National Suicide Prevention and Sexual Health Awareness Month |
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Time is flying by so quickly! In August, Healthy Native Youth turned 5 years old and we are keeping the party going with new HNY website updates in this coming year, so stay tuned! |
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Now, September 2021…
The themes of September are suicide prevention and sexual health awareness. These are two important issues on the minds of today’s youth and young adults. This issue offers convenient curricula, culturally-relevant resources and strategic communication tools on these two topics to deliver in your school and community setting. Share the love with these thoughtful and caring best practices at home.
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Responding to Concerning Posts on Social Media |
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Suicide prevention remains challenging among youth, as many do not disclose suicidal ideation to others before attempting suicide. However, emerging research suggests that nearly one-third of AI/AN youth see concerning messages on social media on a daily or weekly basis. The Responding to Concerning Posts on Social Media curriculum prepare adults who work with Native youth to identify peers who post or view concerning posts on social media, and connect them to appropriate services. The curriculum is a one hour, online training webinar -- perfect for any time, any one (who is an adult) with a computer!
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A timely intervention in this COVID-19 era when being online is an everyday occurrence. This 1-hour webinar training is designed for adults who work with Native youth. It includes: a 30-minute video, an overview of the Viewer Care Plan and Tips & Resources for supporting someone who posts or views concerning messages. A convenient training opportunity for educators, parents, caring adults or leadership. There are community awareness activities templates designed for youth and adults to get started! Click HERE to see what sparks your educator interest and give it a go!
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Washington Youth Sexual Health (WYSH) Project |
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WYSH is the Washington Youth Sexual Health project under Project Red Talon at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. The project partners with Washington State’s Department of Health (DOH) Youth Sexual Health Innovation Network to help improve youth’s access to and experience with sexual health care in I/T/U (Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban) clinic settings, including sexual health services for 2SLGBTQ+ teens and young adults.
The Innovation Network currently includes:
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2021-22 Funding Opportunity for Washington State Tribes |
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The Washington Youth Sexual Health (WYSH) project at the NPAIHB seeks to fund up to 2-4 federally-recognized Washington State tribes to improve youth’s access to and experience with sexual health care in I/T/U (Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban) clinic settings, including sexual health services for 2SLGBTQ teens and young adults. The WYSH application for eligible Washington State tribes is reviewed on a rolling basis on the last week of each month. The next due date is September 27, 2021.
An informational recruitment webinar for potential applicants can be found HERE. The WYSH project will host virtual reoccurring office hours to answer questions about the application process beginning on August 31st every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 AM-12 PM (PST) through September 14, 2021, you can find that zoom link here. Contact Celena McCray for more information.
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WYSH Project Culturally Relevant Sexual Health Messaging |
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WYSH Project Sexual Health Communications Specialist, Asia Brown, has created free downloadable images for your social media channels. Take advantage of Asia’s gallery of fresh, youthful, cutting-edge, culturally relevant sexual health communication images to grab your AI/AN youth’s attention!
They can be found on the WYSH website.
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Coming Up on September 8th
Back-to-School – Intentional Balance
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What a year it has been! Now more than ever, we find the need to create intentional safe spaces for ourselves and those we serve to acknowledge, rebuild, and thrive in this upcoming school year. Join Robert Johnston from the Native Wellness Institute and Danica Brown from the NPAIHB who will help create a space for you to work through burnout, re-traumatization in the workplace, time-management and boundaries to carve a path of towards intentional balance. Register Today!
September 8th:
9:00 - 10:30 AM AK
10:00 - 11:30 AM PST
11:00 - 12:30 PM MST
12:00 - 1:30 PM CST
1:00 - 2:30 PM EST
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CoP 2021-2022 Schedule Announced |
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For 4 years, we have come together as a Community of Practice and the passion continues amongst our learning circle to uplift and support our Native youth. Join our virtual gatherings held the second Wednesday of every month at 10-11:30 am PST by clicking HERE to register!
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Text Messaging & Digital Campaigns |
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Announcing new CARING Messages Campaigns for Native College Students |
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The THRIVE project at the NPAIHB launched its new CARING Message Campaign for Native college students. A positive text message intervention for our Native young adults. Share the good vibes!
Here is the opening message:
“Being Native in college is a unique experience. It can be exciting, but sometimes it can get us down, and we feel alone or overwhelmed. We’re here to remind you that you are cared for, loved, and appreciated. 💛 We want to make sure you get regular reminders of that from other Native college students. Join by texting “College” to 65664.”
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CARING Messages for Native Teens |
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The Caring Text Messaging Campaign is comprised of messages from people who care and they can help youth during hard times. We all can get down and feel like no one understands what we’re going through. One of the great things about being Native, is that we are all connected and can have each other’s back. For native teens, text “CARING” to 65664.
