Community Partnership for Preventing Health Risks among Florida Urban American Indian & Alaska Native Young Adults

This study represents a partnership among The Florida State University (FSU) Center for Indigenous Nursing Research for Health Equity (INRHE), the Florida International University (FIU) Community-Based Research Institute (CBRI), the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Communicable Diseases (FL-DH), the Southeastern American Indian Council (SEAIC), and the Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC). This SAMHSA-funded project will provide a solid foundation for delivering sustainable, high quality, accessible, state of the science substance abuse (SA), HIV/AIDS, and viral hepatitis (VH) prevention services to urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) young adults (ages 18-24) at Pow-Wows throughout Florida. There remain enduring health disparities, substantial service gaps and a large, unmet need for state of the science prevention for substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis among urban American Indian and Alaska Native young adults in Florida. This project will contribute significantly and meaningfully to closing this gap and addressing these health disparities. Project activities will be directed toward reducing the onset of SA and transmission of HIV and VH in an age appropriate and culturally appropriate manner. The goals of the project are to: (1) Develop and provide prevention strategies that will combine state of the science education and awareness programs, social marketing campaigns, and HIV-VH testing services; (2) Determine the substance abuse, HIV, and VH prevention needs of urban AI/AN young adults (18-24 y/o) living in Florida and address the prevalence and incidence of alcohol consumption, drug use, HIV/AIDS and VH among the target population; (3) Conduct formative research with urban AI/AN young adults; (4) Develop a Strategic Plan for meeting the substance abuse, HIV, and VH prevention, risk reduction, outreach, and testing needs of urban AI/AN young adults in accordance with the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (The National CLAS Standards); (5) Implement an evidence-based prevention program for urban AI/AN young adults; (6) Enhance infrastructure support for SA, HIV and VH prevention activities targeting urban AI/AN young adults living in Florida; (7) Convene and benefit from Advisory Board meetings; and (8) Fulfill SAMHSA performance evaluation reporting requirements, adhering to CLAS standards in regard to engagement, continuous improvement, and accountability.

Principal Investigator: John Lowe, RN, Ph.D., FAAN (Florida State University)

Co-Investigators/Evaluation Team:  Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D. & Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.

Evaluation Coordinator: Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH | kaperez@fiu.edu | (305) 348-4721

News Articles:

• FIU News Article, “$1.2 million grant to provide health promotion to indigenous communities” – 12/04/18
• FIU Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Article, “Community-Based Research Institute receives $1.2 million grant to provide health promotion to indigenous communities”