Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106831

Sylvia Wilber, MS, Master Key Consulting LLC, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Bethesda, WI 20814, (301) 907-8789, swilber@masterkeyconsulting.com, Irene Anne Jillson, PhD, Master Key Consulting, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, and Lisa Boyd, College of Menominee Nation, P. O. Box 1179, N. 172 Highway 47/55, Keshena, WI 54135.

This paper presents the methodology used in a three-year demonstration project designed to engage an American Indian community in planning for and strengthening allied health services for elders in a rural AI community in Northern Wisconsin. The methods included the use of individual qualitative interviews with key leaders, elders, youth, and service providers; focus groups with elders and youth; and the continuous involvement of a community advisory committee throughout the project. The findings were used 1) to design an associate of arts degree program in allied health services for elders; 2) to develop a training program for youth to provide allied health services for elders; and 3) to plan for strengthening allied health services for elders, including. The findings yielded important information related to 1) the allied health needs of elders, 2) the most appropriate means that the Menominee Tribe can respond to those needs using its own resources and those available to the tribe, and 3) creative approaches to using Menominee culture and tradition in meeting the health needs of elders.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the session, the participants in the session will be able to identify at least five factors that American Indian elders self-report as contributing to strengthened personal health.
• At the end of the session, the participants in the session will be able to describe at least five factors that facilitate successful engagement of American Indian youth and elders in community health planning.
• At the end of the session, the participants in the session will be able to describe at least five allied health activities in which AI/AN/NH youth and elders can engage for mutually supportive health promotion/disease prevention

Keywords: American Indians, Community Health Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation