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On the T.R.A.I.L. (Together Raising Awareness
for Indian Life) to Diabetes Prevention
According to Indian Health Services (IHS),
diabetes rates among American Indian/Alaska Native youth,
aged 15 to 19, increased 32 percent from 1991 to 1997, and
Type 2 diabetes has been reported in American Indian youth
as young as
4 years of age. IHS also reports that mortality
rates for diabetes are significantly higher for American Indians
(420%) compared to the U.S. general population.
The National Congress of American Indians
(NCAI), Indian Health Service (IHS), Boys & Girls Clubs
of America (BGCA), and NIKE, Inc., initiated a prevention
program aimed at reducing the onset of diabetes among Native
American youth. The program – On the T.R.A.I.L. (Together
Raising Awareness for Indian Life) to Diabetes Prevention
– is an innovative combination of physical, educational and
nutritional activities.
 T.R.A.I.L.
is a three-month (12 sessions) incentive-based program that
provides youth with a comprehensive understanding of healthy
lifestyles in order to prevent diabetes. The program is presented
with four themes: About ME and My Health; Diabetes and
Nutrition; Making Smart Food Choices and Sharing Knowledge
With Others.
Woven throughout the program are self-esteem
and prevention activities utilized by BGCA, including contributions
from the National programs SMART
Moves, BodyWorks and Act SMART. Club members draw from
Tribal traditions and history to learn about nutrition, food
choices and the impact of diabetes.
 The
program also emphasizes the importance of teamwork and community
service. Participants apply decision-making and goal setting
skills in the physical activity T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone
Achieves Movement) Challenge, and engage in service projects
to improve healthy lifestyles in their communities. Community
and family members participate in activities with the elementary
aged Club members.
A generous product donation from Nike, Inc.
provides the program participants with numerous incentives.
These motivate members to achieve their goals and promote
physical activity. The Club sites are implementing the Nike GO program to foster Club-wide participation in fun physical
activities and games.
In the fall of 2006, T.R.A.I.L. expanded
to a total of 40 participating
Clubs located in 19 states. Each of the 40 Native American
Boys & Girls Club sites received the following to implement
the T.R.A.I.L. program:
- Pass-through grant from NCAI to
fund program operations (including full-time staff person
and program trainings) for one year
- Evaluated program curriculum, training
and on-going technical assistance
- NikeGo product grant and NIkeGo After School training
For a list of grantee sites, click here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Amy Staubs
at FirstPic, Inc. at 1-866-NA-CLUBS or astaubs@firstpic.org
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