Health visioning in American Indian communities: A strategy for engaging tribal leadership in community health assessment

PURPOSE: To assist in establishing a strategic vision for community health assessment (CHA) and health planning in American Indian (AI) communities by interviewing Tribal Leaders and AI health advocates on individual/community health and health priorities. BACKGROUND: A vision is a clear and concise description of what a community should look like after it successfully implements its strategies and achieves its full potential. Health visions state “the ideal, link explicitly to strategies, inspire commitment and draw out community values.” In AI communities, health visions also integrate deeply held cultural core values and beliefs about individual/community health, provide focus, purpose and direction for health planning, and can be an important tool in engaging tribal leadership in a successful CHA. METHODS: The Center for Native American Health (CNAH) conducted brief voluntary interviews with tribal leaders and AI health advocates about their individual and community-level beliefs about health, cultural core values and assets important to achieving and maintaining optimal health, the role of tribal and community leaders in promoting health, and potential priorities for future health planning. RESULTS: Over 10 AI leaders and health advocates were interviewed representing multiple tribal and AI communities. Health visions were organized into a slideshow and presented at a workshop on CHA in tribal communities organized by CNAH. Quotes from the interviews highlighted the social determinants of health relevant to AI communities (e.g. employment, education, etc.) as well as the diverse cultural and community beliefs about health among American Indians.