Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
Navajo Special Diabetes Program - 2023-2027 SDPI Application (funding opportunity number: HHS-2023-IHS-SDPI-0001) - The Navajo Special Diabetes Program (NSDP) is respectfully seeking Special Diabetes Project for Indians grant funding (funding opportunity number: HHS-2023-IHS-SDPI-0001) for calendar years 2023-2027. NSDP, a Navajo Nation government operated agency within the Navajo Department of Health, was established in June 1999 to promote healthy life-styles and develop strategies to reduce and prevent diabetes affecting the Navajo People. NSDP’s vision is to promote a life filled with beauty, harmony and happiness through diabetes prevention, education and wellness. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health Diabetes Mellitus, 23.5% of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults area diagnosed with Diabetes. Moreover, AI/AN adults are almost three times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes, 2.3 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes, and twice as likely to be diagnosed with end stage renal disease than non-Hispanic whites. When compared to the Navajo Nation, the overall prevalence of diabetes (24,092 individuals) on the Navajo Nation in 2021 is consistent with estimates above. Prior to covid-19 pandemic, prevalence of diabetes increased 13% from 2016-2020 per Navajo Area Indian Health Service Audit; however, current data through the pandemic indicates a decrease in prevalence from prior years. While the onset of diabetes across the U.S. has increased since the pandemic, the NSDP is concerned that diabetes has increased on the Navajo Nation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, AI/AN are susceptible to COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. In addition, the Navajo Epidemiology Center (NEC) also indicates high rates of COVID-19 transmission on the Navajo Nation. Based on the national and local data, it is imperative to continue providing diabetes prevention and intervention on the Navajo Nation. Navajo Special Diabetes Program proposes in the next five-year grant cycle to involve 20% of the targeted population and/or approximately 48,000 individuals annually, ranging from ages 10 years old and older, to increase awareness through education, events, and activities to the communities on the impact of diabetes. NSDP identifies the following best practices activities: 1) Community Based Diabetes Education, 2) Community Based Nutrition Education, and 3) Community Based Physical Activity. The non-best practice activities, the selected are: 1) to improve wellness center activities using certified group fitness and personal trainers, 2) to enhance the media campaign to promote diabetes education through mass media productions, and 3) to implement of the Native Lifestyle Balance curriculum to integrate Navajo culture into our diabetes and nutrition education. In 2023, the NSDP intends to open two brand new Wellness Centers in the underserved western and northern areas of the Navajo Nation. Currently, NSDP has seven (7) service units, one (1) Central Administrative Office, and four (4) Wellness Centers located throughout the Navajo Nation. SDPI grant funding will be inclusive of materials/services to operate our offices and wellness centers, implementation of program community outreach services and deliverables, as well as salary for eighty-three (83) staff including professional development and applicable license/certification costs.
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).