Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College Project Diabetes Education and Science to Instruct Native Youth (DESTINY). The diabetes epidemic disables its victims slowly, reducing function and diminishing the quality of life. American Indians have a much higher rate of diabetes than the non-native population, along with social cultural, and economic barriers to prevention education and lifestyle changes. These barriers exacerbate the disparity in incidence of diabetes. The goals of the DESTINY Project are to 1) improve health attitudes and behaviors of Native people, 2) use protective cultural knowledge and community support to enhance health/science education, 3) empower youth to become proactive about their health, education and leadership potential in the community. As a result, more youth will seek science/health careers and return to teach/influence the community. The goals will be achieved by pursuing the following objectives: Objective 1: to develop supplementary science curriculum materials based on a diabetes model for grades K-6 (2 one-week units/grade) which will include components designed to encourage Native American students to make healthy lifestyle choices and enter science and health careers. Objective 2: to develop replicable co-curricular and intergenerational community activities that are culturally sensitive and designed to encourage healthy lifestyle choices and science/health careers. Objective 3: to develop methods and materials for training teachers, school staff, community activity leaders and volunteers. Objective 4: to disseminate the materials and models through presentations, publications and internet postings.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01DK064083-05
Application #
7125033
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-5 (O1))
Program Officer
Garfield, Sanford A
Project Start
2002-09-30
Project End
2009-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2007-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$162,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
Department
Type
DUNS #
008550027
City
Baraga
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
49908
Aho, Lynn; Ackerman, Joni; Bointy, Shelley et al. (2011) Health Is Life in Balance: Students and Communities Explore Healthy Lifestyles in a Culturally Based Curriculum. Pimatisiwin 8:151-168