the potential to significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in a neighborhood.
Public and Indian Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program under the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Program (PH FSS)
Funding to helping HUD-assisted renters make progress toward housing self-sufficiency.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation Housing Loans
Loan program helps create, improve or expand the supply of affordable housing for communities in the rural West.
Social and Economic Development Strategies Tribal Governance- SEDS TG
Funding to expand the governance priority to emphasize projects that strengthen the internal capacity and infrastructure of tribal governments to increase services provided to children and families.
Sovereign Nations Scholarship Fund
Scholarships are available to students of any American Indian Nation, enrolled in any major, undergraduate, graduate or professional school, attending both tribal colleges and mainstream universities.
Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (TMIECHV) Grant Program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Grants to tribes for community needs assessments; planning, adopting, implementing, expanding, enhancing, and sustaining of evidence-based maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs; and to provide high-quality home visiting programs.
VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program
The focus of this NOFA is to encourage applicants to continue to deliver services to the homeless Special Need veteran population.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this topic that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents
Access to Mental Health Services at Indian Health Service and Tribal Facilities
Author(s): Daniel R. Levinson
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Discusses the extent to which American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have access to mental health services at Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities.
Date: 09 / 2011
Addressing the Health Needs of Rural Native Veterans: Assessment and Recommendations
Author(s): Tim D. Noe, Carol E. Kaufman, Elizabeth A. Brooks, Nancy K. Daily, Byron D. Bair, Jay H. Shore
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Sociological Association
Provides an assessment of current challenges, barriers, and issues related to the healthcare needs of rural Native veterans and offers recommendations to improve healthcare for this population.
Journal citation: Journal of Rural Social Sciences Volume 26 Issue 3 Pages: 137-156
Date: 2011
AHRQ Research and Other Activities Relevant to American Indians and Alaska Natives
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Describes AHRQ activities relevant to the American Indians and Alaska Natives population.
Date: 03 / 2011
Alaska Native and Rural Youth Views of Sexual Health: A Focus Group Project on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS, and Unplanned Pregnancy
Author(s): Jessica D. Leston, Cornelia M. Jessen, Brenna C. Simons
Sponsoring organization: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health
Focus groups studied the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of rural Alaska youth, both Alaska Native and non-Alaska Native, regarding STDs, HIV/AIDS, and unplanned pregnancy.
Journal citation: American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research: The Journal of the National Center Volume 19 Issue 1 Pages: 1-14
Date: 2012
American Indian and Alaska Native Health Issue Paper
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Detailed overview of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health issues. Includes a history of health service provision by the federal government. Provides policy recommendations.
Date: 11 / 2006
American Indian/Alaska Native Youth and Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Sponsoring organization: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
A research brief that focuses on teen childbearing among Native American youth in the United States and includes information about sexual and contraceptive behavior, attitudes about sex and reproductive health, and information about potential programs for this population.
Date: 08 / 2009
American Indians, Alaska Natives and Tobacco: Fact Sheet
Sponsoring organization: Legacy
Statistics related to tobacco-related health effects and tobacco use in the American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
Date: 11 / 2010
American Indians/Alaska Natives and Cardiovascular Diseases
Sponsoring organization: American Heart Association
Reports, through graphs and bulleted statements, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in the American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Date: 2012
Building Blocks for Cultural Integration in the Development and Establishment of Rural VA Telemental Health Clinics for Native Veterans
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Rural Health Resource Center Western Region: Native Domain
Offers a short overview, plus suggestions and tips for setting up, operating, and maintaining Telemental Health (TMH) Clinics, in the form of live interactive videoconferencing.
Crafting a Path Toward Long-Term Viability
Author(s): Sharon Wise
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
An overview of the Native American Housing Services (NAHS) organization established in 1999 to provide decent and safe affordable housing to low income families and individuals in the State of Oklahoma.
Journal citation: Rural Voices Volume 14 Issue 3
Date: 2009
Crossing Great Divides: A Guide to Elder Mobility Resources and Solutions in Indian Country
Sponsoring organization: National Center on Senior Transportation
Provides information about transportation funding opportunities to meet the needs of elders living on reservations. Describes Title VI Aging Services and Tribal Transit Programs.
Date: 2010
Deaths Related to 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Among American Indian / Alaska Natives -- 12 States, 2009
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Reports that American Indians and Alaska Natives in the twelve states participating in the study had an H1N1 mortality rate four times higher than persons in all other racial/ethnic populations combined.
