Native America is under siege by diabetes, heart disease, obesity, substance abuse, unintentional injuries and more, many of which are related to lifestyle choices. To combat this "plague", Navajo/Native American students need to develop healthy life skills as afforded through comprehensive school health education. Due to special qualities of "Indian schools": often rural, modestly funded and culturally unique, many commercially available health education curricula are inappropriate or inaccessible to these schools. Ristra was developed as a component of the ‘corn plant model’ of coordinated school health, to support students and their families in making healthful choices while validating traditional teachings. Now in the third year of active distribution, Ristra is currently being utilized in 66 schools (BIA, contract/grant, public, parochial), reaching 24,000 students on and off the Navajo Nation. Navajo traditions and culture have been incorporated in such a way as to be easily taught by Navajo and non-Navajo teachers, aides, volunteers, home living staff and other community workers. Navajo specific materials are utilized as much as possible to enhance lessons and support student development of a positive sense of self as a Navajo child. Ristra 2000 is the newly revised version being made available to schools in fall of 2001.
Learning Objectives: Participants will recognize the need for standards-based school health education materials for Navajo/Native American students which are tribally and/or regionally specific, instructor friendly, easily implemented and affordable. Participants will articulate the developmental process of Ristra and implementation outcomes of participating schools.
Keywords: American Indians, School-Based Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Navajo and Albuquerque Area Indian Health Services, Northern Navajo Medical Center, Health Promotion Program, Navajo Comprehensive School Health Initiative
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.