Native Americans

This topic page provides a brief overview of the Center for Rural Health’s activities relating to Native Americans. This page contains a list of projects, key staff, and information pulled from the publications, presentations, events, news, and maps section of the CRH web site.

Projects

• American Indian Health Research Conference -- A venue to share current research activities concerning health risk and health promotion among Native American communities.
• Campus Suicide Prevention -- To provide a comprehensive program to identify student needs and intervene to prevent suicide and support students and their families.
• Evaluation of IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence EVALUATION CORE -- Measures the outcomes of students participating in this biomedical science program designed to increase the numbers of biomedical scientists.
• Healthcare Needs of North Dakota American Indian Veterans -- The purpose of this project was to conduct a statewide assessment of health status, healthcare access, and health risk of AI veterans residing on North Dakota’s four reservations and one Indian service area
• Mood Disorder Assessment in Northern Plains Indians -- Looks at the accuracy of clinical psychological tests used to detect depression, anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse problems with American Indian patients.
• National Resource Center on Native American Aging -- Improving the quality of life for Native elders through research, training and technical assistance.
• North Dakota State Planning Grant -- Assesses the problem of health uninsurance in North Dakota and develop policy options for increasing access to health insurance.
• Primary Care Office -- The North Dakota Primary Care Office (PCO) program is a subcontract with the North Dakota State Health Department for shortage area designation activities.
• Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership Grant Program -- Works toward the building of a comprehensive system of coordinated services for individuals with TBI and their families.
• Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center -- Undertakes national projects focusing on quality of rural health care and other important rural health issues.

Staff

• Baker-Demaray, Twyla
• Gray, Jacque
• McDonald, Leander (Russ)
• Moulton, Patricia
• Muus, Kyle

