Use of a mini-grant process to build capacity and address sexual assault, STDs, and HIV in American Indian communities

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women are at greater risk of sexual assault compared to women of other races. Sexual assault places women at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); risk incurs via assault, and continues to be increased compared with that for women who have not been assaulted. Because AI/AN women already have a higher rate of STDs than the national average, increased risk resulting from sexual assault further jeopardizes their health. The sexual assault/STD/HIV intervention project's immediate goal is for communities to develop and implement sexual violence/STD/HIV interventions; the long-term goal is reducing the burden of sexual assault/STD/HIV in AI/AN communities. Proposals for mini-grants were sought regionally from Tribes and urban Indian areas to conduct culturally-appropriate sexual assault/STD/HIV interventions. A previously-used mini-grant process was adopted. This mini-grant process was developed for working with AI/AN communities, with guiding principles relating to capacity building and facilitating success. As part of this process, technical support and training were offered as necessary throughout the project. Three grants were awarded. Projects were provided varying levels of support in conducting their interventions. All have demonstrated progress towards their goals and objectives. Additionally, all have created changes that will persist following the funding period. An important component of projects' successes to be sustainable has been networking and partnering with other local agencies. Mini-grants are a useful tool for building capacity and increasing AI/AN communities' ability to address sexual assault/STD/HIV.