Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs Among Native Communities

“Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs Among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities: A Call to Action to Improve Cultural Relevance and Accessibility” provides important information about evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/ AN/NH) communities.

This report highlights the:

• Unique disparities in health care access that AI/AN/NH communities face;
• Diversity of services supported by the Older American Act in AI/AN/NH communities, such as nutrition, transportation, caregiver programs, information and referral, and health promotion;
• Current evidence-base for, availability, and acceptability of health promotion programs in AI/AN/NH communities;
• Experience of program administrators in AI/AN/NH communities, and perspectives from elders about what aging well means to them and the extent to which they are aware of and/or have been involved with health promotion and disease prevention programs;
• Results from a survey of Older Americans Act Title VI Directors and Staff, providing information about their experience with health promotion and disease prevention programs, the unique challenges they face in serving their communities, and what resources they think might help; and
• Potential next steps to advance the health and well-being of AI/AN/NH elders.

Through the aging network, Administration for Community Living (ACL) funds programs that support nutrition, supportive services, and caregiver services in AI/AN/NH communities, such as congregate and home delivered meals, information and referral, transportation, person care, chore services, and health promotion programs. These services help ensure that AI/AN/NH elders can live independently in the communities of their choice for as long as possible.

ACL is committed to exploring ways to enhance our support for the development, implementation, and evaluation of culturally-relevant health promotion programs for—and by— AI/AN/NH communities. The Call to Action in this report identifies many areas of opportunity and creative ways ACL and the aging network can support this work.

We would like to thank all the organizations, professionals, and AI/AN/NH community members and elders that lent their time, expertise, and experience to this important effort. We are committed to using these recommendations as we, collectively, chart a path forward.