Strengthening Tribal Communities’ Capacity to Improve Health

University of New Mexico: Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Topics:
Community Health

Communities that are socially cohesive—that is, have a high level of interpersonal trust and an absence of group conflict—tend to contribute positively to residents’ health. In American Indian communities, however, where social cohesion is often strong, the residents’ health status is generally poor. To understand this paradox, researchers are studying the nature of social cohesion, social capital (characteristics such as shared values and social rules that enhance a community’s ability to achieve its goals), and community capacity (characteristics that affect a community’s ability to address social issues, including public health) among American Indian tribes in New Mexico. The study enables researchers to test culturally appropriate indicators and measures of tribal capacity. The researchers are also examining whether relationships exist among power, racism, and barriers to economic and social capital, and whether mainstream American values influence, co-exist, or conflict with tribal values. The research may also reveal why family problems exist despite strong tribal cohesion. Participating tribes are helping to define the indicators of tribal capacity and to develop strategies for increasing social and economic capital to improve tribal members’ health.

 

Back to Research Projects