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Additional Investments in Indian Country

CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion makes a variety of investments in Indian Country. In addition to the Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country program, other investments include:

Public Health Infrastructure

  • Building Public Health Infrastructure in Tribal Communities to Accelerate Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Indian Country. This 5-year program, launched in September 2017, seeks to increase the capacity of Tribal Epidemiology Centers to deliver public health functions to and with the tribes/villages in their Indian Health Service Area (including the Urban Area). The program intends to contribute to reductions in chronic diseases and risk factors, reductions in disparities in health outcomes, and improvements in overall health by building public health capacity and infrastructure in Indian Country for disease surveillance, epidemiology; prevention and control of disease, injury, or disability; and program monitoring and evaluation. A total of approximately $8.5 million will be awarded to the 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers and one Network Coordinating Center, in FY 2018. The Network Coordinating Center, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, will provide project organization, logistics, communication, and performance evaluation support for the funded Tribal Epidemiology Centers.

Tobacco Prevention and Control

  • Consortium of National Networks to Impact Populations Experiencing Tobacco-Related and Cancer Health Disparities. This 5-year initiative, launched in September 2013, supports a consortium of national networks to advance prevention of commercial tobacco use and cancer in populations with higher-than-average levels of tobacco use, cancer incidence, and cancer mortality. In fiscal year 2015, CDC awarded one tribal organization $600,000. The consortium is jointly funded by the Office on Smoking and Health and Division of Cancer Prevention and Control in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Cancer

  • National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Through NBCCEDP, CDC provides low-income, uninsured, and underserved women access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. In fiscal year 2015, CDC awarded 11 American Indian/Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations $6.8 million to do this work.
  • Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC). This program funds tribal organizations to develop evidence-based plans that identify how they address the public health burden of cancer. CCC plans guide cancer control activities. In fiscal year 2015, CDC awarded $1.8 million to seven tribal organizations to do this work.
  • Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP). Since 2009, CRCCP has funded states and tribal organizations across the United States to increase colorectal cancer screening rates among men and women aged 50 to 75 years. The program funds population-based approaches and screening, with the majority of funds going to support population-based activities. In fiscal year 2015, CDC awarded $732,400 to one tribal organization.

Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

  • WISEWOMAN. This program provides low-income, underinsured, or uninsured women with screening for chronic disease risk factors, lifestyle programs, and referral services in an effort to prevent cardiovascular disease. The priority age group is women aged 40 to 64 years. In fiscal year 2015, CDC awarded $1 million to two tribal organizations.

Community Programs

  • Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH). PICH is a 3-year initiative that supports large cities and urban counties, small cities and counties, and American Indian tribes to use evidence- and practice-based strategies to create or strengthen healthy environments that make it easier for people to make healthy choices and take charge of their health. In fiscal year 2015, CDC awarded $4.2 million to six American Indian tribes.
  • Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH). REACH, a CDC program that began in 1999, focuses on racial and ethnic communities experiencing health disparities. In fiscal year 2015, the program supported three tribal organizations with $2.2 million to use public health strategies to reduce tobacco use and exposure, improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and improve access to chronic disease prevention, risk reduction, and management opportunities.

Success Story from Previously Funded Projects

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s Native Gardens Project, funded through CDC’s National Diabetes Wellness Program’s Traditional Foods Program, increased access to local, traditional foods and awareness about the availability and health benefits of harvesting and eating these foods. From 2009-2012, the project collaborated with local farmers, the USDA’s Nutrition for the Elderly program, the tribe’s Special Diabetes Program, and the County Extension Service to hold 61 farmers’ market days, serving an estimated 2,500 people.

Almost 13,000 farmers’ market vouchers ($50 value each) were distributed as part of the USDA program to 1,193 elders, who exchanged their vouchers for produce. Voucher redemption increased from 22% in 2009 to 100% in 2012. The vouchers generated approximately $18,000 in sales, encouraging local farmers to keep growing and selling in the community.

“Winter” and “Summer” markets, colorfully advertised on the radio and posters, gathered community members to prepare foods according to traditional knowledge, share meals, and sell local produce, including prairie turnips (tinpsila, in Lakota language). The length of almost six and a half football fields were tilled for gardens across the eight tribal districts in North and South Dakota (154 family gardens) and three community gardens were developed in three districts (20,000 square feet of space).

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