Injury Prevention in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

Each tribal community in Indian country is unique with its own set of traditions, languages, practices, connections to elders, and social ties. Native communities work with the support of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Injury Center) to prevent injuries, the leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) between the ages of 1 and 54.
The Injury Center partners with and supports native communities, federally recognized tribes, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, tribal organizations, and Indian Health Service to improve health and wellness.
CDC is working with partners to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by promoting safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments.
CDC provides funding to improve drug surveillance and address the opioid crisis in tribal communities.
CDC is working with tribes to reduce risk and increase protective factors to prevent suicide among American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for AIAN people. Rates of motor vehicle traffic deaths among AIAN adults age 20 years or older are more than twice that of non-Hispanic White persons. Proven strategies to reduce motor vehicle injuries and deaths can be successfully tailored to tribal communities.
The Star Collection books features and celebrates feeling connected to culture and community and having positive relationships with others that are safe, stable, and nurturing.
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CDC works to understand and address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Peoples [PDF – 2 pages] issues by sharing data and violence prevention efforts.
- CDC and Indian Country: Working Together [PDF – 36 pages]
- Child Safety and Booster Seat Use in Five Tribal Communities, 2010-2014
- Illicit Drug Use, Illicit Drug Use Disorders, and Drug Overdose Deaths in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas — United States
- The Opioid Crisis: Impact on Native American Communities [PDF – 4 pages]
- Overdose Deaths Involving Opioids, Cocaine, and Psychostimulants — United States, 2015–2016
- Rural and Urban Differences in Passenger-Vehicle–Occupant Deaths and Seat Belt Use Among Adults — United States, 2014
- Suicides among American Indian/Alaska Natives — National Violent Death Reporting System, 18 States, 2003–2014
- Suicide Surveillance Strategies for AI/AN Communities [PDF – 38 pages]
- Suicide Trends among and within Urbanization Levels by Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Age Group, and Mechanism of Death—United States, 2001–2015
- Tribal Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention: Best Practices Guide 2016
- Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS)
- NIHB ACEs Resource Basket
- Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliance
- NIHB ACEs Resource Basket
- CDC Tribal Health
- CDC’s Healthy Tribes
- National Indian Health Board ACEs
- Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances (OTASA)
- Epidemiological Assistance
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium – Augmented Reality
- Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board – Collective Healing Through Traditional Practices
- Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council – Bridging the Gap: Building a Resilient Tribal Public Health Workforce
CDC’s Injury Center supports Indian Health Boards, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, Tribal Health Organizations, and Tribes in building public health capacity to promote health and prevent disease in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. These success stories provide a snapshot of the work partners are doing in the field to advance prevention efforts in their communities.