Sustaining a Native American-Public Health Partnership

Native values can be protective against substance use and yet American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) youth are more likely than others across all races and ethnicities to have used alcohol in their lifetime.  To address this disparity and to achieve the goal of promoting alcohol and drug prevention messages that resonate with all Massachusetts communities, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) funded a study of tribal issues and consulted with the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Institute for New England Native American Studies, and tribal communities.

BSAS and the Native community members collaborated to integrate evidence-based parenting principles with cultural values and images specific to the Native community. Together we created “Coming Home: Preventing Alcohol and Drug Use Among Native American Teens.” This publication established credibility among various tribes.

Three Roundtables across Massachusetts sustained the momentum for using the guide at powwows, art exhibits, and other gatherings. This culminated in a youth meeting and their heartfelt request for trainings, and help with assisting their peers.

In order to continue to sustain this 3 year partnership, BSAS is providing training in an evidence-based program.  The trainers from this program will work with the Native community in order to create an approach that has strong values learned from the Native “culture keepers,” as well as evidence-based prevention skills. Participants plan to collaborate with youth and offer the program in Native and other community agencies across the state.