May 2022: Striving for Balance |
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The four aspects of the Medicine Wheel – mental, spiritual, physical, emotional – reminds us we need balance for well-being. The Sacred Hoop is rooted in relationships and guides our health and healing.
May is National Adolescent Health Month (NAHM) and focuses on young people's strengths. In this month’s issue, we focus on mental health, early pregnancy prevention and preparing for summer with strength-based resources to support youth engagement.
Weekly Themes
Each week, NAHM will have different themes that explore the many factors that contribute to adolescent health:
- Week 1: Empower youth with sexual and reproductive health services
- Week 2: Support mental health and well-being
- Week 3: Encourage physical health and healthy decision-making
- Week 4: Sustain equitable, accessible, youth-friendly-services
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Resources for Educators, Students and Parents |
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It is important to promote culturally relevant, age-appropriate sexual health education at home and at school. Many of our youth are eager to learn about it. It is often the adults who find it uncomfortable to start “The Talk.”
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Here is a list of "Sex Ed for All" resources to help spark conversations:
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Materials Available!
Loved Here, Safe Here. Campaign
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The HNY website Resources page has added the Safe Spaces and Get Yourself Tested (GYT) campaigns to its list of social marketing campaigns. The creation of safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces is critically important to provide holistic wellness for
2SLGBTQ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) community members.
Help create affirming spaces by posting and sharing the Campaign materials in your community: Learn More
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And check out the Paths Remembered website for 2SLGBTQ resources, blogs, podcasts, and the Indigiqueer Joy campaign.
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Week 2: Resources for Mind, Body & Spirit |
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Preparing Students for Summer Break |
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Summer break is around the corner and many students are experiencing mixed emotions that can be overwhelming for them.
A safety plan is like a road map for emotionally overwhelming moments; it guides the user to a safe harbor where they can ride out the storm. As educators and caring adults, it is important to prepare students with support resources for their mind, body and spirit as change comes.
Here are some helpful tools to promote Mental Health this month:
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Week 3: Build Healthy Decision-Making Skills |
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For those in the Pacific Northwest:
2022 THRIVE Youth Conference Registration is Open
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It’s back, in person and in Portland! The annual 2022 THRIVE Youth Conference will be held June 27 to July 1 at Portland State University’s Native American Student and Community Center. Registration is open and NPAIHB member Tribes are encouraged to apply.
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Week 4: Youth-friendly Resources |
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We Are Inspired:
Preparing AI/AN Students to Pursue Public Health Careers
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We have developed youth-friendly Public Health 101 Info Guides to help inspire the next generation of Native public health professionals! We have also developed internship guides for sites interested hosting student interns that are tailored for each grade-level. |
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May 11th Community of Practice:
Sustain and Grow your Program
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Congrats! You have implemented your program and are now in the GROW phase. Let the HNY team and special guests reflect on what worked, share tips for making modifications based on lessons learned, and ideas to keep the momentum going!
Hear how to GROW the seeds you have planted!
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We R Native Team Store - Now Open |
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It’s that time of year again! For a limited time only, the We R Native team store is now OPEN! This is your chance to rock WRN hoodies, sweats, dri-fit shirts, backpacks, and much more! Follow the link below, or text the word “GEAR” to 97779. Hurry, store closes on Sunday, May 15th! A wonderful graduation gift or student incentive item for your local programs! And, a portion of the sales go back into the We R Native leadership program. It’s a win-win! J
If you’d like to purchase We R Native gear via purchase order, please contact Tommy Ghost Dog, We R Native Project Coordinator at tghostdog@npaihb.org for assistance.
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Share the Healthy Native Youth Newsletter! |
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1. Share this email with your colleagues.
2. Sign up for HNY updates by texting HEALTHY to 97779.
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