Journal citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) Volume 58 Issue 48 Pages: 1341-1344
Date: 12 / 2009
Disaster Preparedness Training for Tribal Leaders
Author(s): Wayne F. Peate, Jennie Mullins
Describes a disaster preparedness training program for tribal leaders conducted in Arizona. Discusses the role of cultural competency, respect for tribal sovereignty, solicitation of historical examples of indigenous preparedness, and incorporation of tribal community networks in the success of the program.
Journal citation: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology Volume 3 Issue 2
Date: 01 / 2008
Evaluation of the Dental Health Aide Therapist Workforce Model in Alaska
Author(s): Scott Wetterhall, James D. Bader, Barri B. Burrus, Jessica Y. Lee, Daniel A. Shugars
Describes findings from an evaluation showing that dental therapists provide safe and appropriate care for underserved and rural populations.
Date: 10 / 2010
Expanding Telecommunications Access in Indian Country
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the types of available communications technology, and FCC programs that are aimed at promoting
telecommunications services in Indian Country.
Date: 07 / 2006
Fall Incidents and Native American Elderly
Author(s): Jacqueline S. Gray, Saundra Schlafmann
Sponsoring organization: National Resource Center on Native American Aging
Presents the results of Identifying Our Needs: A Survey of Elders that was conducted between 2008 and 2011, by tribal members for over 300 American Indian tribes, Alaskan villages, and Hawaiian homesteads throughout Indian Country.
Date: 03 / 2012
FastStats: Health of American Indian or Alaska Native Population
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
Contains health-related statistics for the American Indian or Alaska Native population. Statistics include: population, live births, health status, health risk factors, access to health care, mortality rates, and more.
Date: 2007
Gender Differences among American Indian Treatment Admissions Aged 18 to 25
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Provides an overview along with statistics regarding substance abuse by gender in American Indian communities, as a serious health and social problem, especially among youth and young adults.
Date: 06 / 2010
Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Reports findings from a study assessing health insurance coverage and access to health care among American Indian and Alaska Native elders (Native elders), using data from a national survey that included more than 8,300 Native elders.
Date: 10 / 2007
Health Reform and Communities of Color: Implications for Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Issue brief examines the key provisions of the 2010 health reform law that will expand health coverage and are likely to improve access to care for people of color, rural communities, and underserved areas.
Date: 09 / 2010
Healthy Indian Country Initiative Promising Prevention Practices Resource Guide: Promoting Innovative Tribal Prevention Programs
Sponsoring organization: National Indian Health Board
Highlights promising prevention programs within Indian Country. Guide begins the process of identifying, developing, and looking at Tribal community promising prevention practices with the intent to allow other communities to replicate these practices.
Date: 12 / 2009
HIV/STD Prevention Guidelines for Native American Communities: American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians
Sponsoring organization: Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention
Provides a framework to create HIV/STD prevention programs tailored to Native Americans, reflecting the unique culture of Native communities and a starting point for program development at the local level.
Date: 2004
Housing on Native American Lands
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
Describes Native American housing issues.
Date: 06 / 2008
How Health Reform Helps American Indians and Alaska Natives
Author(s): Sherice Perry, Jonay Foster
Sponsoring organization: Families USA
Describes how health reform will address the unique needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Date: 09 / 2010
Hypertension in American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
Author(s): Kyle Muus
Sponsoring organization: National Resource Center on Native American Aging
Outlines the prevalence of hypertension among the American Indian and Alaska Native population as identified through studies. Uses text and graphs to display information by age, gender, and disease.
Date: 08 / 2008
If You Knew the Conditions: Health Care to Native Americans
Sponsoring organization: National Library of Medicine
Summarizes the history of U.S. government health initiatives and biographies of famous Native American physicians. This is an online version of a 1994 exhibit on Native American Health.
Date: 1994
Implications of Health Reform for American Indian and Alaska Native Populations
Author(s): Carolyn Ingram, Shannon M. McMahon, Veronica Guerra, Alice Weiss
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
Outlines provisions in the Affordable Care Act that affect American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations.
Date: 02 / 2012
Indian Child Welfare Act and the States
Author(s): Andrea Wilkins
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
Discusses the lack of ICWA enforcement and why it is a problem throughout the country.
