U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Education and Outreach Materials

Explore materials designed to support health education and outreach efforts within AI/AN communities. 

Toolkits, Fact Sheets, and Community Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Cultural Food Preferences in Food Service

Learn about incorporating culturally preferred foods in food service with resources from CDC. This information is intended mainly for federal, state, and local public health practitioners working in food service. It may also be helpful to food service vendors and others seeking to offer more foods that not only meet nutrition standards but are culturally preferred by the populations they serve.

CDC Native Diabetes Wellness Program (NDWP): Traditional Foods

AI/AN communities across the country are reclaiming traditional foods as part of the global Indigenous food sovereignty movement. This movement embraces identity, history, and traditional ways and practices to address health. Chelsea Wesner (Choctaw) compiled the stories on this webpage to help NDWP understand the importance and meaning of traditional foods across Indian Country. The traditional food stories represent native communities across Indian Country.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Maternal & Child Health: Nutrition

This comprehensive site outlines HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s approach to nutrition and includes resources for providers as well as grant funding information. 

HRSA: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

This hotline is a 24/7, 365 day, free, and confidential service that provides direct connections to qualified and professional counselors that are licensed and certified in supporting pregnant and postpartum people facing mental health challenges. These services of emotional support, resources, and referrals are provided in English and 60-on-demand languages including Hopi, Choctaw, Yupik, and Navajo via voice and text. 

HRSA: Tribal Affairs 

HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) leads HRSA’s Tribal Affairs work. IEA serves as HRSA’s primary point of contact for tribal governments and tribal organizations. IEA works with tribal communities to help them improve access to health care services in Indian Country. This site includes funding announcements, information about upcoming events, and a list of resources related to health care topics impacting Tribal communities. 

Indian Health Service (IHS): Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention 

The IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention (DDTP) provides educational materials, resources, and trainings for providers, patients, and community members. The material is culturally relevant, free to access or order, and easy to use. The resources and trainings can be accessed at the IHS DDTP website or the Education Materials and Resources (Online Catalog). Diabetes care topics include, but are not limited to, nutrition, physical activity, weight management, immunizations, screening, and tobacco use.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Type 2 Diabetes Resources

Learn about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes with these resources from NIDDK. (Please note these resources are not specific to AI/AN populations and communities.) 

National Institutes of Health (NIH): Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets

NIH offers an online dietary supplement fact sheet regarding the ingredients in dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, probiotics, herbs and botanicals, and more. 

NIH: Asthma in American Indian/Alaska Native Communities Resources

American Indians/Alaska Natives are 20 percent more likely to have asthma than white Americans. The resources on this webpage talk about the prevalence of asthma and how to manage it.

NIH: A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby Booklet

The free booklet A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby, developed specifically for AI/AN communities, describes how parents and grandparents can care for a baby’s teeth and prevent tooth decay. 

NHLBI: Deliciously Healthy Eating Recipes

NHLBI’s Deliciously Healthy Eating recipe collection features recipes from many cultures and traditions. Explore the “American Indian/Alaska Native” tab on the left side of the page. 

Honoring the Gift of Heart Health Community Health Worker Toolkit

This toolkit includes a heart healthy living curriculum designed for AI/AN communities. This curriculum is currently being updated and the new one will be available in the next year. 

Resources for Kids

CDC: Native Diabetes Wellness Program (NDWP): Eagle Book Series and Toolkits 

The Eagle Books promote type 2 diabetes prevention by encouraging young readers to be physically active and eat healthy foods. They're written by Georgia Perez and illustrated by Patrick Rolo and Lisa A. Fifield.

  • Eagle Books Grades K-4 Toolkits: The Eagle Books for early readers in grades K-4 are a series of 4 books that follow stories about Rain That Dances and his friends Thunder Cloud, Little Hummingbird, and Simon. They teach about traditional ways of being healthy from a wise eagle and his animal friends.
  • Eagle Books Grades 5-8 Toolkits: The Eagle Books for grades 5-8 are a series of youth novels that follow Rain That Dances and his friends. Their adventures reinforce native wisdom, encouraging friends and families to be active and eat healthy food. A 4-volume graphic novel is also available for download that expands the story of Coyote and the Turtle's Dream with new characters and adventures.
  • Art Toolkits: The Art Toolkits include coloring books, puzzles, stickers, trading cards, and more to entertain guests at Eagle Books events.

Workshops, Videos, and Webinar Recordings

NIH/National Institute on Aging (NIA): Examination of Vascular and Alzheimer’s Dementias in Community-based American Indians Webinar Recording

This webinar discusses the high risk for vascular and Alzheimer’s dementias in American Indians, exploring lessons learned through the Strong Heart Study.

NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): Advancing Health Equity Through Culture-centered Dietary Interventions to Address Chronic Diseases Workshop Recording

This 2-day workshop convened researchers, health care providers, and community representatives to discuss the role of culture in dietary interventions aimed at diverse and underrepresented populations. The workshop included topics such as Sociocultural Factors Influencing Foodways and Food Sovereignty in Native American Communities. Watch video recordings from day 1 and day 2 of the workshop. 

NIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases (NIAMS): Discussing Bone, Muscle, Skin, and Autoimmune Diseases: Info for American Indians and Alaska Natives Workshop Recording

Watch this workshop recording to learn about bone, muscle, skin and autoimmune diseases among American Indians and Alaska Natives. 

Outreach Materials and Engagement Opportunities

CDC: National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP): American Indian and Alaska Native Audiences Promotional Materials

These promotional materials promote the National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program to members of the AI/AN community. The toolkit can be tailored for AI/AN communities and shared across newsletters, social media, direct mail, and other communication platforms to reach AI/AN audiences in their local area. While the materials focus on all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, some include a focus on food and nutrition.

Download the materials below: 

Refer to the Job Aid for more details on how to use these materials.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM) 

HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau administers this committee. ACIMM provides guidance and programs directed at reducing infant and maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and improving the health of infants and women before, during, and after pregnancy. 

ACIMM promotes the Making Amends: Recommended Strategies and Actions to Improve the Health and Safety of American Indian and Alaska Native Mothers and Infants report with recommendations to improve birth outcomes of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) mothers and infants. 

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Visit the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day webpage for resources and information on HIV/AIDS for AI/AN populations.

NIH: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Outreach, Recruitment & Engagement (ADORE) 

The Alzheimer’s & Dementia Outreach, Recruitment & Engagement (ADORE) webpage contains materials and resources, including podcasts and study recruitment information, for AI/AN populations.

Publications, Blogs, and Published Interviews

Use this collection of publications in your work to improve the health of American Indian and Native American people.