The ANA Messenger: Social Development Edition

Health Resources

• Association of American Indian Physicians promotes education in medical disciplines.
• The Center for American Indian Health at Johns Hopkins works with Native communities to raise their health status, self-sufficiency and leadership to the highest possible level.
• Cultural Learning Opportunity on Self-Injury Prevention is a conference for parents, counselors, tribal leaders and others to learn about preventing self-injury.
• Healthy Native Communities Partnership helps Native communities realize their visions of wellness.
• Just Move It National Campaign promotes physical activity for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• Let's Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative, has a special effort in Indian County.
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness publishes an American Indian Resource Page
• National Institutes of Health’s American Indian Health portal
• National Runaway Switchboard offers resources and support for parents and adults who are having problems with a child.
• Native Vision at Johns Hopkins helps AI/AN youth enjoy a healthy future by providing fitness activities, school completion initiatives and healthy start programs.

Educational Resources

• American Indian Educational Foundation focuses on Native Americans going beyond K-12 education.
• American Indian Higher Education Consortium is the voice of our Tribal Colleges and Universities.
• American Indian Language Development Institute is a summer program on Indigenous languages.
• American Indian Science and Engineering Society works to increase AI/AN participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.
• Bureau of Indian Education’s National Directory includes all BIE-funded schools.
• Bureau of Indian Education’s school annual report card, 2009-2010
• National Indian School Board supports quality education in a broad context.
• Native American Student Advocacy Institute holds an annual conference on Indian education.
• Tribal College and University (TCU) profiles, along with the main TCU page
• The Tribal Education Departments National Assembly is a group of tribal education departments.

Cultural Resources

• Billy Mills travels throughout Indian Country speaking to AI/AN children and their families to inspire youth and encourage dignity, character, and pride through their AI/AN heritage.
• Reconnecting the Circle encourages learning about Native American cultures.
• Native Culture Links is a comprehensive list of links to a variety of resources.
• Painted Sky-Native American Music  engages Native youth to study and perform Native art.
• RedHawk Native American Arts Council teaches AI/AN dance, music, craft and regalia making.

Regional Aid Organizations

• National Relief Charities operates a series of programs for the AI/AN population:    
• American Indian Relief Council has several youth programs for tribes in Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
• Southwest Indian Relief Council offers youth programs for tribes in southwestern states.
• Navajo Relief Program provides healthy living and food programs that help young people.
• Native American Aid offers aid to Plains state tribes, including Emergency Care to help kids taken from homes because of abuse, and Nutrition Care.

Tribal Organizations

• The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) serves the interests of tribal governments and communities. The NCAI Policy Research Center includes the Indian Child Welfare Community of Practice page.
• National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) supports the development of quality, accessible and culturally sensitive health care programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban communities.
• National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) focuses on the tribal capacity to prevent child abuse and neglect.
• National Indian Education Association (NIEA) works to increase educational opportunities.
• National Indian Health Board (NIHB) advocates to provide quality health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• Native American Business Alliance supports Native-owned businesses.
• Native American in Philanthropy (NAP) works to advance philanthropic practices grounded in Native values and traditions.

White House

• In 2011, the White House launched a new website called "Winning the Future: President Obama and the Native American Community” which serves as a tool to help Indian Country navigate the federal government and learn about the President's agenda on Native American issues.

Federal Agencies

• Administration for Children & Families, Administration for Native Americans funds programs to improve the lives of Native children and families.  Click here for a list of all ACF programs for Native Americans.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs is part of the US Department of the Interior.
• Bureau of Indian Education provides educational opportunities to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• Indian Health Service provides federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) works to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness in American communities.
• US Department of Education
• US Department of Health and Human Services includes SAMHSA, the Indian Health Service and the Administration for Native Americans.
• US Department of the Interior includes the BIA, BIE, and other important agencies.
• US Department of Justice

Research and Policy

• American Indian Policy Center provides info about legal and political history of AI/AN nations, to inform better and more sensitive responses to their specific life challenges.
• The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development honors best practice programs in Native self-governance, and conducts research and outreach.
• The Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program is housed at the University of Arizona, as is the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management and Policy.
• NCAI's Policy Research Center covers a variety of Native American issues.
• Tribal College Journal is a journal of American Indian higher education.
• The Tragedy of Native American Youth Suicide (2010) by Senator Byron Dorgan
• Native American Youth and the Juvenile Justice System (2008), by Christopher Hartney, argues that Native youth are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system.
• Participation and Performance for Native American Students in the 2007 SAT Cohort (2008), John Lee, the College Board
• Time for Reform (2007), put out by the Pew Charitable Trusts and NICWA, says we must give tribes direct access to federal foster care and adoption assistance funds.
• What is the Relationship of Suicide, Alcohol Abuse and Spirituality Among the Inupiat? (2002)  By Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer
• Helplessness, Hopelessness and Despair: Identifying the Precursors to Indian Youth Suicide (1999), Troy Johnson and Holly Tomren
• Suicide Attempts Among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth, Risk and Protective Factors (1999), Borowsky, Resnick, Ireland and Blum

Technical Assistance

• National Council on Urban Indian Health provides training, conferences, information, news and more, focused on Urban Indian health.
• National Indian Child Welfare Association has information on child welfare service systems, mental health programs, models, and offers a youth suicide prevention toolkit.
• National Native Children's Trauma Center, funded by SAMHSA, works with tribes to address traumatic stress in Native youth.
• Native American Center for Excellence offers culturally-centered resources, training and technical assistance through SAMHSA.
• THRIVE offers training, conferences and other resources for tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
• Tribal STAR provides technical assistance and training to tribes, tribal programs and social workers who work with tribal youth.  Offered by San Diego State University.