Abstract
The Healthy Living in Two Worlds project developed a wellness curriculum for urban, Northeastern Native American youth. The curriculum sought to increase physical activity, decrease or prevent recreational tobacco use, and increase healthy eating practices. The program was delivered in a summer day camp format to 16 Native American youth ages 9–13. These youth have considerable exposure to recreational tobacco use in their households and among their peers but they express an intention to resist pressure to use recreational tobacco products. Some of these youth do not eat regular meals, particularly breakfast and lunch. Program participants appear to be physically active and their activity seems to have increased after the program.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ballew, C., White, L. L., Strauss, K. F., Benson, L. J., Mendlein, J. M., & Mokdad, A. H. (1997). Intake of nutrients and food sources of nutrients among the Navajo: Findings from the Navajo Health and Nutrition Survey. Journal of Nutrition, 127(10), 2085s–2093s.
Brown, A. C., & Brenton, B. (1994). Dietary survey of Hopi Native American elementary students. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 94(5), 517–522.
Burhansstipanov, L. (1993). National cancer institute’s native American cancer research projects. Alaska Medicine, 35(4), 248–254.
Burhansstipanov, L. (1998a). Native American cancer programs: Recommendations for increased support. Cancer, 83(s8), 1849–1855.
Burhansstipanov, L. (1998b). Cancer mortality among Native Americans. Cancer, 83(11), 2247–2250.
Burhansstipanov, L., & Dresser, C. M. (1994). Documentation of the cancer research needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. (Native American monograph #1). National Cancer Institute.
Byers, T. (1996). Nutrition and cancer among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Cancer, 78(7), 1612–1616.
Centers for Disease Control. (2003). YRBS 2003 questionnaire. Retrieved October, 2003 from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs2003/questionnaire.htm.
Cobb, N., & Paisano, R. E. (1998). Patterns of cancer mortality among Native Americans. Cancer, 83, 2377–2383.
Going, S., Thompson, J., Cano, S., Stewart, D., Stone, E., Harnack, L., et al. (2003). The effects of the pathways obeisity prevention program on physical activity in American Indian children. Preventive Medicine, 37, s62–s69.
Hampton, J. W., Keala, J., & Luce, P. (1996). Overview of national cancer institute networks for cancer control research in Native American populations. Cancer, 78(7), 1545–1552.
Hatcher, J. L., & Scarpa, J. (2002). Encouraging teens to adopt a safe, healthy lifestyle: A foundation for improving future adult behaviors. Trends Child Research Brief. Washington, DC: Knight Foundation.
Hawkins, E. H., Cummins, L. H., & Marlatt, G. A. (2004). Preventing substance abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native youth: Promising strategies for healthier communities. Psychological Bulletin, 130(2), 304–323.
Hodge, F. S. (2002). American Indian and Alaska Native Teen Cigarette smoking: A review. Retrieved June 2002 from http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/tcrb/monographs/14/m1417.pdf.
Hughes, C. K., Tsark, J. A. U., & Mokuau, N. K. (1996). Diet-related cancer in Native Hawaiians. Cancer, 78(7), 1558–1563.
Intercultural Cancer Council. (2002). American Indians/Alaska Natives and Cancer. Retrieved March 2002 from http://iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs2htm.
Joe, J. R. (2001). Out of harmony: Health problems and young Native American men. Journal of American College Health, 49, 237–250.
LeMaster, P. L., Connell, C. M., Mitchell, C. M., & Manson, S. P. (2002). Tobacco use among American Indian adolescents: Protective and risk factors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 30, 426–432.
Mahoney, M. C., Michalek, A. M., Wiggins, C. L., Tenney, M., Bad Wound, D., & Burhansstipanov, L. (1996). Native American cancer conference III. Cancer, 78(9), 1533–1537.
Michalek, A. M., Mahoney, M. C., Burhansstipanov, L., Tenney, M., & Cobb, N. (1996). Urban-based Native American cancer-control activities; services and perceptions. Journal of Cancer Education, 11, 159–163.
National Cancer Institute. (2002). Accessed June 2002, http://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/ncipubs/details.asp?pid=203.
Oetting, E. R., & Beauvais, F. (1991). Orthogonal cultural identification theory: The cultural identification of minority adolescents. The International Journal of the Addictions, 25(5A & 6A), 655–685.
Risendal, B., Dezapien, J., Fowler, B., Papenfuss, M., & Giuliano, A. (1999). Cancer prevention among urban Southwestern American Indian women: Comparison to selected year 2000 national health objectives. Annals of Epidemiology, 9(6), 383–390.
Schinke, S. P., Orlandi, M. A., Schilling, R. F., & Botvin, G. J. (1990). Tobacco use by American Indian and Alaska Native people: Risks, psychosocial factors, and preventive intervention. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 35(2), 1–12.
Story, M., Strauss, K. F., Zephier, E., & Broussard, B. A. (1998). Nutritional concerns in American Indian and Alaska Native children: Transitions and future directions. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 98(2), 170–176.
Taylor, T. L., Denny, C. H., & Freeman, W. L. (1999). American Indian and Alaska Native trends in behavioral health, 1990–1996. American Journal of Health Behavior, 23(5), 345–351.
United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2002). Healthy people 2010: Understanding and improving health (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
Weaver, H. N. (in press). The healthy living in two worlds project: An inclusive model of curriculum development. Journal of Indigenous Voices in Social Work.
Weaver, H. N., & Jackson, K. F. (under review). Cancer risk factors for urban Native Americans: Baseline data from the healthy living in two worlds project.
Welty, T. K., Zephier, N., Schweigman, K., Blake, B., & Leonardson, G. (1993). Cancer risk factors in three Sioux tribes: Use of Indian-specific health risk appraisal for data collection and analysis. Alaska Medicine, 35(4), 265–272.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Weaver, H.N., Jackson, K.F. Healthy Living in Two Worlds: Testing a Wellness Curriculum for Urban Native Youth. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 27, 231–244 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-010-0197-6
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-010-0197-6