Northwest Tribes recognize that healthy Native mothers and children are at the heart of healthy Native communities. Healthy Native moms and babies need a continuum of support that extends across families, communities, health care and social services systems. The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) works to support tribal Maternal and Child Health (MCH) initiatives through community-based research projects, data, technical assistance, and coordination of resources.
MCH Workgroup
NPAIHB’s Tribal Epidemiology Center has several projects that address MCH issues, and has formed an MCH Workgroup to coordinate efforts and resources across projects.
Please connect with Nicole Smith at nsmith@npaihb.org to collaborate or learn more about the current progress of the workgroup.
MCH Assessment
Our Guiding Framework:
A Summary of Qualitative Data Collected by the NW Portland Area Indian Health Board
In 2017, the MCH Workgroup completed an assessment to identify programmatic priorities to advance MCH efforts at the NPAIHB and Northwest Tribes. The assessment identified some key themes for improving maternal and child health, including:
- Social support
- Education for Parents
- Substance Use Prevention
- Connection to culture
The full report can be accessed here: MCH Guiding Framework for the NPAIHB [PDF, 2018]
MCH Projects
Current Activities
MCH-Opioid: Investigating Maternal Opioid Use, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Response in NW Tribal Communities
Native CARS: Native Children Always Ride Safe
Northwest Tribal Immunization Project
Northwest Tribal Dental Support Center: Baby Teeth Matter
TOTS to Tweens: Long-term effect of Early Childhood Caries Prevention in NW Tribes
WA Department of Health: Parenting Teens in partnership with the NPAIHB
WEAVE-NW: Good Health & Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC) Breastfeeding Support
MCH Resources
Indian Health Service
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Programs
- Idaho Department of Health & Welfare – WIC Program
- Oregon Health Authority – WIC Program
- Washington State Department of Health – WIC Program
Global Indigenous Women’s Health
COVID-19
Current MCH Resources for COVID-19 (Pregnancy, Childbirth, Breastfeeding & Child Health)
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board | COVID-19 Resource Hub
- Urban Indian Health Institute | “Talking with Children about COVID-19”
- Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health | “Positive Parenting during COVID-19”
- Healthychildren.org | American Academy of Pediatrics
- National Indian Health Board | “What to Expect when you’re Expecting” – Pregnancy during COVID-19
- Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine | COVID-19
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists | COVID-19
- CDC on Pregnancy & Breastfeeding | COVID-19
- Kaiser Family Foundation | COVID-19 Special Considerations for Pregnant Women
- World Health Organization | COVID-19
- Human Milk Banking Association of North America | Milk Handling during COVID-19
- Munson Healthcare | Explaining Social Distancing to Kids
Disclaimer: Information and recommendations about COVID-19 (Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2) are changing more rapidly than this page can be updated. Last updated 10/16/2020.
