Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board: Indian Leadership for Indian Health

History & Goals

Funding History

For 18 years, Project Red Talon has conducted STD/HIV research among the NW tribes, and has provided training and technical assistance to tribes on implementing and evaluating culturally appropriate prevention programs. The first STD/HIV prevention project at the NPAIHB started in 1988 with an AIDS Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior (KAB) survey. This was followed by a CDC-funded HIV/STD prevention project. Over the years, NPAIHB has been instrumental, both regionally and nationally, in making HIV and STD prevention a priority issue at regional and national Indian health meetings.

Past Accomplishments

  • AI/AN HIV Testing Survey (AI/AN HITS) - The AI/AN HIV Testing Survey (HITS) was designed to assess the attitudes and behaviors of American Indians at high risk for HIV infection. To improve culturally appropriateness, NPAIHB utilized AI/AN focus groups to modify the wording of questions and answer choices, and added questions about cultural practices that intentionally break the skin, such as ceremonial body piercing and tattooing (which may lead to HIV exposure). Two hundred and twenty two (222) surveys were administered in 2001 to AI/ANs residing in the Portland metropolitan area. This survey was repeated in 2002 with approximately 250 participants from two rural NW tribes.

  • Red Talon STD/HIV Profile Report - In order to understand the types of STD and HIV prevention services available within local tribal communities, Project Red Talon (PRT) conducted a comprehensive Tribal STD/HIV Capacity Assessment Survey among tribes in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in May 2005 and August 2006. Two survey tools were developed to encapsulate the various prevention efforts available at the clinic and community level. The results of the Capacity Assessment were published in the Red Talon STD Profile report, which can be downloaded from the project’s “Reports and Publications” page.

Future Goals and Recommendations

Despite the notable accomplishments achieved by Project Red Talon, a great deal remains to be done in order to significantly reduce STD rates among our American Indian and Alaska Native population. Radical inequalities in STD-related morbidity and mortality rates will continue to persist among our Native populations until long-standing social norms are acknowledged and altered. This manner of change does not occur quickly or without cost. Comprehensive, culturally appropriate programs must continue to facilitate this process in order to protect the health and wellbeing of future generations. Project Red Talon will continue to support activities that address this goal, by working to ensure:

  • Funding Continuity: To improve program success and continuity, tribal health programs must be given the opportunity to function for an extended period of time.
  • Project Sustainability: To ensure program sustainability, every effort is made to develop products and resources that can be used by NW Tribes beyond the assistance of PRT.
  • Local Needs Are Addressed: When asked “What additional assistance from PRT would best support your STD/HIV prevention efforts”, tribal programs overwhelmingly request mini-grants for local prevention activities, condoms, and ongoing technical assistance.
  • Low–Capacity Tribes Access Services: Because many or our smaller tribes do not have staff members designated to address STD issues, a number of our tribes do not have the underlying capacity that is needed to ask for technical assistance, participate in the STD Coalition, or engage in PRT services. Assuredly, these are the tribes that could benefit most from our services.