MHI Tribal Maternal Health Strategic Plan

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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

  1. Improve maternal mortality and morbidity in Tribal communities
  2. Improve access to maternal health data surveillance
  3. Improve maternal health partnerships between tribal communities and the state

Strategic Plan Image

Maternal Health Resources

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Governmental and large-scale health and policy organizations addressing maternal and child health (MHI) broadly.

• Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
• Arizona Center for Rural Health
• ADHS Women’s and Children’s Health
• CDC: Maternal Mortality
• CDC: Hear Her Campaign
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• HRSA Tribal Affairs
• Indian Health Service (IHS)
• Medicaid Innovation Collaborative
• Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
• National Indian Health Board (NIHB)
• Public Health Shift (Maricopa)
• American Public Health Association (APHA)
• Doula Medicaid Project
• Doula Medicaid Resource Library
• Best Practices for Medicaid Coverage for Doula Care
• Pregnancy Related Deaths: Data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees
• American Indian/Alaska Native Pregnancy Related Deaths: Data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees
• From Barriers to Bridges: Implementing Access Solutions to Improve American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Maternal Health
• Strengthening Maternal Health Data to Improve Health and Wellbeing in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
• Preventing Maternal Mortality and Morbidity among American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian People
• Building Systems of Care: Investment in Native Maternal Health Infrastructure
• Workforce Equity in Maternal Health: Tribal and Native Community-Led Solutions

Toolkits

Social Media Toolkit
ITCA is pleased to provide a social media toolkit for tribal health programs to promote perinatal health in their communities. This is a living document that will be updated periodically as we add new information so check back often! There are also links to presentations on how to share maternal health research findings using social media.

Click here to access the social media toolkit

Disseminating Maternal Health Research Findings on Social Media

Practical Steps for Using Social Media to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes

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Pediatric Primary Care Toolkit

Pediatric Primary Care

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Implementing a Tribal Maternal Health Task Force Toolkit

PatientInfo

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Two-Spirit People: Sex, Gender & Sexuality in Historic and Contemporary Native America

Made by Harlan Pruden (Nehiyawe/First Nations Cree) and Seh-ah-dom Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock, Nez Perce, Yakama). This is a guide meant to provide a basic understanding of Two-Spirit People, their history, and a steppingstone to the Tribal Equity Toolkit for LGBTQIA+.

PatientInfo

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Tribal Equity Toolkit 3.0: Tribal Resolutions and Codes to Support Two Spirit & LGTBQ Justice in Indian Country

PatientInfo

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Indigenizing Love: A Toolkit for Native Youth to Build Inclusion

PatientInfo

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Youth Support

Connecting Native youth with valuable resources to support them in all walks of life.

PatientInfo

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Elements of a Healthy Tribal Community

Healthy Tribal Community

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Tribal toolkit for Navigating Federal Grant Terminations

Grant Termination Toolkit

2026 Tribal Public Health Conferences

The views expressed in written conference 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.

Upcoming National and Regional Conferences

 

Tribal Public Health Conference 2026; “The Vision for Generational Healing, Health, and Wellness”

 

National Tribal Health Conference 2026

Data Reports

CDC MM DataMaternal Mortality ReviewMarch of Dimes AZ Report March of Dimes US Report IHS MCH Program AZ Perinatal Trust AZ Tribal Needs Assessment ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS 2024 Health Profile ADHS Health Status Profile SMM Report ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile ADHS Health Status Profile <a

Infographics

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.

 

The ITCA Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed and distributed the infographics below to support tribal communities in responding to GHWIC tobacco topics. Tribes are welcome to download, print, and distribute these materials. Please contact ITCA HHS staff if you have any questions about the materials, if you’d like to add your Tribe seal to the infographic, if you want to request development of a infographic related to the GHWIC Strategy Areas, or experience any difficulty in downloading the files.

