San Diego American Indian Health Center

TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE, WITH RESPECT FOR CUSTOM AND TRADITION TO SAN DIEGO'S URBAN AMERICAN INDIAN POPULATION.

THE HEALTH CENTER IS ORGANIZED AS AN URBAN INDIAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (UIHO) UNDER TITLE V OF THE INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT, AND WE PROVIDE SERVICES WITHOUT CHARGE TO URBAN AIAN POPULATIONS WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES (IHS), AS WELL AS OTHER INSURED INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, GENDER, AGE, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A RANGE OF HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA. PROVIDERS INCLUDE PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, AND NURSES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR THE UNIQUE CULTURAL NEEDS OF NATIVE AMERICANS. DUE TO INCREASED FUNDING FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, INCLUDING 330 FUNDING, THE CENTER WAS ABLE TO ADD STAFFING AND EXPAND SERVICE AREAS SUCH AS TALKING CIRCLES, CULTURAL ARTS WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION CLASSES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVE LIVING (HEAL), YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COUNSELING AND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMMING. OTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PARTICIPATING IN HEALTH FAIRS, POW WOWS, OUTREACH EVENTS AND HOSTING REGULAR FAMILY & COMMUNITY EVENTS INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN THE CULTURAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE HEALTH CENTER AND THE LOCAL URBAN INDIAN COMMUNITY. THESE PROGRAMS ARE AS FOLLOWS 1. URBAN INDIAN YOUTH CENTER, A PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR NATIVE YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10-24, OFFERING A VARIETY OF THERAPEUTIC, CULTURAL EDUCATION, AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDE DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION, HEALTH AND FITNESS EDUCATION, CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION, HEALTHY COOKING CLASSES, ACADEMIC TUTORING AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING. 2. SPIRITUAL SOLUTIONS TALKING CIRCLE, A TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN TALKING CIRCLE THAT MEETS WEEKLY AS IS FACILITATED BY A NAVAJO HEALER, OFFERING PRAYER, DRUMMING, AND TRADITIONAL CEREMONY AND HEALING PRACTICES TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY. 3. WELLBRIETY SUPPORT GROUP, WEEKLY PEER-LED SOBRIETY SUPPORT GROUPS BASED ON THE WHITE BISON RED ROAD TO RECOVERY MODEL AND DESIGNED TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 4. ELDERS TALKING CIRCLE, A WEEKLY INTERGENERATIONAL GROUP EMPHASIZING THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF ELDERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, FACILITATED BY A CHEROKEE HEALER, USING TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PRACTICES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY WELLNESS.