I2 Positive Directions for Native Health Program Coordinator Position at the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board

POSITION:  I2 Positive Directions for Native Health Program Coordinator

LOCATION: Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc.

REPORTS TO:   I2 Positive Directions for Native Health Program Director/Southwest Tribal NARCH Coordinator

FLSA STATUS:   Exempt (Full-Time)

SALARY RANGE:  $39,520 - $45, 760 per annum (DOE)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:   The Coordinator will work with the I2 Positive Directions for Native Health Program Director and Epidemiologist/Evaluation Specialist to plan, develop, coordinate and carry out activities in compliance with guidelines established by the funding agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The overarching aim of this project is to utilize a strategic prevention framework (SPF) to guide the selection, implementation, and evaluation of the “Storytelling for Empowerment” intervention.
  
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plans, develops, organizes, implements, administers and coordinates the objectives of the I2 Positive Directions for Native Health Program.
• Manage day-to-day operations for the project.
• Support the work efforts of program staff to conduct a service delivery systems analysis; community needs assessment; community readiness assessment; and create a community resource/asset map to address suicide prevention and substance abuse/misuse prevention.
•  Develop and prepare policies and procedures to promote coordination across youth-serving agencies.
• Work with program staff to track outcomes and impacts of the project.
• Work with the epidemiologist/evaluator on activities to improve and enhance suicide data quality for tribes in the IHS Albuquerque Area.
• Prepare and monitor professional service agreements with project consultants.
• Prepare and disseminate culturally appropriate small media products (print and digital) to strengthen public awareness of the burden of suicide among Native youth.
• Conduct routine communication and meetings with tribal and external partners.
• Coordinate/co-facilitate project trainings and webinars, including participant recruitment.
• Work with program staff to conduct program evaluation activities.
• Monitor the progress of the grant and report on accomplishments, present actions, and decisions to tribal stakeholders, advisory councils, and external partners.
• Collaborate with appropriate organizations and funding agencies to ensure contract and financial oversight for research project(s).
• Prepares documentation necessary to report to the funding agency on the progress of the project.
• Travels periodically to communities and other functions to provide consultation as needed.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with all project partners. 
• Performs related tasks as assigned.  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Ability to co-facilitate trainings for tribal stakeholders
• Extensive organizational, planning, and coordinating skills
• Ability to think ahead and plan over a one to two year time span
• Sincere enthusiasm for working with at-risk youth
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of important cultural considerations when working with Southwestern Indian Tribes
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relations with a wide range of individuals and organizations at every level (Tribal Councils, Indian Health Boards, Committees, individuals, healthcare providers, public and/or private agencies)  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in health education, community/public health, or related field. 
• Masters in Social Work, Public Health or related field preferred.
• Experience in health promotion/disease prevention program coordination
• Knowledge and experience working with tribal communities highly preferred.
• Computer and technical skills (including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, etc.).
• Must be able to travel  Able to operate a motor vehicle and have a valid State driver’s license
• Completion of background investigation is required  

WORK CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Work is performed in a typical interior/office environment.
• Noise level is usually minimal.
• Travel including overnight stays as needed.
• Drive company-leased vehicle to communities served by AAIHB.  

PREFERENCE:
American Indian applicants will be given preference, in accordance with the exemption provided under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION: Send CV/Resume, list of three professional references, salary requirements, and cover letter to Rachell Tenorio at rtenorio@aaihb.org or regular email to Rachell Tenorio, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board Inc., 5015 Prospect Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Position is open until filled. For best consideration, please forward all application materials by close of business day (5 PM MST) on August 31, 2017.  

National Native Health Research Training Conference in Denver, CO

1st Annual National Native Health Research Training Conference

Colorado Convention Center 
September 18-19, 2017 | Denver, Colorado
Post-Conference Training: Sept. 20th

The goal of the NNHRT conference is to disseminate new research and best practices around American Indian and Alaska Native health to build capacity and promote tribally-driven research activity.  

Visit the NNHRT website for additional information and to register for the conference.

Brown School partners with Community Women Against Hardship

The Brown School of Social Work tends to evoke the castle-like buildings of Washington University’s Danforth Campus. However, the Brown School, which claims in its mission statement to “collaborate with organizations to use evidence to improve access to and quality of social services and to address social and economic justice,” holds to its mission of being embedded in the community by having an office at the Better Family Life building on Page.

