November marks Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich cultures, traditions, and histories of Native American people. For us, this month holds a special significance, as our own history is deeply intertwined with the Native American community.
Did You Know?
- When we began in 1976, we focused on caring for Wichita’s Native American community.
- We provide easier access to our services through the Urban Indian Health Program, which provides funding for comprehensive health care, immunizations, health education, and more.
- We help with applications for assistance through the Urban Indian Health Program and establishing or documenting tribal registration or obtaining proof of Indian ancestry.
- Our Traditional Health Coordinator Newman Washington is a licensed addiction counselor with over 20 years of experience and works with the Native American Community Resource Coalition as an advocate for American Indian/Alaska Native patients, ensuring that our services are responsive to the local community.
- Our Urban Indian Program Coordinator, Laura Razo, has a background in both law and education, with 25 years’ experience working on Native American programs. She has served on multiple tribal councils and held leadership positions with tribal organizations. She brings a vast experience to our organization in developing culturally-informed programming for our Native American population.
How we served the American Indian/Alaska Native community in FY24:
- Provided care to 1,962 Native American patients.
- Gave HIV testing and counseling to 390 American Indian/Alaska Native patients.
- Brought critical services to the Native American community with several outreach events throughout the year.
- More than doubled our Indian Health Services (IHS) goals for the number of lab, x-ray, and optometry encounters for Native American patients.
- Had over 240 new Native American patients.
Thank you for all you do to support the Native American community, helping us provide quality care that’s holistic and culturally appropriate.
And thank you to the Native American community for trusting us with care for the mind, body, and spirit. Our heritage is integral to who we are and where we’re going, and we’re grateful to take those next steps with you.
