Little Earth Community Health Initiative: Leveraging academic resources for community led research project

Little Earth of United Tribes is an American Indian Section 8 housing development in the Phillips Neighborhood of Minneapolis. American Indians and Alaska Natives die at higher rates than other Americans from alcoholism, diabetes, unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide.  The disproportionate disease rate and lower life expectancy can be attributed to inadequate education, poverty, and discrimination in the delivery of health services.  In the neighborhood surrounding Little Earth, 17.6% of American Indians have diabetes and 32% are obese, the highest rates compared to all other ethnic groups, according to the Hennepin County Survey of the Health of All Populations and the Environment (SHAPE) 2006. 

The Little Earth residents’ board and administration decided to confront the many health issues in the community by building on existing programs to develop and administer a baseline health survey. Little Earth partnered with researchers at the University of Minnesota to develop and analyze the survey.  Given the history between academic institutions and the Native American community, it was imperative to establish and maintain a power structure that would facilitate trust. Through the co-development of a Memorandum of Understanding and subsequently a data user agreement, it was agreed while both parties shared their expertise; the needs and power of Little Earth were paramount. This translated into how the survey questions were drafted, who administered the survey, and who controlled interpretation and dissemination.

 Although there were institutional challenges (e.g., IRB, research vs. community time lines) the partnership successfully administered, analyzed and disseminated results of the health survey.