NMASBHC -New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care

	SBHC Resources
	In the News
	Event Calendar
	Membership
	SBHC Locator
	Advocacy

Native American SBHCs

4 YOUTH: Empowering Native American Youth Through School-Based Health Care

W.K. Kellogg School-Based Health Care Policy Program

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded grants to nine state affiliates of the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care to implement a broad array of strategies to increase the sustainability of school-based health centers, including grassroots advocacy, community organizing, and technical assistance. New Mexico’s SBHC Policy Program is called 4 YOUTH, and is the only project in this program that is Native American specific. The 4 YOUTH project is currently in the final year of a five-year grant.

Eloise Smith, member of the ACL SHAC, on the SHAC:

“It addresses issues prevalent in our Navajo and Acoma communities,” discussing issues impacting the health and education of youth, such as teen suicide and drug use. The group also discusses “how do we as parents deal with these issues and better our communities?” Mrs. Smith noted that the community has grown by “encouraging each other and young people ... and their families, so the Teen Center keeps on going.”

For more information on 4 YOUTH contact:
Regina Roanhorse at 505-228-1376
begayroanhorse@yahoo.com

Download 4 YOUTH brochure

4 YOUTH Overview

Native-American School-Based Health Care Policy Project Links

NMASBHC 4 YOUTH Policy Program’s article, “Native American Youth Impact Policy” http://www.schoolbasedhealthcare.org/default.aspx?tabid=56&NID=4
Article on community organizing in Indian Country
Native H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Endure) legislative initiative of the Pueblo of Laguna Youth Advisory Group, funded by the New Mexico Legislature in 2007.
Native Hope brochure (PDF)

Other Links

Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board http://www.aaihb.org/
Albuquerque Area Indian Health Services http://www.ihs.gov/FacilitiesServices/AreaOffices/Albuquerque/
Bureau of Indian Education, Health Assessment of Schools in New Mexico http://enan.bia.edu/site_res_view_folder.aspx?id=f726e93f-ab5d-4199-8f54-a5a2b91694a0, then click on the BIE Final Report 2008
Center for Native American Health http://hsc.unm.edu/som/fcm/CNAH/
Information on Native American Medicaid Opt-In Policy: http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/mad/naoptin.html
National Indian Health Board http://www.nihb.org/
Navajo Area Indian Health Services http://www.ihs.gov/FacilitiesServices/AreaOffices/Navajo/
NM Alliance for School-Based Health Care data page (scroll to Native American Health Statistics)
New Mexico Department of Health – Division of Policy and Performance http://www.health.state.nm.us/OPMH/
New Mexico Department of Health, Native American information http://www.health.state.nm.us/native.html
New Mexico Indian Affairs Department http://www.iad.state.nm.us/ (click on the “New Mexico Indian Policy Initiatives” button for more information, such as executive orders affecting Native Americans, tribal government, and additional links)
New Mexico PED Indian Education Division http://www.ped.state.nm.us/indian.ed/index.html
Project TRUST description and reports

Did you know?

Almost half (40 percent) of Native American children lack health insurance.

More than a third (35 percent) of all uninsured children in New Mexico are Native American — even though only 12 percent of the state’s child population is Native American children.

70 percent of Native American children live on reservations where access to services — especially health care services — is very limited.

Indian Health Services (IHS) is the primary health care delivery system used by more than one-third (38 percent) of Native-American children in New Mexico, but IHS funding is only about 59 percent of the funding needed to provide all medically necessary health care to these Native Americans.

Despite the obvious need in Indian Country for school-based health care centers, they constantly struggle to secure reliable funding, and survive through an unstable mix of state general funds, federal funds, third-party billing, and special grants.