Issue link: http://uwashington.uberflip.com/i/106618
SUGGESTIONS •Reach out to our Elders to serve as the aunties, grandmas, teachers, support systems — including culture. •Remember and include the dads in the program. •Provide education about how to use cradleboards properly. •Develop different process for grandparents raising grandchildren with regards to legal authority to make decisions. One suggestion is to acknowledge the time that the child may have been with the grandparents in granting legal authority. •Provide education about the risks to infants/children with regards to second hand smoke. •Provide education about SIDS to parents, families and communities, especially about the risk of co-sleeping with infants. •Focus on needs of the expecting mother as well as the baby. •Education efforts for community rather than only individuals or targeted groups — bring in AIAN experts as presenters. •Need to understand the practices and laws of other tribes when dealing with children who have been removed from their parents. •Make sure that expecting moms are taking vitamins and getting good nutrition. •It takes a community to raise a child. Need education programs for the entire community. •Develop Indian midwifery programs. •Need to meet the families "where they're at" and it is intensive, long-term and committed work to support at-risk families. •Supportive work environments for parents — allow breastfeeding, allow children to come to work if necessary (more traditional values). •Sometimes Native providers are viewed with more trust, have some cultural humility and understanding. To the extent possible, staff clinics and programs with Natives. •Support our parents through their pregnancy. Enable them to care for themselves and their infants. •Increase psychological and overall support of expecting mothers. PROMISING PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES (formal and informal) •Nurse-Family Partnership — Washington State •Parent Child Assistance Program •Parents as Teachers •Native Community Wellness Program •Health-e Moms •text4baby •WIC — can provide many services and referrals in addition to nutrition support. •Mental health screenings as part of regular Maternal/Infant services such as WIC, TANF. •Outreach Maternal/Infant program at Seattle Indian Health Board. •Coordination of tribal services with local hospital from time pregnancy is confirmed — and then reaching out to expecting families. Lower Elwah. •Working collaboratively across tribes and agencies. •Having young ones participate in programs from infancy — exposed to language, culture, practices, etc. •Tribal investment in behavioral health services, e.g. when referred to Indian Child Welfare, receive wrap around services including treatment, housing, food, etc. •Grassroots driving needs and resources assessment to determine specific health priorities and resources in a community/agency. •Family practice residency program — allows residents to provide prenatal care and deliver, providing continuity of care. •Advocacy for parents — including prenatal. •Electronic Health Records •Community Health Nurses home visiting program. •Birth to Three Program — one challenge is adequate trained staff. •Elders stepping in to serve as aunties, grandmas. •Community Health Representatives (CHRs) — transport, help, advocate, "on the ground" services from trained, community lay people. •Community/tribally based elements of cultural wellness for being part of a family and community — Makah. Summary Report: April 4-5, 2012 9