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Native Voices Rising

Announcing Native Voices Rising!

Common Counsel Foundation and Native Americans in Philanthropy are pleased to announce that Native Voices Rising (NVR) is now open for applications by Native-led groups with a membership base in the community that have a leadership development program and seek to take collective action to win progressive social change. Historically, less than 0.5% of foundation funding goes to support Native issues. This is a level of support that is inadequate to address the historic harms that Native people have experienced and the current need.

NVR provides general operating support grants to strengthen Native-led organizations in the United States that are improving the lives of their community members. To-date a total of $410,000 has been awarded to 43 grassroots Native community organizations that are involved in organizing and advocacy. Previous grantees are collectively engaging thousands of community members across ten states. They focus on a wide range of critical issues, from human and civil rights, to reproductive justice, to environmental health and sacred sites protection. Past NVR grantees had a significant presence at Standing Rock, advocating against the Dakota Access pipeline for the protection of land, water, and the recognition of Native sovereignty.

Donors that would like to add funds to this year’s pool can contribute online or contact Common Counsel Foundation.

Grantees can find more information and apply at www.NativeVoicesRising.org. NVR will make grants of up to $10,000 to support grassroots organizing led by Native communities. The application deadline is August 2, 2017.

2017 Native Children’s Research Exchange Conference

• September 28th and 29th, 2017
• Opening reception the evening of Wednesday September 27th
• All conference activities will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton  Hotel Denver

 
The NCRE 2017 Conference will be held September 28-29, 2017 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver.  An opening reception will be held on Wednesday evening September 27th, as well as a group dinner on Thursday evening September 28th.  We hope that you will consider joining us!  In addition to hearing about some of the latest research on children’s development in tribal contexts, NCRE is a great opportunity to both reconnect and make new connections with colleagues across the country whose work is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of tribal children through research.

The theme of this year’s conference is Children’s Development in American Indian and Alaska Native Cultural and Linguistic Contexts: Perspectives from Research and Practice.  Conference registration is limited to 80 participants.  Please be sure to register early to ensure space.  The registration deadline is September 8, 2017.

Research and evaluation efforts related to American Indian and Alaska Native children’s development prenatally through young adulthood are welcome, regardless of the connection to the conference theme.  Works in progress, works presented elsewhere, and new work is welcome. Submissions are due August 1, 2017.

Limited travel support is available to assist with conference costs.  Please indicate your request for travel support on the registration form.  Additional travel support is available for students through the NCRE Student Scholars program.

For more information about the conference and to register, propose a conference presentation, or apply for the NCRE Student Scholars program, please go to www.ncreconnect.org.

IHS Virtual Internship

Virtual Two-Spirit Project

Virtual Two-Spirit Project, an HIV prevention study, is off the ground   

The Virtual Two-Spirit project is a culturally-grounded, online HIV prevention intervention for Native American men who have sex with men. The intervention facilitates positive sexual health behaviors and promotes HIV risk harm reduction strategies. Eligible participants who complete the three-week intervention can receive up to $190 in incentives.

The project is being conducted by the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute at the University of Washington in Seattle. The Institute is an innovative leader in researching health disparities among Native Americans and other indigenous populations utilizing community-based participatory research principles and indigenous knowledges. The Institute also collaborates with communities to develop culturally-adapted interventions to address those health disparities.

The Virtual Two-Spirit intervention utilizes a computer downloadable virtual reality world, where participants create their own avatar and go through experiential modules in learning about HIV, harm reduction techniques, and behavioral role play.  

During their time in the virtual world, participants will have the opportunity to receive two free counseling sessions with trained Univ. of Washington counselors. Participants will also take assessment surveys at the end of each stage of the virtual intervention.

The expected outcomes for participants who go through the intervention include:

•  an increase in HIV testing
• more reliable condom use
• awareness and practice of harm reduction behaviors  

Results of this study will be used to further refine and tailor the intervention for a larger study.

The study is actively recruiting participants nationally to test the Virtual Two-Spirit intervention. Please see the attached flyer for eligibility criteria and contact information.

The Virtual Two-Spirit project is supported by funding from the National Institute of Health and Health Disparities, Award Number P60MD006909. Principal Investigator, Karina Walters, PhD, University of Washington