Nutrition

4400 Auburn Blvd., 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95841
(916) 929-9761

Last Modified: May 22, 2008

Nutrition Planning

Diabetes Programming | Tribal Head Start Garden Project | Native Foods
Nutrition Council of California Indian Clinics (NCCIC)

The California Rural Indian Health Board's Department of Family and Community Health Services provides nutrition services and activities for health professionals and paraprofessionals working in Indian-controlled health programs.

Stacey Kennedy, MS, RD, is our Public Health Nutritionist. She has experience in nutrition education, wellness programs, diabetes programming, grants management, and has worked successfully on numerous projects at CRIHB. She has a positive working relationship with several California tribes. The CRIHB nutritionist is responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating a community nutrition intervention program to reduce the risk chronic disease in California Indian Communities.

The services provided by CRIHB include: nutrition and diabetes programming, nutrition education services, technical assistance on nutrition and wellness related topics, assisting in the development of nutrition education materials (i.e., videotapes, posters, pamphlets, newsletter, and questionnaires). The nutritionist helps to develop, coordinate and conduct training conferences, participates in related nutrition and health education, assist local health programs in the planning, implementation and evaluation of nutrition programs in the areas of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer, nutrition through the lifecycle, obesity prevention and native foods. For an article about Native Foods, click here.

According to the 2000 census, 333,300 people of American Indian/Alaska Native descent live in California, making the Golden State the State with the highest number of American Indians. American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the world. Approximately 50% of the population served by CRIHB falls below the Federal Department of Health & Human Services poverty guidelines and 30% of Indian households are on welfare.

The most common health problems encountered in the Native American population served in these areas are diabetes or complication of diabetes, mental health-related problems, obesity, heart-related problems, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and renal failure. Many AI tribes have experienced an epidemic of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in recent years. This increased prevalence appears to be related to sudden shifts towards sedentary life-style and increased caloric intake. These changes superimposed on a genetic predisposition to diabetes pose a serious risk factor to Native American children. Current foods eaten by American Indians contain more fat, sugar, preservatives and artificial ingredients than the traditional foods.

American Indian people have long experienced lower health status when compared with other Americans. Lower life expectancy with the disproportionate disease burden exists perhaps because of inadequate education, disproportionate poverty, discrimination in the delivery of health services, and cultural differences.

Incidence and Prevalence

American Indians and Alaska Native adults ages 50-64 in California have a significantly higher prevalence rate of diabetes (19.6%) compared with whites (8.3%). One in five AI/AN adults age 65 and over report having diabetes. (Satter et al, 2003)
Approximately six in ten AI/AN adults diagnosed with diabetes have also been diagnosed with high blood pressure -- nearly 2.8 times the rate of AI/AN adults not diagnosed with diabetes. (Satter et al, 2003)
Approximately one in four (26.2%) AI/AN adults with diagnosed diabetes in California has also been diagnosed with heart disease, nearly 3.4 times the rate of adults not diagnosed with diabetes. (Satter et al, 2003)
Approximately four in five AI/AN adults with diabetes (81.1%) are overweight or obese. This proportion is highest among AI/AN adults ages 18-64 (86.4%). (Satter et al, 2003)

For more information about Diabetes Programming, click here.

The majority of health problems that plague the AI population can be prevented, improved or controlled by nutrition education and intervention. For the past three years FCHS has been awarded grant funds to conduct nutrition education activities through the Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section of the Department of Health Services. Nutrition education materials and activities have been completed at American Indian Health Clinics and Head Start sites throughout the State. One of the activities conducted under this grant is the Tribal Head Start Garden Project. This project gives Head Start Programs the opportunity for additional hands-on early nutritional experiences that will help to lay the foundation for a lifelong habit of eating nutritious foods. The ultimate goal of this project is to increase the children's intake of fruits and vegetables and to improve dietary habits, thereby decreasing the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. For additional information on how to start a garden project in your community click here.

FCHS provides ongoing training, materials and technical assistance on a wide variety of topics. Contact Stacey Kennedy to inquire about nutrition training services or materials.

Nutrition Council of California Indian Clinics

Goals: to promote quality nutrition care throughout California Native American Communities by supporting the continuing education and communication of the nutritionist who works in the Native American communities. This is accomplished by providing the nutritionist with orientation, education, insights and examples of effective nutritional programs for the Native American communities.

Communication of ideas and training of nutrition professionals to optimally present culturally specific and culturally sensitive education is essential to successful nutrition interventions within Native American communities. For a copy of the NCCIC membership roster, click here.

Background on the Council: The Nutrition Council was formed in 1987 to help facilitate the networking and some continuing education of nutritionists who work within 638 Contract facilities in California. The group plans and implements yearly meetings for nutritionists. In the past the California Area Office of Indian Health Services has supported the programs. Due to the downsizing of the Area Office there is no longer a nutrition consultant/advocate. The Area Office has also withdrawn monetary support of this annual meeting as many of the clinics have pulled their tribal shares. The NCCIC now relies on the support of the American Indian clinics in California to send a nutrition representative to the yearly meeting.

NCCIC Membership Information: The Council is made up of nutritionists or dieticians from dues-paying agencies ($40 per agency per year) throughout the state of California, working in IHS-funded and Native American health organizations.

The NCCIC meets a minimum of four (4) meetings and/or conference calls annually. One of the meetings is concurrent with the Annual NCCIC conference. For information on the NCCIC contact, Stacey Kennedy at stacey.kennedy@crihb.net.

For more information or to become a member, please contact the Chairperson, Lisa Turner, at (619) 445-1188 ext. 204 or lturner@sihc.org.

CRIHB · 4400 Auburn Blvd., 2nd Floor · Sacramento · CA 95841 · (916) 929-9761