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| Founded in 1991, the mission of the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health (CAIH) is to work in partnership with tribes to research, design, and implement strategies to raise the health and self-sufficiency of American Indians to the highest possible level. A chief priority is to educate more American Indian health leaders who will direct culturally appropriate health interventions for their tribes. Today, the Center operates more than 10 satellite health stations on the Navajo, White Mountain Apache, Gila River, and Wind River Indian Reservations and is engaged in training and consultation work with additional American Indian communities across the country. To carry forth efforts in the field, the Center employs approximately 50 Native American field workers from the communities it serves. CAIH's early success came from biomedical and public health campaigns to eliminate high rates of childhood infectious diseases. For example, vaccine trials on the Navajo Reservation led to the elimination of Hemophilus influenzae type b meningitis, and promotion of oral rehydration therapy among the White Mountain Apaches virtually eliminated childhood deaths from diarrhea, which had occurred at a rate 50 times the national average. Based on input from the CAIH's 12-member Native American Advisory Council, formed in 1992, the Center's work in the last five years has expanded to address common health problems afflicting Native Americans, in addition to building educational opportunities. Examples of programs include: - "Changing Our Lives Through Sharing Our Strength": a home-visiting and outreach program in which indigenous field workers educate and counsel pregnant teens and young mothers on breastfeeding, nutrition, family planning and well-baby care.
- Native Vision: a youth development program, run in partnership with the NFL Players Association and the Nick Lowery Charitable Foundation, that promotes life skills and healthy lifestyles through a team sports model.
- Educational Initiatives: workshops to train tribes in basic public health sciences planning and administration; to support tribes in identifying, assessing, and resolving priority health problems; and recently, to provide specialized training in diabetes prevention, a major health problem for tribes today.
- Mental Health Consultation: in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, assists tribes in combating suicide, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and in building parenting skills.
For further information, visit the Center for American Indian Health website. |
