Collaboratively, Salish Kootenai College (SKC) Center for Prevention and Wellness (CPW) and the BRAVE (Building Resiliency Advocacy and Vision through Education) Project propose a conference in the fall of 2017 at Fairmont Hot Springs, Montana to converge experts in public health as it relates to American Indian health disparities specific to those living in Montana. The conference would bring providers together to discuss the strategies and services that have been proven effective at reducing health disparities in Indian Country. The target audience for the conference would include American Indian healthcare providers, community based organizations serving native populations, academia and students. 

Statement of Need

American Indians living in Montana represent the largest minority population in the state and as a group they experience profound health disparities. Late stage disease diagnosis and resulting loss of life are alarmingly common among AI peoples residing in Montana. Recent reports have found that American Indians in Montana live shorter and more challenging lives due to preventable forms of mortality. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, unintentional injuries, suicide, and metabolic disease all disproportionately impact American Indian communities. The trauma impact within AI communities continues to be a concern with health outcomes.

Funding of this proposal will strategically provide the opportunities to reach an audience that specifically focuses providers who serve AI populations in Montana. Building the capacity of healthcare providers across Montana to better serve AI populations is the main priority of this effort. This conference would allow agencies to share their best practices as it relates to health disparities mentioned previously. Multiple agencies across Montana offer creative approaches to reducing health disparities through direct service. Ultimately, comprehensive resources directly associated with AI health issues will be created and shared.

Project Plan

The conference will focus on the following: promotion of service delivery designed to address early detection, high risk screening criteria, strategies to reduce stigma, implementation of cultural competency practices, implementation of mental health screenings as routine practice, and access to pre-screening services without standard screening recommendations. The conference intents to incorporate grassroot practices into western medicine and science creating a stronger understanding of research as it relates to the people served on a daily basis. The group believes that there is a significant gap between research and local providers and seeks funding to support a conference to be held in conjunction with Salish Kootenai College (SKC) to create and stimulate approaches to healthcare between academic researchers and American Indian communities in Montana interested in reducing health disparities. Once funded, funds will bring the BRAVE group together with academic collaborators and community partners to identify, define, and create potential collaborations and research priorities for Montana tribal communities. The funding would provide the capacity to bring BRAVE representatives from across the state together with potential academic partners for a 2-day conference. The requested $10,000 of funding would cover conference meeting expenses, travel costs and honorarium for speakers from community partners and academia, and culturally appropriate acknowledgement of speakers and contributors. Bringing key individuals together for intensively focused partnership activities has proven to be highly effective. This proposal would support planning a Native-centered wellness and research navigation conference for the entire state of Montana.