R-2404-20948

This project is a partnership among the Montana State University College of Nursing (MSUCON), the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Health Department (NCTHD), and the Lame Deer Junior Senior High School (LDJSHS) on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

The Youth Voice Project (YVP) will be implemented within the newly established Northern Cheyenne School-Based Health Center (SBHC) paired with a health professions curriculum to inspire students toward clinic utilization and future oral health careers. Youth will be invited to serve on the SBHC board of directors, engage in oral health outreach and literacy initiatives, and explore oral health occupations. The Northern Cheyenne Youth Voice Project Advisor, a full-time staff member at LDJSHS, will collaborate with the MSU Program Manager to conduct a series of focus groups with 7th-12th grade students to identify their perceptions and priorities regarding the SBHC and oral health within the community. This activity will result in a qualitative analysis surrounding youth outlook on SBHC community integration, dental health care within their community and opportunities for future student-led direction of oral health intervention. The Project Advisor will also lead students in developing oral health outreach and literacy initiatives. Students will develop campaigns, messages, or illustrations to be delivered via Native Reach, a culturally reflective health education network (GoodHealth TV) available in 53 American Indian health centers across the state of Montana. The launch of a tribally operated SBHC dental clinic is a unique opportunity to engage elders in operating a clinic that implements culturally endorsed practices. Listening sessions with native elders will be held to gain insight into elder experiences of dental care and identify systemic drivers of oral health inequity. The group will also pilot a same-day treatment protocol in the SBHC to disrupt the current model where students are referred to dental care over 100 miles away in Billings, MT and experience a time-to-treatment average of more than six months.

Montana State University is requesting $125,000 for this work which is 1% of the organization’s overall budget. About $50,000 will be utilized to support staff, $57,490 for travel, participants stipends, and supplies, and $11,500 for oral health campaigns to be displayed on Native Reach TV.

This proposal is one of ten selected finalists for the school-Based and School-Linked Initiatives to Improve Oral Health RFP.