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HP/DP
Wellness Program: Montana State University-Bozeman
Nutrition Grant
Introduction
The Health
Promotion / Disease Prevention office focuses on the health disparities
inflicting the people of the Fort Peck Tribes and creates and facilitates
different approaches to help prevent such occurrences from happening.
It has been recognized that the Fort Peck Tribe is undergoing a health
crisis with the top deaths being chronic disease (preventable). Wellness
programs will be targeting the Fort Peck Reservation school children
and their families. Medicaid populations and high risk children and families
will be our first target as they are at the greatest risk for disease
and unhealthy lifestyles.
Current Situation
Current
data indicates that the top health concerns for the Fort Peck Reservation
include heart disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and behavioral health
problems. Current leading research shows that for Native American children
and their families the reasons for our current health problems are lack
of physical activity, inappropriate diet, unemployment and a lack of
purpose or identity in life. Cancer is one of the leading causes
of morbidity and mortality in Native Americans today (DiNois, Schinke, &
Contento, 2005).
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables can significantly
reduce this risk in addition to eating a diet low in fats and high in
fiber. Prevention of health problems is the best way to fight against
an illness. While it is well known that age and hereditary causes for
health problems including cancer cannot be changed, diet and exercise
are the number one things that can and should be changed. Diabetes
has been a problem for Native Americans in general but an increasing
and alarming rate of children and adolescents are now being affected
by early onset type II diabetes. Guidelines have been established and
recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in order to combat
this new morbidity (Gahagan, Silverstein, and Committee on Native American
Health, 2003).
Solution
The best place to make a
difference in our community is to start with our children. The elders
in our community are taking the lead by bringing back our traditional
ways and standing up for our children. We intend to follow their lead
and continue to work alongside the elders in an effort to change our
current health and wellness. The past ways of our Assiniboine and Sioux
tribes have the answers to our current problems. The solution comes in
using the past ways to accomplish our healthcare goals of today. This
program will implement cultural and traditional Native American ways
including Dakota language.
Objectives
To develop an awareness of healthy lifestyles this
can be used throughout the lifespan of each child and their family.
To
increase activity of all children and their families through routine
exercise.
To create a sense of identity and promote a sense of
community for each child and their families.
To promote healthy
dietary patterns in all children and their families across the Fort Peck
Reservation.
To decrease sugar-containing drinks and increase
water and/or 100% juice intake.
To increase awareness of breastfeeding
by means of education and developing a support group for women and teen
girls.
To
increase breastfeeding on Fort Peck Reservation.
To provide
opportunities for families to engage in physical activities together
while enjoying their Assiniboine & Sioux traditions and culture.
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Fort Peck Tribes HP/DP
Wellness Program
P.O. Box 1027
200 G Street East
Poplar, Montana 59255
Phone: (406) 768-3383
Fax: (406) 768-3383
Email: krsmoker@yahoo.com
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