Find all the CARING Text Messaging Campaign flyers, postcards and social media promotional materials in the HNY website portal under the Resources & Support Section.
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Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-8255 or Text NATIVE to 97779
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Know a youth or someone who is in crisis? It’s okay to reach out for help! Text the word “NATIVE” to 741-741 and establish a connection with a trained crisis counselor. From stress or anxiety to trauma or grief – counselors are trained to listen.
The service is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
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Sexual Education through Text Messaging |
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Given the widespread use of cell phones by youth, text-based interventions may offer a feasible and effective tool to promote condom use and STI/HIV testing amongst Native youth. This is especially true in the COVID-19 era. If you are looking to give your native youth and young adults some sexual health booster shots, suggest to them to text SEX to 97779 and let their fingertips do the walking!
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We R Native’s TikTok Trending with Youth & Young Adults |
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One of We R Native’s mottos is “meeting native youth where they are at.” Today, this means on social media, the TikTok platform, 1-minute sound bites on topics of interest to them by someone like them. WRN’s social media channel is trending, so steer your native youth to tune in to We R Native’s Academic Indigenous Guide, “J Delly,” as he shares his personal takes for his peers in his voice with NDN spin on important topics. |
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Resources for Parents & Caring Adults:
Talking Is Power Text Messaging Campaign
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Join Talking is Power! This is a Text Messaging Service for parents and caring adults, that shares “How to Talk to Youth About Sexual Health.” Parents and Caregivers are the #1 influencer in a young person’s life, so getting adults on the same page with youth as it relates to adolescent sexual health is important! Here is a simple and convenient way to get some tips and tools. A great way to learn and to connect with your young person.
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Text “EMPOWER” to 97779 to get started!
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Access all of the campaign’s tips and tools HERE.
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Share the campaign on social media: Michelle’s GIF, Greg’s GIF
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Two Spirit & LGBTQ+ Health |
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All children deserve dignity and respect. Our Two Spirit children are beautiful and sacred. Together, we can (re)member their place in our homes, hearts, and villages. Sassy Sassafras is a children’s book based on a southeastern woodlands indigenous wisdom. The book captures a heartfelt story about Sam/Samantha, a Two Spirit person, and Miss Mary, a tribal elder. Sam/Samantha finds a home within themselves, their community, and their culture through a story Miss Mary shares about Sassafras plant medicine and what she teaches us about gender. This narrative confronts bullying and discrimination with cultural strength and pride.
Click below to download all e-books:
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Huge win for Two Spirit traditions with Trans Health Strategic Plan |
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At their June 2021 Mid-Year Conference, the National Congress of American Indians passed a resolution supporting the rights of all Indigenous gender-diverse people to access gender-affirming care.
The resolution, titled Support for Trans and Gender-Affirming Care in IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health Facilities – 2021 Strategic Vision and Action Plan, indicates strong support for the implementation of the Trans & Gender-Affirming Care Strategic Vision and Action Plan drafted by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB). To read more about this story, click HERE.
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News: Healthy Native Youth Project Collective has 4 Research Papers Published |
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Getting a research project published in an accredited journal holds benefits for the AI/AN community and Native researchers, most especially, an AI/AN research project associated with a Tribal Epidemiology Center who work on behalf of tribal interests. Western scientific researchers and practitioners with similar interests become aware of new knowledge in their field and it helps to advance knowledge and its application in partnership. HNY is proud to share recent publications that we hope further advances culturally relevant practices in the field and to improve public health capacity.
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Opportunity for AI/AN Youth (Ages 14-25 years old) I Strengthen My Nation Contest
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Enter to Win! The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in partnership with We R Native, is hosting two challenge competitions to recognize and draw upon the inherent strengths and resiliencies of Indigenous people and culture that protect against substance misuse. Great $$$ for AI/AN Youth (ages 14-25 years old).
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News: NCAI Native Youth Vaccination Toolkit
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It takes a collective effort to preserve the health and safety of our tribal communities throughout Indian Country. #ThisIsYourShot to check out NCAI's Native Youth Vaccination Toolkit and learn about COVID-19 vaccines to help you make the best decision for yourself, your family, and your Tribal Nation.
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Opportunity: Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you for your youth, parents and community members
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types of COVID-19 vaccines available
website or phone number to take the next step to get vaccinated during hours of operation.
Tip: Encourage going with a friend and say, “Skoden! Stoodis! We Need You Here!”
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Mobile Intervention Study
Urban young Native women ages 16-20
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Our Goal:
We want to support Native young women and help them make choices that are right for them, their health, and the health of future generations!
Our Work:
The Native WYSE CHOICES project has developed two mobile apps for Native young women living in urban communities. We cover topics like sexual health, life skills, and drinking.
Your Voice:
Interested in joining our paid research study to help us see if they work? Scan the QR code to take a quick, 2- minute survey, or talk to one of our team members to learn more!
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