Tobacco

  • Electronic Smoking Devices

Electronic Smoking Devices

  • Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless Tobacco

  • Pregnancy & Smoking

Pregnancy & Smoking

  • Secondhand Smoke & Children

Secondhand Smoke & Children

  • Diabetes & Smoking

Smoking & Diabetes

  • Heart Disease & Tobacco

Heart Disease & Tobacco

 

Indian Health Services

http://www.ihs.gov/

National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Health Care Reform Implementation

http://www.tribalhealthcare.org/

National Indian Health Board (NIHB)

http://www.nihb.org/

Health Resources

Arizona Department of Health Services
https://www.azdhs.gov

Association of American Indian Physicians
https://www.aaip.org

Indian Health Service
https://www.ihs.gov

National Indian Health Board
https://www.nihb.org

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
http://www.npaihb.org

Health Data/Surveillance

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov

National Library of Medicine on American Indian Health
https://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov

Testing Resources

It’s Your (Sex) Life
http://www.itsyoursexlife.com

Toolkit/Campaign Resources

HIV.gov
https://www.hiv.gov

We R NATIVE
https://www.wernative.org

ITCA Resource Documents

My Southwest Food Pyramid – The Path to a Healthier You

Resources and Tips for Working with American Indians and Alaskan Natives

American Diabetes Association: Native American Programs

http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/programs/native-american-programs/

Association of American Indian Physicians

http://www.aaip.org/

Indian Health Service Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention

http://www.ihs.gov/medicalprograms/diabetes/

Indian Health Service – Nutrition

https://www.ihs.gov/Nutrition/

Dental Resources

For Prenatal and Postnatal Families with Children (age 16 months or younger)

For Infants

For Cavity and Decay Prevention

For a Healthy Mouth

For People with Diabetes

For People with Dentures

Dental Links

ABC Music & Me: An Early Literacy and Language Program
Give your Head Start students’ literacy learning a boost! ABC Music & Me has been proven to engage young at-risk learners. ABC Music & Me also offers fun, intensive Professional Development/Staff Training opportunities and a strong family Involvement component.

American Association for Community Dental Programs
The American Association for Community Dental Programs (AACDP) is a voluntary membership organization for local dental program personnel.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) to advocate policies, guidelines and programs that promotes optimal oral health and oral health care for infants, children, adolescents and persons with special health care needs.

American Dental Association
Founded in 1859, the American Dental Association is the oldest and largest national dental society in the world. Since then, the ADA has grown to become the leading source of oral health related information for dentists and their patients.

Children’s Dental Health
The Pew Children’s Dental Campaign works to ensure that more children receive dental care and benefit from policies proven to prevent tooth decay.

Dental Sealants: A Resource Guide (Third Edition)
Edited by Jolene Bertness, M.Ed. and Katrina Holt, MPH. MS, RD. (June 2010).
National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center
Pages: 44

DentalCareersEDU.org
Dental Careers Edu’s goal is to serve as an objective free resource of information to anyone working as or interested in becoming a dental assistant or hygienist.
A one of a kind resource detailing the latest information on program accreditation, national certification options, salary expectations, licensing requirements, job growth projections salary information and more.

Preventing Tooth Decay and Saving Teeth with Dental Sealants
Holt K, Barzel. 2010. Preventing Tooth Decay and Saving Teeth with Dental Sealants 3rd Washington, DC: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center.
Pages: 4

Toothfairy Island
Toothfairy Island is dedicated to being a global leader in oral health and wellness strategies. Expanding on the myth of the Toothfairy, our materials are child centered and educational – including games, puzzles, puppets, videos, worksheets, stickers, coloring pages and so much more. Our fun and exciting products create a pediatric wellness program that is easy to use.

University of Washington School of Dentistry
Fact sheets for 14 mild to moderate manifestations of specials needs conditions have been developed for Dental Professionals, Medical Professionals & Parents and Caregivers.

Content for the fact sheets were developed by a group of experts affiliated with the University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Health – Oral Health Program.

Phoenix Area IHS
http://www.ihs.gov/facilitiesservices/areaoffices/phoenix/phx_dental.cfm

Tucson Area IHS
http://www.ihs.gov/Tucson

Difference between Goals and Objectives

This document illustrates the differences of goals and objectives and states what is needed to have an effective objective to measure specific outcomes of activities.

Writing Measurable Goals and Objectives

This document illustrates how to write measurable goals and objectives.