Trans-NIH AI/AN Work Group Spring Workshop

This workshop will focus on the vital role community health representatives (CHRs) play in health education and outreach efforts, as well as their importance for building collaborative relationships between American Indian/Alaska Native communities and researchers. CHRs are tribal lay health educators and patient liaisons who live and work in Native communities. Approximately 1,700 CHRs currently serve throughout the nation, working under the aegis of the Indian Health Service’s CHR Program, which was launched in 1968.

Offering their insight into partnering with CHRs will be two guest speakers from tribal communities – Dr. Melany Cueva of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and Jean Pino, CHR Coordinator for the Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos. The workshop will begin with an opening blessing offered by Anselm Davis Jr., Ed.D. (Navajo/Choctaw), Former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities. This will be followed by welcoming remarks from Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). In addition, John Burklow, Director of the NIH’s Office of Communications and Public Liaison, will present an overview of NIH’s bi-directional outreach and communications efforts with tribal communities.

Workshop Objectives

To gain an understanding of the health issues that American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) face and the Indian Health Service system from which they obtain their care.
To understand the vital role community health representatives (CHRs) play in developing, implementing, and evaluating methods of adapting and communicating health information, as well as their importance for building collaborative relationships between tribal communities and researchers.
To gain the perspective of CHRs on developing culturally attuned materials and effectively disseminating evidence-based health education information to AI/AN communities.
To learn about successful research-based outreach and education programs that partner with CHRs.