Tuesday, April 23, 2024
4/23/2024
Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) covers an area of 235,000 square miles in Interior Alaska which is roughly 37% of the state. The Diabetes Program through Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center (CAIHC) provides direct services to Alaska Natives and American Indians (AN/AI) in the hub community of Fairbanks as well as 24 rural communities (8 accessible by car and 16 by small airplane). Travel difficulties are common and include expense, weather, and availability of flights which can lead to decreased medical care, health screenings, SDPI activities and services. Additional challenges include the availability of healthy foods, food insecurity, and winter weather decreasing opportunities for physical activity. Diabetes is a serious health concern in the TCC region with a prevalence rate of 4.8%. TCC’s Diabetes Program began in 1998 with Special Diabetes Program for Indian funding. Since that time, the program has evolved from being clinically oriented to one with a dual focus; both treating and preventing diabetes throughout the region. The program has been accredited by the American Diabetes Association since 2011 and added the CDC Diabetes Prevention Program in 2016. Diabetes Program staff provide evidenced-based, culturally appropriate, and personalized diabetes self-management education and support to AN/AI across the TCC region. Staff delivers DSMES through one-on-one education and group classes either in-person or through telehealth. Additional services include care coordination, case management, and foot care for patients with diabetes and prediabetes in addition to diabetes prevention activities including physical activity education, community events, and presentations. In the upcoming years, 2023 – 2027, the Diabetes Program will continue to focus on DSMES, care coordination, case management and foot care. Staff will utilize opportunities for health promotion initiatives through the Diabetes Prevention Program, physical activity education, presentations, cooking demonstrations and community events both in Fairbanks and rural communities. In addition, the Diabetes Program will continue working with existing partnerships and cultivate new internal and external partnerships to enhance and support SDPI activities for AN/AI throughout the TCC region.
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).