Presentations

• Culturally Appropriate and Valid Psychological Assessments for Ethical Use with American Indians and Alaska Natives
  Presented by Gray, J., Green, J., & Knudson, A. on Jun 23, 2008 at the 21st Annual Conference for the Society of Indian Psychologists, Logan, UT.
• Establishing Community Based Research with American Indian Communities
  Presented by Gray, J., Gillis, A., Hill, K., Abe, S., & Martin, E. on Jun 23, 2008 at the 21st Annual Society of American Indian Psychologists Conference, Logan, UT.
• Health Disparities of American Indian Elders in North Dakota
  Presented by Representative Earl Pomeroy on Jun 10, 2008 at the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Hearing on Racial, Ethnic and Gender Health Care Disparities, Washington, DC.
• Native Elder Needs Assessment Project
  Presented by McDonald, L., & Ludtke, R. on May 20, 2008 at the 40th Annual Governor’s Conference on Aging, Helena, MT.
• Native Elder Service Locator
  Presented by McDonald, L., Ruliffson, K., & Fasteen, D. on May 20, 2008 at the 40th Annual Governor's Conference on Aging, Helena, MT.
• Identifying and Addressing Chronic Disease Among American Indian Elders
  Presented by McDonald, R., & Ludtke, R. on Apr 30, 2008 at the Administration on Aging Training and Technical Assistance Forum and 30th Anniversary Celebration, Prior Lake, MN.
• How To Talk to Your Doctor
  Presented by McDonald, R., Ludtke, R., Baker-Demary, T., Ruliffson, K., & Miller, A. on Apr 30, 2008 at the Administration on Aging Training and Technical Assistance Forum and 30th Anniversary Celebration, Prior Lake, MN.
• Developing Undergraduate Research Capacity in Tribal Colleges
  Presented by Gray, J. & McDonald, R. on Apr 19, 2008 at the American Indian Health Research Conference, Grand Forks, ND.
• Changing Cancer Patterns in Native American Communities
  Presented by Kaur, J. on Apr 19, 2008 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• Navigating the National Institute of Health
  Presented by Sens, D. on Apr 19, 2008 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• Heroes Project
  Presented by Ruliffson, K. & McDonald, R. on Jan 23, 2008 at the AoA Title VI Directors Telechat, via teleconference.
• Test Instruments, Diagnostic Criteria, and Standardization for AI/AN Populations
  Presented by Gray, J. on Jan 8, 2008 at the Annual NARCH Meeting at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
• Conducting and Uses for Native Elder Needs Assessments
  Presented by McDonald, R., & Ludtke, R. on Dec 1, 2007 at the Administration on Aging Regional Title VI Training, Reno, NV.
• Conducting and Uses for Native Elder Needs Assessments
  Presented by McDonald, R. & Ludtke, R. on Nov 29, 2007 at the Administration on Aging Regional Title VI Training, Phoenix, AZ.
• Test Instruments, Diagnostic Criteria, and Standardization for AI/AN Populations
  Presented by Gray, J. & Green, J. on Nov 7, 2007 at the Annual NARCH Meeting at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
• Conducting and Uses for Native Elder Needs Assessments
  Presented by Baker-Demaray, T. & Gattis, M. on Nov 1, 2007 at the National Telechat sponsored by Kauffman & Associates and the Administration on Aging, Grand Forks, ND.
• Conducting Needs Assessments
  Presented by Baker-Demaray, T., Gattis, M., McDonald, L., & Ruthig, J. on Sep 5, 2007 at the Title VI Directors attending the Indian Health Service Long Term Care Conference, Albuquerque, NM.
• NARCH Pilot Study: Mood Disorder Assessment Validation with Northern Plains Indians
  Presented by Gray, J. & Gillis, A. on Aug 15, 2007 at the Northern Plains NARCH Committee for Scientific Evaluation of Projects, Rapid City, SD.
• Native American Elders: Preserving our Traditions and Wisdom
  Presented by Allery, A. on Jun 20, 2007 at the National Council of Nurse Administrators Educational Meeting, Spokane, WA.
• Native American Issues
  Presented by Allery, A. on May 23, 2007 at the Montana Governor's Conference on Aging, Helena, MT.
• Analysis of Native Elder Data: What are the Possibilities?
  Presented by Muus, K. & Ludtke, R. on May 2, 2007 at the adjunct meeting of the Native American Training and Technical Assistance Forum and Listening Session, Baltimore, MD.
• Train the Trainer for Native Caregiving Training Intensive
  Presented by Allery, A. on Apr 30, 2007 at the Administration on Aging National Title VI Training and Technical Assistance Forum and Listening Session, Baltimore, MD.
• Elder Issues: Obstacles to Health Facing Our Elders
  Presented by McDonald, L. & Ludtke, R. on Jul 11, 2006 at the Direct Service Tribes 3rd Annual Meeting, Prior Lake, MN.
• Feasibility Analysis for Assisted Living – A Model for Assessment
  Presented by Ludtke, R., McDonald, L., & Allery, A. on May 18, 2006 at the National Rural Health Association annual conference, Reno, NV.
• Using Data for Decisions, Advocacy, and Policy
  Presented by McDonald, L., Allery, A., Ludtke, R., Muus, K., & Moulton, P. on Apr 26, 2006 at the Federal Interagency Taskforce Meeting on Older American Indians, Washington, DC.
• Domestic Violence: American Indian Women's Conflict and Violence Experiences
  Presented by Evans-Kipp, C. on Apr 6, 2006 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• Genetic Research as a Teaching Model
  Presented by Best, L. on Apr 6, 2006 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• National Resource Center for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Elders
  Presented by Charles, G. on Apr 6, 2006 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• Obesity in American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
  Presented by Muus, K., McDonald, L., Ludtke, R., & Allery, A. on Apr 6, 2006 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• Perceptions of Health Status and Elder Abuse
  Presented by Baker-Demaray, T. on Apr 6, 2006 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• Research Priorities for Indian Health Service
  Presented by Cobb, Capt. Nathaniel on Apr 6, 2006 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• Trauma Focused Interventions for Native Children
  Presented by Fleming, C., University of Colorado Health Sciences Center on Apr 6, 2006 at the American Indian Research Forum, Grand Forks, ND.
• Policy Recommendations for Native Elders
  Presented by Ludtke, R. & McDonald, L. on Jun 14, 2005 at the National Congress of American Indians 2005 Mid-Year Conference, Green Bay, WI.
• University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health Projects
  Presented by McDonald, L. & Gray, J. on Mar 22, 2005 at the Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman's Health Board, Sioux City, IA.

Publications

• A College Suicide Prevention Model for American Indian Students, Muehlenkamp, J.J., Marrone, S., Gray, J.S., & Brown, D., Professional Psychology: Research and Practice (In Press) , 2008
  This article outlines the model developed for the American Indian Support Team from funding through the Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to focus on reducing suicide risk of American Indian students at the University of North Dakota.
• Arthritis in American Indian and Alaska Native Elders, McDonald, L., Ludtke, R., Allery, A., & Muus, K., Summer, 2006
  Arthritis affects 43 million U.S adults (one in five), making it one of the most prevalent diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006). As the population ages, this number will increase dramatically.
• Cancer Screening Practices Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders, Muus, K., Winter, 2006
  
• Collaborative Activities with Community Health Representatives from Northern Plains Tribes, Burd, C. & Tyre, E., Rural Nurse Connection, Spring, 2003
  
