HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples
The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI): Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples (PDF) offers public health strategies and actions to improve brain health throughout life.
It promotes health equity by using a strength-based approach that honors diverse American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) cultures and incorporates the indigenous determinants of health. It is developed with respect to tribal sovereignty and is influenced by the traditions of AI/AN peoples.
Get started with the HBI Road Map for AI/AN Peoples
Developed as a companion to the Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023-2027, the Road Map for AI/AN Peoples builds on what was learned from the implementation of the first Road Map for Indian Country (PDF). It can help professionals conducting public health work with tribes, nations, pueblos, bands, villages and urban Indian organizations select and pursue strategies for the AI/AN communities they serve to improve brain health, address dementia and better meet the needs of caregivers. This includes tribal public health professionals and tribal professionals with public health experience working in community and clinical health settings.
Road Map Launch Webinar
Explore the updates with experts from the Alzheimer’s Association and CDC on Jan. 22, 2025, as they share what's new in the Road Map for AI/AN Peoples.
- The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI): Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples (PDF).
- Executive Summary (PDF).
- What's New (PDF).
- Application for HBI Road Map Champions: This funding opportunity is available for tribally-led health programs and urban Indian organizations to implement the new Road Map. Apply by Feb. 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
The impact of dementia is felt by multiple generations, but there are ways to lessen this impact. As tribal health and aging leaders become concerned about the growing problem of dementia, they can build on strengths in their cultures and traditions, which provide unique opportunities to improve the lives of older adults living with dementia, their families and their communities.
View and Download the HBI Road Map for AI/AN Peoples
Find 13 public health strategies to help American Indian and Alaska Native communities improve brain health, address dementia and better meet the needs of caregivers. View and download a PDF of the Road Map.
Public health strategies to care for an aging population
The HBI Road Map for AI/AN Peoples (PDF) suggests 13 public health strategies as a starting point for discussion, deliberation and cross-sector collaboration. Public health professionals working in tribes and urban Indian organizations are encouraged to discuss these strategies with their community and involve members in planning and implementing these community-wide approaches. Collectively, the strategies aim to improve health and well-being of AI/AN people, address cognitive impairment and help support caregivers of people living with dementia.
The framework of the HBI Road Map for AI/AN Peoples is a wheel that consists of four domains built from the Essential Public Health Services.
Engage Communities and Share Knowledge: Public health engages with AI/AN communities to understand how knowledge can be shared. Public health professionals in the community can then share practices to increase awareness about the factors that influence brain health and ways to maintain or improve cognitive health and ultimately quality of life. The sun icon symbolizes warmth, energy and growth as communities engage and share knowledge together.
Build a Representative and Skilled Workforce: Public health is responsible for training and preparing the public health and health care workforce to provide culturally centered and appropriate care to people at risk for or living with dementia while also supporting caregivers. The cedar tree icon represents protection and healing. The diverse uses of the tree call to mind the roles of the different members of the workforce.
Measure, Evaluate and Use Data: Public health supports data sovereignty while working with communities to monitor health status, identify and solve community health problems, and evaluate effectiveness, accessibility and quality of health improvement programs. Findings are shared with the community and used to inform programs and policies to improve brain health across the life course. The moon icon symbolizes the moon’s role as a guide and a timekeeper, signifying transformation and the importance of measurement and data.
Strengthen Policies and Relationships: Public health strengthens, supports and mobilizes community partnerships to improve brain health. Public health also creates, champions and implements supportive policies and plans by increasing awareness of dementia and its impact among tribal leadership. The mountain range icon signifies strength and sacredness, representing the power of policies and relationships.
Success stories: The Road Map in practice
Three success stories highlight how tribes have worked to improve health outcomes related to dementia:
- Aleut Community of St. Paul Island: Strengthening Relationships to Improve Service (PDF)
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Department of Health: Education and Outreach for Increased Impact (PDF)
- Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium: Time Together Builds Dementia Awareness and Advocacy (PDF)
Developing the Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples
The Road Map focuses on health equity through a strength-based approach, drawing on the traditional practices and cultural activities that have kept AI/AN communities healthy for thousands of years. It reflects input from the Leadership Committee and over 200 additional community members and professionals working in AI/AN communities.