NCJ Number
150942
Editor(s)
J Zelio,
T Hooker
Date Published
1994
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report presents the proceedings and results of a conference designed to increase State and American Indian tribal leaders' awareness of the spread of HIV among Native Americans and to promote productive relationships and collaborative plans of action among health agencies, legislatures, and tribes to improve HIV prevention for Native American communities.
Abstract
The majority of the conference participants were Native Americans, who represented 10 States and eight tribes. The conference was patterned after five successful regional AIDS conferences for legislators and State officials conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures. The conference succeeded in enlightening participants about the prevalence of HIV among Native Americans and efforts to address the disease. Conference participants composed a number of observations and recommendations during their discussions. They noted that more collaboration is need in HIV-prevention education among public health agencies, educators, legislators, and departments of family and children's services. This is necessary to decrease duplication of effort and increase the leverage of money and resources for prevention. Participants also recommended that connections between HIV-prevention activities and substance abuse prevention activities be strengthened. Tribal officials agreed that more work is needed on HIV and AIDS issues at the tribal level and that the message about HIV must be community-based and delivered by credible Native American leaders. Legislators were challenged to base HIV- related legislation on scientific facts rather than public emotion. Appendixes contain a list of participants, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council Action Steps to Address HIV/AIDS Prevention Issues in Wisconsin, and the Pueblo Tribal AIDS Policy Guidelines.