Building Capacity to Increase Health Promotion Funding to American Indian Communities

Abstract

Foundations and government agencies have historically played a critical role in supporting community-based health promotion programs. Increased access to health promotion funding may help address significant health issues existing within American Indian (AI) communities, such as childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the capacity of AI communities to successfully apply for and receive funding may serve to increase resources for health promotion efforts within AI communities in Montana. This exploratory qualitative study completed 17 semistructured interviews across three AI reservations in the state of Montana. Dimensions of community capacity within the context of the funding application process and partnership with funding agencies were identified, including resources, leadership, community need, networks, and relationship with the funding agency. Dimensions of AI community capacity were then used to suggest capacity-building strategies for improved partnership between AI communities in Montana and the funding agencies.

Developing principles of social change as a result of a Pasifika Youth Empowerment Program: A qualitative study

“…Addressing the needs of a community by investigating the health issues through the perspectives and lived experiences of the community and its constituents using a bottom-up approach requires time, effort, resources and funding. 22 Mobilising the community into collective action is viewed as a pragmatic re-distribution of resources and it is an indicator of community empowerment. 23,24 The over-use of the term empowerment can lead to a diminished meaning, mainly because the term has been borrowed from many disciplines, whilst others confuse "power" with "empowerment."…”

“…Addressing the needs of a community by investigating the health issues through the perspectives and lived experiences of the community and its constituents using a bottom‐up approach requires time, effort, resources and funding. 22 Mobilising the community into collective action is viewed as a pragmatic re‐distribution of resources and it is an indicator of community empowerment. 23 , 24 …”