Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.
Evaluation of Tribal Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiatives
American Indian and Alaska Native Resource Center for Brain Health
IA2 received a five-year National Healthy Brain Initiative award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging program. This Healthy Brain Initiative is focused on promoting brain health and addressing cognitive impairment including Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD). The award establishes IA2 as a national hub for ADRD information resources for tribes, tribal leadership, healthcare and public health staff, Urban Indian Health Centers and organizations, and tribal elder services advocates across the country. The starting months of the project including convening an expert executive committee, developing an advisory board, and setting up initial resource access.
Learn more at the project website: https://iasquared.org/brain-health/
Title VI Resource Manual
IA2 is working on the development of two chapters for the updated director’s resource manual for the Older Americans Act Title VI American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Program. Title VI programs are supported by the U.S. Administration for Community Living’s Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs and serve over 250 federally recognized tribes. IA2’s Dave Baldridge and Bill Benson are bringing their decades of experience to chapters on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia in Indian Country and Engaging in Advocacy as a Title VI program.
Tribal Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initatives
IA2 is engaging as an evaluator to support the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council and AST for the Administration for Community Living’s Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Initiative (ADPI) grants. The ADPI program works towards creating dementia-capable home and community-based services and supports individuals with ADRD and their caregivers. The tribal projects will work to develop and expand culturally competent ADRD supports and services.
Cancer Prevention Across the Lifespan: American Indians and Alaskan Natives
IA2 staff is collaborating with Health Benefits ABCs in the American Indian and Alaskan Native workgroup of the National Association of Chronic Disease Director’s Cancer Prevention Across the Lifespan project. Staff is engaging in a systematic review of social determinants of cancer in AIAN populations. The work aims to identify gaps in the literature, health inequities, and opportunities for greater work.
Absentee Shawnee Health System Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative
IA2 is engaging as an evaluator to support the Absentee Shawnee Health System Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative for the Administration for Community Living’s Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Initiative (ADPI) grants. The ADPI program works towards creating dementia-capable home and community-based services and supports individuals with ADRD and their caregivers. The tribal projects will work to develop and expand culturally competent ADRD supports and services.
Creating a Tribal Elder Safety Net to Address Wandering
As IA2 launches its newly-awarded elder wandering grant for the Dept. of Justice, key staff members are preparing for an initial trip to the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe. Project staff will meet with the Pyramid Lake senior program director, chief of police, and tribal director of Emergency Services to schedule the educational, Mock Search, and evaluation components of the project. “We’re very excited to get this important initiative underway,” according to IA2 Executive Director Dave Baldridge.
Dementia Friends for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
IA2 and n4a are pleased to announce that IA2 is now officially the national sublicensee for the Dementia Friends USA program. Dementia Friends USA is part of a global movement focused on changing the way people act, think, and talk about dementia. Through education and training, individuals are exposed to what it is like to live with dementia and are encouraged to turn their understanding into action. IA2 partnered with master trainers from the University of Nevada, Reno to pilot new Dementia Friends content, revised and adapted for use with American Indians and Alaska Native Communities.
