Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The FPCC Rural Health Outreach Program will provide the people of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation with education, key concepts, and tools to improve their wellbeing, through nutrition and fitness education, and a continuing effort to enhance the quality of rural health care on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. In addition, the project will directly address the needs of American Indians on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation through improved access to quality and useful information about nutrition and exercise related health behaviors among adults, youth, families and elders on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. In addition, this program will build in previous work done through the FPCC Wellness Centers to provide easy access to health education, by providing one on one attention to participants health needs. Individual benefits will vary depending on each persons circumstances and level of commitment or participation, which could include the elimination or reduction of specific risk factors, early detection or diagnosis of health problems, improvement in fitness level and conditioning, weight loss and adopting healthy lifestyles. If funded the activities for this proposed project will be beneficial to those who utilize the centers on a regular basis and embrace a healthy lifestyle, through physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
This project will directly address the needs of American Indian health care and wellness program professionals on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and other reservations by providing improved information about nutrition and exercise related health behaviors among adults in the Fort Peck community. The overall vision for Fort Peck Community College is to inspire the Native American community to embrace and encourage a holistic model of healthy lifestyles, through physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The following outcome-based objectives will be met: 1. Provide physical fitness education to train volunteers who provide health and fitness education on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
Project Methods
In order to best approach the challenges to the Fort Peck Community College Rural Health Outreach program, it is vital to implement proven strategies for program success. This project will implement the traditional extension model. Fully engaging as an educator, project staff will not only deliver the project objectives, but also build relationships with community members to engage in Nutrition and Health Education Programs provided daily at the Fort Peck Community College Wellness Centers. A high level of collaboration is critical because the participants become part of the formula to improving their personal relationship with, and attitude toward life style choices, nutrition, and fitness. The traditional extension model for delivery of fitness and nutrition education will remain vital to the mission of the Fort Peck Community College, but alone will not be the only form of program delivery. Fort Peck Community College will coordinate with the CRL Health and Fitness to provide training and certification to at least 20 American Indians capable of delivering health and fitness education in an appropriate manner that supports the American Indian lifestyle and culture. This will be held twice throughout the duration of the grant, ultimately providing 20 American Indians with fitness education certification. Research indicates that American Indians have high rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases, leading to deteriorating health. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report on Obesity and American Indians Alaska Native, obesity among American Indian exceeds the national average. The Billings Indian Health Services Unit reports that diabetes rates are 20 percent higher than average across all Indian Health Service Units. Some of these health disparities may stem from differential access to, or quality of, health care. These and many other demographics of the American Indian population illustrate the need to address obesity and its subsequent impacts on health including diabetes, heart disease on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The design of this project ensures that Fort Peck Community College staff will focus on addressing specific and measurable health problems including obesity and diabetes experienced by the target populations.