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The Messengers are located at Montana State University and trained by Suzanne Christopher, a professor at MSU's Department of Health and Human Development and principal investigator for the Messengers for Health program. The American Cancer Society, which funds the project through its Margaret Ann Wise Trust, recently renewed the program for a second five-year cycle with a $1.52 million grant.
A few years ago the words "cancer" and "cervical" were forbidden, but discussions on the importance of screening are now commonplace. Northern Plains Indians have a statistically higher mortality rate from cervical cancer than their white neighbors, according to the Indian Health Service.
"Women here are beginning to feel empowered, comfortable enough even to schedule their own [cancer] screening appointments," McCormick said of the influence of the Messengers, who provide information and words of encouragement in many locations including homes, churches, the sweat lodge and grocery stores. "They are beginning to know the importance of a Pap test. We are overcoming barriers. Women are opening up, even admitting that they haven't had a screening, or even asking a question about their husband's health or about domestic abuse."
"Screenings are vital because most women who develop cervical cancer do not have symptoms, and when it is found early [by a Pap test] survival rates are almost 100 percent," said Christopher, who has been working quietly at the Crow Agency for more than nine years developing a program that would best benefit the women of the tribe.
BIA teams with the Jason Foundation to Prevent Teen Suicide
Billings, MT – The Bureau of Indian Affairs has partnered with the Jason Foundation, a national teen suicide prevention and awareness organization, to tackle one of the leading causes of death among American Indian youth.
The BIA began its partnership with the Jason Foundation in April at the Family Violence and Teen Suicide Prevention conference, which was attended by more than 50 tribal and social services leaders from Montana and Wyoming. Suicide is the second highest cause of death among native youth, and teen suicide is two to three times higher among American Indian and Native Alaskan youths than among other ethnic groups and the general population.
The Jason Foundation was started by Clark Flatt in honor of his youngest son Jason, who committed suicide in 1977. Based in Tennessee, the foundation provides programs that include in-services for teachers, parent seminars, a school-based curriculum and a resource line. The foundation has ties to the American Football Coaches Association, which helps spread awareness. The foundation and federal agencies are working to make the services applicable to local needs as well.
Some behavior to watch for, Flatt told the conference, includes the following: Girls may make funeral plans and give them to a best friend; kids will give away prized possessions, including drivers' licenses. If someone talks about suicide or wanting to die, Flatt advises, talk to that person about his or her comment and seek professional help.
For more information on teen suicide prevention and the Jason Foundation: www.jasonfoundation.com.
Agriculture Department Reports on Status of Native American Health
Washington, D.C. – Research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service, the U. S. Department of Agriculture's scientific research agency, shows that American Indian tribes, considered sovereign domestic nations, are among the most impoverished of minority groups in America. They experience a disproportionately high incidence of diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Native Americans also have the highest per-capita suicide rate, nearly two-and-a-half times the national average and more than four times the national average among 15- to 24-year-olds.
The research data also show that depression-related symptoms were found to be associated with poorer health, less exercise, food insecurity, higher body mass index in females, carbohydrate intake in males and tobacco use. Depression scores were highest among those reporting lower income, more children, and food insecurity. But they were lowest among those reporting a stronger identity with their native culture.
More than 60 percent of the survey participants indicated they had a family member who had been diagnosed with diabetes. Food insecurity was a problem among 26 percent of those surveyed, meaning that during the previous 12 months, they had experienced various degrees of limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods. The study data will be used for designing and implementing effective interventions to improve health and quality of life among American Indians. Gray and Penland are providing a technical report to all participating tribal groups for their use when applying for grant programs.
The research report appeared in the July issue of Agricultural Research Magazine. For more information: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul04/indian0704.htm
Native Americans, Alaska Natives in Maine Awarded HIV Funding
Washington, D.C. – In response to an alarming increase in rates of HIV/AIDS infection among women in the United States, the National AIDS Fund and Johnson & Johnson have formed a partnership to address the unique needs of women and families whose lives have been impacted by the physical, emotional, financial and social tolls of HIV/AIDS. The Johnson & Johnson company is contributing more than $1 million over the next two years to community-based organizations that provide innovative services for specific populations of women and children. These organizations are located in rural and urban communities where the need for assistance is growing and public health resources are limited.
Among the organizations receiving funding is the Maine Community AIDS Partnership (MCAP) which addresses HIV among American Indian and Native American Women in Maine. The grant will help foster collaborative between Wabanaki Mental Health and the Maine Migrant Health Program for the creation of an HIV education program to be run by American Indian and Native American women for themselves and their families.
"The growing impact of women with HIV/AIDS is not a new issue for society, but it is worsening and the resources available to address it or develop new strategies are not in proportion to the numbers of people affected," said Kandy Ferree, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National AIDS Fund. "Our partnership with Johnson & Johnson represents a novel approach to tackling the most pressing public-health and social-justice issue of modern time."
According to United Nations statistics, women make up nearly half of HIV/AIDS-infected adults worldwide, with a similar pattern developing domestically. In the U.S., where the epidemic is sometimes mistakenly thought to be "under control" due to the general availability of anti-retroviral therapy, women with AIDS make up an increasing proportion of those infected.
The National AIDS Fund has raised and invested over $118 million since 1988 for the fight against HIV/AIDS in the United States. For more information: http://www.aidsfund.org
NIHB Announces National Award Winners
Washington, DC – The Navajo Nation of Arizona and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska have been awarded grants from the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) for a new national public health demonstration program called "Turning Point for Native Health: Innovations in Tribal Community Public Health Practice."
The Navajo Nation Division of Health in Window Rock will advance its strategic planning activities and ultimately establish a Navajo Nation Public Health Department. The Winnebago Tribe is developing a system to influence social norms and attitudes to address growing teen pregnancies as well as sexually-transmitted disease rates. Both tribes will collaborate with NIHB to share collected information with other Native communities.
"We are proud of the award winners, and we honor all those responsible for submitting an array of impressive proposals," said NIHB Chairman H. Sally Smith.
The NIHB received 16 applications for the awards and hopes to secure additional funding to continue the program. According to the Indian Health Service, life expectancy of American Indians and Alaska Natives is 70.6 years compared to the U.S. population of 76.5 years, and the vast majority of illnesses and deaths are from diseases and conditions that are preventable.
"Indian Country is going to experience population health status falling even further behind if we do not take bold action to build culturally appropriate approaches to address health – both physical and mental – at a population level," said J.T. Petherick, NIHB Executive Director.
Dr. Vincent Lafronza, NIHB Senior Fellow for Public Health, added: "Indian Country's positive response to this grant announcement clearly indicates the readiness of tribal governments to build capacity to address public health issues. This is terrific news, since relative to county and state counterparts, the prevention infrastructure available to Tribes is sorely lacking in capacity. It's time we worked together to change this scenario. We know prevention works."
Summit on American Indian Health at Penn
The University of Pennsylvania will present its first summit on American Indian Health Care entitled Bridging the Cultural Canyon: Strategies to Reduce Health Inequities for American Indians, on June 9-11, 2005 in Philadelphia. The summit will be co-hosted by the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania.
The conference hopes to advance knowledge about the interface of 'dominant Western health care' and indigenous health traditions of American Indians with emphasis on three major problems in Indian Country – obesity, diabetes and violence.
The conference will feature nationally recognized Native and non-Native health professionals who will address the major challenges related to the health of indigenous peoples and the importance of spirituality as an integral aspect of health, healing and wellness. Leaders of the American Indian health community will outline a blueprint for future directions on the health of American Indians.
For more information: http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/ce/IndianHealthCare/Description_Schedule.htm
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