Explore materials designed to support health education and outreach efforts within AI/AN communities.
Toolkits, Fact Sheets, and Community Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Cultural Food Preferences in Food Service
Learn about incorporating culturally preferred foods in food service with resources from CDC. This information is intended mainly for federal, state, and local public health practitioners working in food service. It may also be helpful to food service vendors and others seeking to offer more foods that not only meet nutrition standards but are culturally preferred by the populations they serve.
CDC Native Diabetes Wellness Program (NDWP): Traditional Foods
AI/AN communities across the country are reclaiming traditional foods as part of the global Indigenous food sovereignty movement. This movement embraces identity, history, and traditional ways and practices to address health. Chelsea Wesner (Choctaw) compiled the stories on this webpage to help NDWP understand the importance and meaning of traditional foods across Indian Country. The traditional food stories represent native communities across Indian Country.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Maternal & Child Health: Nutrition
This comprehensive site outlines HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s approach to nutrition and includes resources for providers as well as grant funding information.
HRSA: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
This hotline is a 24/7, 365 day, free, and confidential service that provides direct connections to qualified and professional counselors that are licensed and certified in supporting pregnant and postpartum people facing mental health challenges. These services of emotional support, resources, and referrals are provided in English and 60-on-demand languages including Hopi, Choctaw, Yupik, and Navajo via voice and text.
HRSA: Tribal Affairs
HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) leads HRSA’s Tribal Affairs work. IEA serves as HRSA’s primary point of contact for tribal governments and tribal organizations. IEA works with tribal communities to help them improve access to health care services in Indian Country. This site includes funding announcements, information about upcoming events, and a list of resources related to health care topics impacting Tribal communities.
Indian Health Service (IHS): Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention
The IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention (DDTP) provides educational materials, resources, and trainings for providers, patients, and community members. The material is culturally relevant, free to access or order, and easy to use. The resources and trainings can be accessed at the IHS DDTP website or the Education Materials and Resources (Online Catalog). Diabetes care topics include, but are not limited to, nutrition, physical activity, weight management, immunizations, screening, and tobacco use.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Type 2 Diabetes Resources
Learn about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes with these resources from NIDDK. (Please note these resources are not specific to AI/AN populations and communities.)
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
NIH offers an online dietary supplement fact sheet regarding the ingredients in dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, probiotics, herbs and botanicals, and more.
NIH: Asthma in American Indian/Alaska Native Communities Resources
American Indians/Alaska Natives are 20 percent more likely to have asthma than white Americans. The resources on this webpage talk about the prevalence of asthma and how to manage it.
NIH: A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby Booklet
The free booklet A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby, developed specifically for AI/AN communities, describes how parents and grandparents can care for a baby’s teeth and prevent tooth decay.
NHLBI: Deliciously Healthy Eating Recipes
NHLBI’s Deliciously Healthy Eating recipe collection features recipes from many cultures and traditions. Explore the “American Indian/Alaska Native” tab on the left side of the page.
Honoring the Gift of Heart Health Community Health Worker Toolkit
This toolkit includes a heart healthy living curriculum designed for AI/AN communities. This curriculum is currently being updated and the new one will be available in the next year.
Resources for Kids
CDC: Native Diabetes Wellness Program (NDWP): Eagle Book Series and Toolkits
The Eagle Books promote type 2 diabetes prevention by encouraging young readers to be physically active and eat healthy foods. They're written by Georgia Perez and illustrated by Patrick Rolo and Lisa A. Fifield.
- Eagle Books Grades K-4 Toolkits: The Eagle Books for early readers in grades K-4 are a series of 4 books that follow stories about Rain That Dances and his friends Thunder Cloud, Little Hummingbird, and Simon. They teach about traditional ways of being healthy from a wise eagle and his animal friends.
- Eagle Books Grades 5-8 Toolkits: The Eagle Books for grades 5-8 are a series of youth novels that follow Rain That Dances and his friends. Their adventures reinforce native wisdom, encouraging friends and families to be active and eat healthy food. A 4-volume graphic novel is also available for download that expands the story of Coyote and the Turtle's Dream with new characters and adventures.
- Art Toolkits: The Art Toolkits include coloring books, puzzles, stickers, trading cards, and more to entertain guests at Eagle Books events.
Workshops, Videos, and Webinar Recordings
NIH/National Institute on Aging (NIA): Examination of Vascular and Alzheimer’s Dementias in Community-based American Indians Webinar Recording
This webinar discusses the high risk for vascular and Alzheimer’s dementias in American Indians, exploring lessons learned through the Strong Heart Study.
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): Advancing Health Equity Through Culture-centered Dietary Interventions to Address Chronic Diseases Workshop Recording
This 2-day workshop convened researchers, health care providers, and community representatives to discuss the role of culture in dietary interventions aimed at diverse and underrepresented populations. The workshop included topics such as Sociocultural Factors Influencing Foodways and Food Sovereignty in Native American Communities. Watch video recordings from day 1 and day 2 of the workshop.
NIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases (NIAMS): Discussing Bone, Muscle, Skin, and Autoimmune Diseases: Info for American Indians and Alaska Natives Workshop Recording
Watch this workshop recording to learn about bone, muscle, skin and autoimmune diseases among American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Outreach Materials and Engagement Opportunities
CDC: National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP): American Indian and Alaska Native Audiences Promotional Materials
These promotional materials promote the National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program to members of the AI/AN community. The toolkit can be tailored for AI/AN communities and shared across newsletters, social media, direct mail, and other communication platforms to reach AI/AN audiences in their local area. While the materials focus on all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, some include a focus on food and nutrition.
Download the materials below:
- Poster: Be the Model
- Social media images:
Refer to the Job Aid for more details on how to use these materials.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM)
HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau administers this committee. ACIMM provides guidance and programs directed at reducing infant and maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and improving the health of infants and women before, during, and after pregnancy.
ACIMM promotes the Making Amends: Recommended Strategies and Actions to Improve the Health and Safety of American Indian and Alaska Native Mothers and Infants report with recommendations to improve birth outcomes of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) mothers and infants.
National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Visit the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day webpage for resources and information on HIV/AIDS for AI/AN populations.
NIH: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Outreach, Recruitment & Engagement (ADORE)
The Alzheimer’s & Dementia Outreach, Recruitment & Engagement (ADORE) webpage contains materials and resources, including podcasts and study recruitment information, for AI/AN populations.
Publications, Blogs, and Published Interviews
Use this collection of publications in your work to improve the health of American Indian and Native American people.
- A Partnership Between Researchers and the Navajo Nation to Study a Junk Food Tax
- Examining Factors Associated with Mental and Physical Wellbeing in American Indian People with Diabetes
- Embracing Community and Culture to Prevent Underage Drinking
- American Indian/Alaska Native Mental Health: Our Voices, Traditions and Values to Strengthen our Collective Wellness
- Building Research Partnerships for Healthy Sovereign Tribal Nations
- Older American Indians may experience higher levels of cognitive impairment than previously thought
- APOE ε4 is not associated with increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in American Indians
- Conversation with Dr. Julie A. Baldwin: Applying Cross-Cutting Themes of Prevention Science and Community-Based, Participatory Research to Address Health Disparities
- Exploring the Effects of Air Pollution and Positivity on Heart Health in American Indian Women
- Yup’ik Communities Turn to Indigenous Knowledge to Prevent Risk for Youth Suicide and Alcohol Abuse