Native Women’s Wellness Program

Cancer is the second leading cause of death for Native Americans over 45. Native women are five times more likely to suffer from cervical cancer than non-Native women.

Each year women who sign up for mammograms (and check-ups) are entered in drawings for incentives provided by the Native Women's Wellness Program.

The Native Women’s Wellness Program was among the first funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the American Indian/Alaskan Native Initiative. SPIPA has been operating this program since 1994.

The program gives Native women at each of the Five Tribes access to annual wellness exams and a range of services from screenings (mammograms and breast examinations) to imaging work-ups for abnormal tests.

There is also an agreement in place to serve the Quinault Indian Tribal Nation through a grant from the CDC from June 30, 2007 through June 29 2008.

The program strives to eliminate cultural barriers to health through awareness, exams, education, referrals, and follow-ups. To date 1,563 women have enrolled.

The major objectives are to:

• Increase community awareness and
  education regarding the need for early detection and screening
  
• Increase access among women within the tribes by providing these services at their own tribal health clinics
  
• Improve referral, follow-up and monitoring services
  
• Provide an accurate statistical health care database to be used for the improvement and continuation of prevention. The database will help SPIPA to secure additional funding to expand services for other health concerns.

For more information call
(360) 462-3221, or (800) 924-3984 x3221.