Contact

Email:
Kelly.McCue​@nau.edu

Understanding resilience and mental wellbeing: southwest Indigenous nations and the impact of COVID-19

The goal of this administrative supplement is to demonstrate the resilience of Native nations and Indigenous communities in Arizona and to identify Indigenous Determinants of Health invoked during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has exacerbated health disparities throughout the United States and impacted American Indian populations in significant ways. Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized sovereign Native nations with more than 350,000 American Indians—the third largest population in the US.

American Indians represent approximately 4.6% of the state’s population, yet account for 19% of COVID-19 deaths where race and ethnicity is reported. Despite the substantial challenges faced during COVID-19 and the high rate of infection, Native nations in Arizona have demonstrated resilience.

The study will determine the role of Indigenous determinants of health in tribal government policy and action that support Indigenous mental health and wellbeing, and in turn, resilience during the COVID-19 crisis. The project will map how and when Indigenous assets are leveraged by tribal leaders to protect community mental health.

Document the impact of Indigenous determinants of health on Indigenous mental health and wellbeing, and resilience of four specific community groups. The four specific community groups, first responders, educators, recovery community, and traditional healers, will be engaged to understand Indigenous concepts of wellbeing linked to collective mental health and resilience. The project will employ talking circles, key-informant interviews, and surveys  to understand specific instances where IDOH have assisted or challenged the resilience of these specific groups.

Study title: Understanding Resilience and Mental Wellbeing: Southwest Indigenous Nations and the Impact of COVID-19 Specific Aims
Funding: The study is funded by NIMHD/NIH 3U54MD012388-04S6
IRB project number: 1693297-1

About the investigators

Julie Baldwin, PhD

Principal Investigator, SHERC
Administrative Core Lead
Recruitment Core Lead
Principal Investigator, SHERC Administrative Supplements
Director, Center for Health Equity Research (CHER)
Regents’ Professor, Department of Health Sciences
Research interests: Community-based participatory research, HIV/AIDS & substance abuse prevention, chronic disease prevention, diverse & rural populations

Karen Jarratt-Snider, PhD

Co-Investigator
Chair, Applied Indigenous Studies
Associate Professor, Applied Indigenous Studies
Research interests: Indigenous Environmental Justice, Tribal Environmental Management, Federal Indian Policy and Law, Tribal Administration, Indigenous Cultural and Ecotourism, Indigenous and Native American Entrepreneurship, USDA Forest Service Environmental Justice Policy, USDA Forest Service-Tribal Relations. Tribal and Indigenous Community-Based Participatory Research, Environmental Health and Indigenous Communities

Manley Begay Jr, Ed.D

Co-Investigator
Professor, Department of Applied Indigenous Studies
Research interests: Issues pertaining to Indigenous Nation-Building: Sovereignty, Governance, Culture, Leadership, and Economic Development.

Darold Joseph, PhD, M.Ed

Co-Investigator
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Specialties

Nicolette Teufel-Shone

Nicolette Teufel-Shone, PhD

Co-Investigator
Community Engagement Core Lead
Professor, Health Sciences
Phone: 928-523-2058
Research interests: Building community capacity to address health promotion in Native American communities, chronic disease prevention

Alisse Ali-Joseph, PhD, MA

Co-Investigator
Faculty Athletic Representative, Office of the President
Assistant Professor, Applied Indigenous Studies

Research interests: Sports and physical activity as a vehicle for empowerment, cultural identity, health and education for American Indian people, American Indian health, wellness, and education.

Chesleigh Keene, PhD, MA

Co-Investigator
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Psychology
Phone: 928-523-5321 Research interests: Population health; mobile and sensing technologies as tools to reduce health disparities; cultural models and predictors of wellness; and psychosocial factors that improve health outcomes

Juliette Roddy, PhD, MBA

Co-Investigator
The NARBHA Institute James Wurgler MD Chair of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Amanda Hunter, PhD, MPH

Postdoctoral Scholar
Research interests: American Indian health and wellness

Angelina Castagno, PhD

Co-Investigator
Professor, Department of Educational Leadership
Research interests: Diversity and equity, race, whiteness, Indigenous education

Marianne Neilsen, PhD

Co-Investigator
Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Research interests: Native Americans and justice, Indigenous Peoples and justice, criminal justice organizations, media and criminal justice

Kelly McCue, MPH

Research Coordinator, Sr.
Research interests: Health equity, maternal and child health, social determinants of health, food security
The Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative is a grant-funded initiative of the Center for Health Equity Research at Northern Arizona University. SHERC is supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 3U54MD012388-04S6.

Back to top of page

Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative
Location
Room 120 Building 56
Applied Research & Development
1395 S Knoles Dr.
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
Mailing Address
PO Box 4065
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011