U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service: The Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives

Community health representative: The first tribally contracted program, since 1968 - American indian paraprofessional healthcare providers

Job Details

Advocacy

Communities plagued with a high incidence of certain diseases should have resources to help prevent and manage the illness, if a facility does not have adequate resources or anything at all; it is the CHR’s job to inform the Service Unit Director of the issue and help advocate for resources, funding and development of the project.

Ways of advocating include:

  • Letting superiors know of needs
  • Requesting grant money
  • Using an existing program to house newly proposed plans
  • Starting a group/coalition
  • Modeling health behaviors
  • Speaking up at public events
  • Participating in other CHR associations, organizations, ETC.
  • Preparing and speaking up at public events
  • Personal professional development

It is helpful to attend tribal council and health committee meetings as often as you can, even requesting to present pertinent information about issues in your community. It is also helpful to know you tribal health policies and procedures. Believe that you are an important resource in you community. Your knowledge of the resources which you can share is an important contribution to tribal leaders and the community as well. How you implement knowledge is your professional challenge.

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