Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
American Indians and Alaskan Natives experience the greatest health disparities related toobesity and cardiovascular disease, compared with all other racial groups in the U.S. While theseconditions can largely be prevented, doing so requires structural transformations that addresssocial determinants of health. By leveraging and expanding our partnerships in Navajo Nation,Partners In Health (PIH) and Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) proposethe implementation of a dynamic matrix of community-driven and evidence-based strategies tostrengthen three systemic factors that drive health disparities: food security, spaces for physicalactivity, and community-clinic linkages.Building upon the success of our REACH 2014 grant activities, PIH and COPE will supportcoalition-driven efforts in Navajo Nation to bring about systemic-level change to provide thecommunity with access to healthy foods, safe trails and walkways, and de-centralized health careprograms. With a target population of all individuals living in the Navajo Nation, activities willbe framed within Navajo cultural values and implemented in close coordination with diversetribal and non-tribal community members and stakeholders. To ensure culturally-informedstrategies across the vast expanse of Navajo Nation, we will employ a hub and spoke coalitionstructure, with a group of core stakeholders extending support to small teams responsible forcommunity engagement and cross-sectorial implementation at the local level.The Coalition and local teams will carry out a portfolio of complimentary and mutuallyenhancing program activities. Through innovative partnerships and technical assistance, we willincrease the consumption of healthier foods in remote rural communities by increasing theavailability of healthier foods sold in small stores and served at community venues. We will alsostrengthen regional food systems by expanding the Navajo Fruit and Vegetable PrescriptionProgram and supportin g new Farm to School initiatives. To increase access to safe spaces forphysical activity, we will support community planning and execution of trail projects using ?junkfood tax? revenue. Finally, we will increase access to community services with a specific focuson women with diabetes in pregnancy. We will create systems that enable providers to referwomen to community-based resources including breastfeeding support and assign primary careproviders. Finally, Dine College will create the first Tribal Community Health Worker (CHW)Certification Program to expand the CHW workforce in Navajo Nation.All activities leverage existing partnerships and are informed by self-identified communityneeds; many expand upon the successes of existing programs and experience of local staff andcommunity members who are presently engaged in this work in meaningful ways. Additionally,the preservation of self-sufficiency and cultural traditions is a fundamental component of allproposed grant activities and strategies as indigenous cultural values and rich social capital haveallowed the Navajo Nation to maintain their resiliency and self-reliance. These positive socialdeterminants of health are key community assets that represent part of the solution to healthdisparities.
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).
