Background of NCAI PRC

1. Ensuring Diabetes Research Makes a Difference in Native Communities: Using Policy, Translation, and Culturally-Based Science to Strengthen Community Health National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center Malia Villegas, Director Emily White Hat, Project Manager Background of NCAI PRC Core Services StudyPurpose Established in 2003, the NCAI Policy Research Center is a national center that creates a forum for forward-thinking, deliberate, proactive Indian policy discussions and the development of policy alternatives. Mission. The NCAI Policy Research Center serves the goal of “supporting Indian Country in shaping its own future” through the following mission: “To provide tribal leaders with the best available knowledge to make strategically proactive policy decisions in a framework of Native wisdom that positively impact the future of Native peoples”. Areas of Work. The NCAI Policy Research Center Team has identified four areas as part of the DORSAL Strategy (Data Development; Research Regulation & Impact; Synthesis, Dissemination, & Translation; and Leadership & Network Development) developed to carry out this mission and to work alongside the Partnership for Tribal Governance, Legislative, External Relations & Outreach, Economic Development, Strategy & Partnerships, and Finance Teams in serving the mission of NCAI. • Washington University Center for Diabetes Translation Research (WU-CDTR) is a five-year (2011-2016) partnership between the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center and Washington University. The WU-CDTR is a five-year study (2011-2016). • Mission. To eliminate disparities in Type 2 diabetes by translating evidence-based interventions to diverse communities through two interacting scientific themes: • The root causes of diabetes and disparities; and • Obesity as a major contributing factor to Type 2 diabetes. • The Center will focus on translating interventions that have demonstrated efficacy into real world health care settings, communities, and populations at risk., leveraging in this effort the immense scientific resources from multiple NIH and other funded centers relevant to the prevention of Type 2 diabetes. Research Partnerships with AI/AN Communities Core (Community Core) Core Directors: Malia Villegas & Eddie Brown Aim: Identify and collaborate with junior and senior investigators who have past and current projects on diabetes and diabetes-related issues, to include but not limited to the connection between diabetes and obesity, pre-natal health, oral care, cardiovascular health, and cancer. Services: Assist AI/AN scholars and scholars conducting diabetes related research in AI/AN communities in: 1) translating the study for health literacy, community use, policy contexts, implementation, and/or dissemination; 2) cultural, political, and historical contexts for research in AI/AN communities; 3) legal information and ethical issues for research in AI/AN communities; and 4) effective approaches for researchers and communities to engage in productive collaborations. Health Communication and Health Literacy Core (HCHL) Core Director: Matthew Kreuter Aim: Advance the study of health communication science to test strategies for addressing health disparities in diabetes prevention and care. Services: Assist investigators in: 1) integrating diabetes content into existing population-specific media, information and referral systems; 2) using health literacy assessment tools to assure programs and materials are appropriate for populations; 3) using message design strategies known to enhance the relevance and impact of health information for specific populations. Health Economic and Policy Analysis Core (HEPA) Core Directors: Timothy McBride & Michael Sherraden Aim: Advance the study of economic and policy-level interventions to eliminate disparities in diabetes prevention and care. Services: Assist investigators in: 1) using Policy Assessment Tools; 2) Navigating, accessing, and managing relevant databases through our Diabetes Policy Archive; 3) Identifying appropriate economic and policy research methods; 4) Selecting appropriate policy analytic and statistical techniques; and 5) applying cost effective analysis to studies. Dissemination and Implementation in Diabetes Research Core (DIDR) Core Directors: Ross Brownson & Enola Proctor Aim: Advance the study of implementing, disseminating, and sustaining evidence-based approaches through integration in real world settings to improve diabetes prevention and care. Services: Assist investigators by assuring acceptability and sustainability of evidence- based interventions by: 1) consulting methods to capture stakeholder perspectives for improving intervention design and delivery; 2) providing access to an effective “strategies databank”; 3) selecting and measuring D&I outcomes such as acceptability, fidelity, and sustainability; and 4) consulting on D& I research designs uniquely suited to translation research. What is ‘Translation Science’? Research Benefits • Benefits of the Research project include: • Preparing AI/AN investigators to compete for NIH applications focused on diabetes translation research. • Fostering networking opportunities for AI/AN junior and senior scholars conducting diabetes related research . • Developing culturally-based tools for use in diabetes translation contexts. • Defining ‘translation’ in AI/AN contexts. The project described was supported by Grant Number P30DK092950 from the National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases or the National Institutes of Health.