Date: 04 / 2004
Indian Health Care Improvement Act Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148)
Author(s): Elayne J. Heisler, Roger Walke
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
Summarizes some of the key changes made in the reauthorization of Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) including the ACA provisions related to American Indians and Alaska Natives enrolled in and receiving services from Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Date: 03 / 2010
Indian Health Service Facts on Indian Health Disparities
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
Provides statistics on Indian health disparities and mortality disparities.
Date: 01 / 2011
Indian Health Service: Health Care Services Are Not Always Available to Native Americans
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
Examines the availability of primary care including medical, dental and vision, as well as certain ancillary and specialty services to Native Americans. Discusses factors associated with the availability of services.
Date: 08 / 2005
Introduction to Indian Nations in the United States
Sponsoring organization: National Congress of American Indians
Provides a basic overview of the history and underlying principles of tribal governance. Provides information about tribes today to ensure that decision makers and members of the public at large have the information necessary to understand and engage effectively with contemporary Indian Nations.
Date: 05 / 2011
Legal and Historical Roots of Health Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the U.S.
Author(s): Brett Lee Shelton
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Discusses the history of health care provision to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Includes a timeline of legislative and historical events as well as detailed overview of the laws, federal agencies, and issues involved. Also includes a brief section on current issues in AI/AN health care.
Date: 02 / 2004
Making Rural Housing Programs Work in Indian Country: A Guide for Tribes and Tribal Housing Associations
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
Contains general information about USDA's housing programs' structure and how they
operate, housing program descriptions, information about RHS's specific response to Indian Country, identifies tribes, tribal housing agencies, and what individuals need to do to "get ready" for assistance, and
a glossary of terms, documents, key regulations, and contacts.
Date: 08 / 2004
National Indian Health Board’s Guide to Congress for 2009
Sponsoring organization: National Indian Health Board
Provides information advocates of Indian health would need to help influence the future of Indian health care. The guide explains types of legislation, tips for calling or writing Congress and how to write an effective letter.
Date: 2009
National Trends in the Perinatal and Infant Health of Rural American Indians (AIs) and Alaska Natives (ANs): Have the Disparities Between AI/ANs and Whites Narrowed?
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Summarizes findings from a study examining trends in prenatal care receipt, low-birthweight rates, neonatal and postneonatal death rates, and cause of death among rural American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) and whites between 1985 and 1997.
Date: 09 / 2007
Native American Lands
Describes issues faced by people living on American Indian Area, Alaska Native Area, Hawaiian Homeland Area (AIANHH) lands, such as poverty, housing deficiencies, and social and health-related problems. Information is based on the 2000 Census.
Native Health Underfunded & Promises Unfulfilled: The Importance of Investing in the Indian Health Service
Author(s): Nicole Soeng, Julie Chinitz
Shares the perspectives of directors, administrators, and physicians at health care organizations within the IHS system. Discusses disparities in health care, funding, and the impact of health reform.
Date: 08 / 2010
Nearly Half of Urban American Indians and Alaskan Natives Travel Back to Their Reservation to Visit During the Year
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Briefly overviews a study of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) who live in cities and travel to reservations, and how this travel may be related to health.
Date: 01 / 2006
Nutritional Risks Among Native American Elders
Author(s): Leander McDonald, Richard Ludtke
Sponsoring organization: National Resource Center on Native American Aging
Discusses nutritional risks of Native American elders. Includes information on social and chronic disease factors that relate to nutritional risk.
Date: 04 / 2005
Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
Analyzes population and housing data collected from the 2010 Census. Provides a snapshot
of race and Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, and African American origin in the United States.
Date: 03 / 2011
Photovoice for Healthy Relationships: Community-Based Participatory HIV Prevention in a Rural American Indian Community
Author(s): Susan F. Markus
Sponsoring organization: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health
Provides an example of a culturally responsive, community-based project for addressing social determinants of health in rural American Indian communities.
Journal citation: American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research: The Journal of the National Center Volume 19 Issue 1 Pages: 102-123
Date: 2012
Profile of American Indians and Alaska Natives and Their Health Coverage
Author(s): Cara James, Karyn Schwartz, Julia Berndt
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Examines the health coverage, access to care and health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives across the country.
Date: 09 / 2009
Promoting Quality Throughout Indian Country
Author(s): Vida Foubister
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Describes how the Indian Health Service' federal, tribal, and urban health facilities have been making strides in quality improvement.
Date: 11 / 2008
Review of the Quality of Health Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Author(s): Yvette Roubideaux
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Documents health care disparities for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) and reports on progress made in the last five years to reduce or eliminate gaps in care. Discusses changes to the AI/AN health care infrastructure and new quality initiatives.