• Diabetes & Preventing Amputations, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, April, 2002
  
• Difficulty in Providing Care Among Informal Caregivers, McDonald, L. & Ludtke, R., Fall, 2003
  
• The Elders’ Obesity Challenge, McDonald, L., Ludtke, R., Allery, A., & Muus, K., Fall, 2005
  Obesity is an increasingly prominent threat to good health among all Americans, contributing to an estimated 400,000 deaths annually and costing about $122.9 billion, a figure that is comparable to the economic costs of cigarette smoking.
• Engaging Native Elders and CHRs: Talking Circles in Community-Based Diabetes Education, Burd, C., December, 2003
  
  • Overview
  • Highlights of I.H.S. Standards of Care for People with Diabetes
  • Talking Circle Figure
• Functional Limitations and the Future Needs for Long Term Care, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, April, 2002
  In this analysis we examine functional limitations among Native American elders using data collected across the nation in the program for conducting local needs assessments entitled “Identifying Our Needs: A Survey of Elders.”
• Gender Differences in Health Risks Amongst Native Elderly, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Spring, 2003
  The purpose of this study is to determine if differences in health risks exist between men and women in the elderly Native American and Alaskan Native population.
• Health Literacy Review: Promoting Wellness in American Indian Communities; Addressing Health Disparities and Health Literacy; Communicating with our Clients, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, May, 2004
  
• Healthcare Needs of North Dakota American Indian Veterans, Baker-Demaray, T., McDonald, L., Ludtke, R., March 31, 2008
  The final report on the Healthcare Needs of North Dakota American Indian Veterans project funded by the Otto Bremer Foundation is now available. This project conducted a statewide assessment of health status, healthcare access, and health risk of AI veterans residing on North Dakota’s reservations. The purpose for the project is to inform tribal and state health policymakers of the needs of AI veterans and provide valuable information for tribal and state planning efforts to assist with the development of community plans of action and infrastructure, and assist in decreasing jurisdictional confusion between the Indian Health Service and Veteran’s administration.
• Healthy Traditions: Recipes of our Ancestors, Goodwin, J. & Hall, J., November, 2004
  A compilation of recipes gathered through the National Resource Center on Native American Aging's traditional recipe project.
• The Indian Health Care Improvement Act: Implications for North Dakota Tribes, McDonald, F., November, 2004
  
• An Innovative Approach to Student Internships on American Indian Reservations, Amundson, M., Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2007
  
• Long Term Care and Health Needs of America's Native American Elders, McDonald, L., Ludtke, R., & Allery, A., July, 2002
  Testimony presented to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Slides
• Long Term Care Toolkit Project, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, September, 2002
  The purpose of the tool kit was to describe the full array of home, community based, and institutional long term care to assist American Indian and Alaskan Native groups with planning, developing, and implementing their long term care services.
• Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Rural Native American Elders, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, January, 2001
  Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) take a large toll among members of the American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. Previous studies have found the rates of MVC mortality to be highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives, compared to other ethnic groups.
• National Family Caregiver Support Program: North Dakota's American Indian Caregivers, Ludtke, R. & McDonald, L., June, 2003
  This report contains the American Indian Caregivers from five reservations in North Dakota as part of the National Family Caregivers Support Program. The report parallels data collected on the general population and uses the statewide survey as a benchmark. Both informal and grandparent caregivers are analyzed describing their characteristics, access to, attitudes toward and use of services in an effort to define avenues that will improve the quality of family caregivers.
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Summer, 2006
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Spring, 2003
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Fall, 2003
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Spring, 2004
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Fall, 2004
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Spring, 2005
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Fall, 2005
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Fall, 2005
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Winter, 2006
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Summer, 2002
  
• Native Aging Visions, National Resource Center on Native American Aging, Winter, 2008
  
• Policy Recommendations for Native Elders, Ludtke, R., & McDonald, L., June, 2005
  Prepared for the National Congress of American Indians 2005 Mid-year Conference held in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
• Prevalence of Chronic Disease Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders, Moulton, P., McDonald, L., Muus, K., Knudson, A., Wakefield, M., & Ludtke, R., October, 2005
  
• Projections of Long Term Care Needs in Indian Health Service Areas, Ludtke, R. & McDonald, L., December, 2002
  

Maps

• Center for Rural Health Activities in North Dakota, 2003-2007 -- Displays the location of the Center for Rural Health's activites, from 2003 - 2007, in North Dakota.
• Native Service Locator -- A nationwide interactive map that shows the location of Native elderly services.