Indigenous doulas helping Native moms take back their health after centuries of discrimination
“Now, organizations across North America are resuscitating the practice of Indigenous doulas. They’re training them to offer culturally safe, emotional and physical care, relying on traditional knowledge and reestablishing their place in the health care system: by the sides of Indigenous birthing women, where today’s doulas say they were always meant to be.” Read more below!
Indigenous doulas are helping Native moms take back their health after centuries of discrimination
National Indian Health Board Tribal Prenatal-to-Three Policy Agenda
The National Indian Health Board developed the Tribal Prenatal-to-Three Policy Agenda to raise
awareness regarding the most impactful and culturally appropriate policy levers and strategies
to support American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health and wellbeing in the earliest years
of life, from the prenatal period through age 3. These recommendations chart a path forward to
health equity and improved outcomes for AI/AN families, infants, and toddlers.
2024 Tribal Prenatal-To-Three Policy Agenda
2025-2026 GHWIC Registration Links
Funding for this was made possible (in part) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.
Year 2 Project Schedule for ITCA GHWIC Subawardees (09/30/2025 – 09/29/2026)
2025-2026 registration links can be accessed below.
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (CoP) CALLS
CoP Call 1
- Co-Presenters: TBD
- Date: November 4, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Subawardee-specific meeting, ITCA Health Promotion Specialist will send Tribal Site Coordinators the registration link directly.
CoP Call 2
- Co-Presenters: TBD
- Date: December 2, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Subawardee-specific meeting, ITCA Health Promotion Specialist will send Tribal Site Coordinators the registration link directly.
CoP Call 3
- Co-Presenters: TBD
- Date: February 3, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Subawardee-specific meeting, ITCA Health Promotion Specialist will send Tribal Site Coordinators the registration link directly.
CoP Call 4
- Co-Presenters: TBD
- Date: April 7, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Subawardee-specific meeting, ITCA Health Promotion Specialist will send Tribal Site Coordinators the registration link directly.
CoP Call 5
- Co-Presenters: TBD
- Date: July 7, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Subawardee-specific meeting, ITCA Health Promotion Specialist will send Tribal Site Coordinators the registration link directly.
CoP Call 6
- Co-Presenters: TBD
- Date: August 4, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Subawardee-specific meeting, ITCA Health Promotion Specialist will send Tribal Site Coordinators the registration link directly.
WEBINARS
Webinar 1
- Presenters: TBA
- Date: October 14, 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Registration: https://itcaonline.zoom.us/meeting/register/uXtDjDUySyaiT6QxV3MTcQ
Webinar 2
- Presenters: TBA
- Date: January 13, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Registration: https://itcaonline.zoom.us/meeting/register/cC9pCgsKSuGpxnfvMVjfwA
Webinar 3
- Presenters: TBA
- Date: April 14, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Registration: https://itcaonline.zoom.us/meeting/register/QX_qaObNRgu4CsbvY216aw
Webinar 4 – “Year 2 Closeout & Year 3 Overview”
- Presenters: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.
- Date: September 22, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM Mountain Standard Time
- Registration: https://itcaonline.zoom.us/meeting/register/rVKgUBrvTcOEkaZZHnos7Q
TRAININGS
Training 1 (in-person)
- Dates: December 4 – 5, 2025
- Times: 8am – 3pm Mountain Standard Time
- Registration:
Training 2 (in-person)
GHWIC WORK GROUPS
GHWIC Work Group 1 (in-person)
- Dates: February 18 – 20, 2026
- Times: 8am – 4pm Mountain Standard Time
- Registration:
GHWIC Work Group 2 (in-person)
- Dates: July 21 – 23, 2026
- Times: 8am – 4pm Mountain Standard Time
- Registration:
MHI Tribal Maternal Health Strategic Plan
In 2020, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA), was contracted by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to develop a strategic plan in collaboration with tribal maternal health professionals. The Maternal Health Innovation program is funded nationally by HRSA and is designed to assist states in collaborating with maternal health experts and optimizing resources to implement state-specific actions that address disparities in maternal health and improve maternal health outcomes.
Program Purpose:
The purpose of the Maternal Health Innovation Program is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in American Indian communities in Arizona.
MHI Program Goals
- Improve maternal mortality and morbidity in Tribal communities
- Improve access to maternal health data surveillance
- Improve maternal health partnerships between tribal communities and the state
Recorded Webinars
Missed a webinar? Check them out below.
Pathway 2 Wellness (diabetes prevention)
Funding for this was made possible (in part) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.
Pathway 2 Wellness
- Mini grant opportunity for additional funding plus support to implement a one-year long cohort of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP).
- If you’re interested in learning more about the Pathway 2 Wellness, please send an email to Glenda Tovar (Glenda.Tovar@itcaonline.com) to schedule a meeting.
Eligibility for Participants of the National DPP Lifestyle Change Program
- Infographic (click image to enlarge)
- Prediabetes Risk Test (click image to enlarge)
About the Lifestyle Change Program
Highlights:
- The lifestyle change program can help you build healthy new habits that last a lifetime.
- When you join the program, you’ll learn, laugh, share stories, and try new things.
- Most of all, you’ll lower your risk of type 2 diabetes and improve your health.
The program includes:
- A CDC-approved curriculum
- A lifestyle coach
- A support group
What you’ll learn:
In the first half of the program, you’ll learn to:
- Eat healthy without giving up all the foods you love.
- Add physical activity to your life, even if you don’t think you have time.
- Deal with stress.
- Cope with challenges that can slow your progress, like choosing healthy food when eating out.
- Get back on track if you stray from your plan. Everyone slips now and then!
In the second half of the program, you’ll enhance the skills you’ve learned so you can maintain the changes you’ve made.
Time Commitment:
The program runs for 1 year.
- During the first 6 months, you’ll meet about once a week.
- During the second 6 months, you’ll meet once or twice a month.
Source: About the Lifestyle Change Program | National Diabetes Prevention Program | CDC
Program Staff
Glenda Tovar, Lifestyle Coach
Gwenda Gorman, Lifestyle Coach
Juan Lopez, Lifestyle Coach
Vanessa Dodge, Lifestyle Coach and Data Preparer