Date: 09 / 2004
Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use among American Indian or Alaska Native Youths
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Compares the risk and protective factors for substance abuse of American Indian or Alaska Native youths with youths from other racial/ethnic groups.
Date: 09 / 2004
Role of Social Capital in Poverty Alleviation in Native American Reservation Communities
Author(s): Kathleen Pickering, David Mushinski, John C. Allen
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Rural Poverty Research Center
Evaluates the different types of social capital in 12 Native American communities and considers the implications of that capital for the types of poverty reduction programs which would be effective in each community.
Date: 02 / 2006
Services in Native American Communities
Author(s): Beth Stroul
Sponsoring organization: National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health
Summarize issues and challenges related to services in Native American communities and identifies effective service delivery strategies.
Date: 07 / 2006
Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities Serving American Indians and Alaska Natives
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Examines the characteristics of the 335 substance abuse treatment facilities and the services they provided to American Indian/Alaska Native populations in 2007.
Date: 07 / 2009
Substance Use Among American Indian or Alaska Native Adults
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Study reveals that the rate of past month alcohol use among American Indian or Alaska Native adults is significantly lower than the national average for adults (43.9 percent versus 55.2 percent).
Date: 06 / 2010
Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders among American Indians and Alaska Natives
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Presents findings of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which surveyed American Indians and Alaska Natives, 12 years and older, to collect data regarding substance use and substance use disorders.
Date: 01 / 2007
Teen Sexual Activity, Pregnancy, and Childbearing Among Native Americans
Sponsoring organization: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
Highlights specific national statistics on Native American teen birth rate, sexual activity and contraceptive use.
Date: 12 / 2007
Telecommunications: Challenges to Assessing and Improving Telecommunications for Native Americans on Tribal Lands
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
Discusses the status of telecommunications access for Native Americans living on tribal lands, federal programs available for improving telecommunications, barriers to improvements, and how some tribes are addressing these barriers.
Date: 03 / 2006
To Live To See the Great Day That Dawns: Preventing Suicide by American Indian and Alaska Native Youth and Young Adults
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Designed to support American Indian/Alaskan Native communities and those who serve them in developing effective, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate suicide prevention plans.
Date: 2010
Walking a Mile: A First Step Toward Mutual Understanding
Author(s): John Doble, Andrew l. Yarrow, Amber N. Ott, Jonathan Rochkind
A qualitative study exploring how Indians and Non-Indians think about each other.
Date: 2007
Journals
American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research: The Journal of the National Center
A professionally refereed scientific journal. It contains empirical research, program evaluations, case studies, unpublished dissertations, and other articles in the behavioral, social, and health sciences which relate to the mental health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Native Aging Visions
Contains peer-reviewed articles that address Native aging, health and related issues.
Rural Voices
Covers rural housing and development topics, published quarterly.
Tribal College Journal
Addresses subjects important to the future of American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Features both journalistic and scholarly articles.
Organizations
Administration for Native Americans (ANA)
Federal government
Promotes the goal of social and economic self-sufficiency of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native American Pacific Islanders, including Native Samoans.
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
Tribal organization
Works to provide the highest quality health services for all Alaska Natives. A Native American Research Center on Health.
American Indian & Alaska Native (AI/AN) Epidemiology Centers
Federal government
Works to improve the health and well-being of AI/AN populations through a variety of activities including surveillance for disease conditions, epidemiological analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data, investigation of disease outbreaks, and more. Supported by an Indian Health Service and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnership.
American Indian College Fund
Tribal organization
Provides scholarship funds for American Indian students at qualified tribal colleges and universities.
American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC)
Tribal government
Represents 34 tribal colleges in the U.S. and Canada through advocacy, research, and program initiatives.
American Indian/Alaska Native National REC (AI/AN National REC)
National organization
American Indian/Alaska Native National Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
AoA Native Americans, Native Alaskans, & Hawaiian Natives Program
Federal government
Coordinates federal activities, administers grants, and collects and disseminates information related to the problems of older Native Americans. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Administration on Aging (AoA) program.
Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP)
National organization
Dedicated to pursuing excellence in Native American health care by promoting education in the medical disciplines, honoring traditional healing practices and restoring the balance of mind, body, and spirit.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Federal government
Responsible for improving the lives and trust assets of American Indians, Indian Tribes, and Alaska natives through services and relationships.
Bush Foundation
Nonprofit/Foundation
An independent grantmaker focused on small communities, leadership, and diversity. Focused on the needs of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations in those states.
