Navajo NARCH Partnership

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ABSTRACT The Navajo NARCH Partnership strives to recruit, train and mentor a cadre of Indigenous scholars and health research professionals equipped to advance health equity in the Navajo Nation and in Indian Country, more generally. The Center will be co-led by Diné College (tribal college of the Navajo Nation) (MPI: MC Bauer, PhD) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) (MPI: NI Teufel-Shone, PhD), with guidance from a Community Advisory Board that represents Navajo Department of Health, Navajo Area Indian Health Service (IHS), Northern Navajo Medical Center, Navajo Nation Health, Education and Services Committee, Navajo Nation Scholarship Office, and academic leadership of Diné College and NAU. Through the development of an education to profession pathway and the engagement of early stage Navajo investigators (ESIs), the Navajo NARCH Partnership will create a collegial environment that uses relationships or k’é (Navajo recognition of connectedness, kinship and respect) to support an internal mentoring system in which each senior level of achievement (e.g., BSPH, MPH and ESI) assumes the responsibility of being a role model for each junior level of achievements (High school, BSPH and MPH), respectively. At all levels, course content and experiential learning in service and research projects are tailored to address the relationship between health and the socio- cultural context of the Navajo Nation. The Administration Core will provide technical guidance and facilitate the subcontract agreements and coordination of the pilot research projects: 1) Navajo Genetic Toolkit: A Culturally- Tailored Guide for Engagement and Oversight of Genetic Research, co-PIs K. Claw, PhD, [University of Colorado, (CU)], N. Garrison, PhD (UCLA) and F. Sage (Dine Policy Institute) and 2) Standardized Language Assessments among Navajo Children with and without Developmental Language Delay, D. Henderson, PhD, (NAU). Pilot projects are led by Navajo PIs and engage BSPH and MPH students, fostering a generation of Native American researchers experienced in the use of culturally grounded, scientifically rigorous approaches to advance health research. The overall Partnership Aims are: 1) To develop Native American scientists and health professionals through educational opportunities designed to attract, educate, challenge and mentor scholars at all levels to attain health research skills needed to drive innovative approaches to health and wellness in Navajo Nation and Indian Country; 2) To foster the continued growth of relationships between Diné College, the NNDOH, NAU, CU, UCLA and IHS to meet the health needs of the Navajo people and to contribute to the development of a truly Navajo research agenda and; 3) To develop and test culturally relevant approaches to advance health equity in Navajo communities by supporting original research and translating research results to inform health policy, programs and practice for Navajo and other Native communities.