Thursday, April 10, 2025
4/10/2025
THE CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHO TRIBES DIABETES WELLNESS PROGRAM - Organization: Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes 100 Red Moon Circle Concho, OK 73022 Demographics & Target Population: Services will be provided for American Indian/Alaska Natives [AI/AN] in the Cheyenne and Arapaho (C&A) Tribe’s 10-county service area, which spans a rural 8,996 square miles. Location sites for services provided include, but are not limited to; local and rural schools, home residences, assisted living centers,elderly nutrition centers and governmental and tribal programs. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Access Research Atlas, there were eight counties within the C&A tribal jurisdiction with populations that had low access to a grocery store. Local convenience stores are the main source of purchasing groceries in many isolated C&A tribal communities, and accessing healthy foods is frequently limited. Lack of access to affordable fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet increases the risk of developing Diabetes Mellitus [DM], hinders its control and its future complications. Historically, the C&A tribal population has struggled with high poverty rates, high levels of unemployment, and low rates of income on a per capita basis as compared with the general population in the region. Unemployment rates for the C&A Tribes have been significantly higher than the general population in the region. The Bureau of Indian Affairs reported a 70% unemployment rate among the C&A Tribes. In comparison, unemployment rates for the State of Oklahoma was 6.8%, while the nationwide unemployment rate was 9.9%. In addition, BIA showed 24% of C&A tribal members were employed but still living below poverty guidelines. The C&A Tribes are a direct service tribe, meaning healthcare is, “…in whole or in part, receiving primary health care directly from the Indian Health Services [IHS]”. These IHS clinics in the service area are set up to provide basic healthcare needs only. Specialty or emergency care must be gained through purchased and referred care at the nearest facility capable. But, the nearest specialty medical care is in Oklahoma City which is over a 6-hour, roundtrip drive from some locations within the C&A service area where reliable transportation is significantly limited. Overview: The C&A Tribe’s Diabetes Wellness Program [DWP] is designed to promote health and wellness education in the prevention of DM and to empower those with DM to cope with the complications of the disease while providing support of healthy lifestyle choices. The program will focus on nutritional, DM self-care and physical fitness services geared for awareness, education, prevention, and promotion of self management behaviors to decrease the risks of DM and associated complications. DWP partnership with IHS began in 1998 when the C&A tribes received their first IHS grant, which is currently known as Special Diabetes Prevention for Indians. This collaboration continues to thrive and expand today. Outcomes: As the chosen best practice will focus on DM-related education, outcomes will quantify the number and percent of individuals who receive DM-related education within the grant year. Further measures collected will include, but are not limited to, the average DM-related education per individual, average time spent with each client, and number of those receiving case management services. The need for DM related education is vital to the prevention and self-management care of those affected by the DM epidemic, both nationally and more locally within C&A tribal jurisdiction. The C&A DWP is part of an essential, grassroots educational effort that provides essential services desperately needed to reduce the risk of developing DM and its future complications. Chronic diseases are built slowly over time, and their solutions are no different. Diabetes is not going away tomorrow, but the education provided today, helps build better choices tomorrow, which pave the road to reducing the prevalence of DM and optimizing health and wellness.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).