Center for Rural, Frontier, and Tribal Health National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NAMI)
Academic/Research
Assists rural, frontier, and Tribal communities in the treatment of child traumatic stress through technology-augmented resources.
First Nations Development Institute
Nonprofit/Foundation
Focuses on assisting tribes and Native communities to control, create, leverage, utilize and retain their assets.
Indian and Native American Program (INAP)
Federal government
Provides general information about the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Section 166 Indian and Native American Program, to enrich the lives of Indian and Native Americans, and to help them achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment and job training.
Indian Health Service (IHS)
Federal government
Provides federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Works to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level. Part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Indians Into Medicine Program (INMED)
Academic/Research
A University of North Dakota academic support program aiding American Indian students in their quest to serve the health care needs of native communities.
Inter Tribal Council of Arizona American Indian Research Center for Health (AIRCH)
Academic/Research
Encourages practical research to improve American Indian peoples' health status. A Native American Research Center on Health site.
Local Technical Assistance Program and Tribal Technical Assistance Program (LTAP/TTAP)
State/regional organization
Composed of a network of 58 Centers - one in every state, Puerto Rico, and regional Centers serving tribal governments - that help improve their communities' roads and bridges by supplying them with training programs, an information clearinghouse, new and existing technology updates, personalized technical assistance, and newsletters.
Midwest Assistance Program (MAP)
State/regional organization
Helps communities and tribal nations find solutions to their infrastructure and development needs through information, resource management, expertise, and technical assistance. Helps rural communities in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC)
National organization
Promotes, supports, and upholds tribes and tribal housing agencies in their efforts to provide culturally-relevant, decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for Native people in American Indian communities and Alaska Native villages.
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Develops an American Indian private sector which employs Indian labor, increases the number of tribal and individual Indian businesses, and positively impacts and involves reservation communities, by establishing business relationships between Indian enterprises and private industry.
National Indian Child Care Association (NICCA)
National organization
Advocates quality child care provision for Native American children.
National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA)
Tribal organization
Dedicated to the well-being of American Indian children and families. Works to address the issues of child abuse and neglect through training, research, public policy, and grassroots community development.
National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA)
National organization
Works to better the lives of the nation's indigenous seniors through advocacy, employment training, dissemination of information, and data support.
National Indian Education Association (NIEA)
National organization
Supports traditional Native cultures and values, enables Native learners to become contributing members of their communities, promotes Native control of educational institutions, and improves educational opportunities and resources for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians throughout the United States.
National Indian Health Board (NIHB)
Tribal organization
Works to strength tribal management capabilities in health and human service delivery.
National Indian Women's Health Resource Center (NIWHRC)
National organization
Provides training, advocacy, and programs to assist American Indian and Alaska Native women achieve optimal health and well being throughout their lifetime.
National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA)
National organization
Works closely with the local service providers throughout the nation to address the needs of American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian elders.
National Society for American Indian Elderly (NSAIE)
Tribal organization
Works to improve the quality of life for on-reservation and rural American Indian senior citizens by supporting a network of tribally established and administered services. Offers grants to tribal member organizations.
Native American Research & Training Center (NARTC)
Academic/Research
Serves as a resource in health related research and training for Native American communities nation-wide.
Native American Research Centers on Health (NARCH)
Academic/Research
Federally-funded research centers that conduct research and research training responsive to the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB)
Tribal organization
Works to assist Northwest tribes to improve the health status and quality of life of member tribes and Indian people in their delivery of culturally appropriate and holistic health care. A Native American Research Center on Health site.
SBA Office of Native American Affairs
Federal government
Works to ensure that American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the resources of the Small Business Administration.
Special Education Program for Teachers and Administrators (SEPTA)
State/regional organization
Works to develop and implement a comprehensive Special Education training program that enhances the professional development of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and BIA grant school personnel.
Tribal Law and Policy Institute
Tribal government
Organized to design and deliver education, research, training, and technical assistance programs which promote the enhancement of justice in Indian country and the health, well-being, and culture of Native peoples.
U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Federal government
Holds jurisdiction to study the unique problems of American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples and to propose legislation to alleviate these difficulties.
Terms & Acronyms
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Federal income tax credit for eligible low-income workers which reduces the amount of tax an individual owes, and may be returned in the form of a refund.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Provides block grants to states to administer programs to assist needy families.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program which serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, & children up to age five who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.
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