American Diabetes Association Announces Second Annual John Pipe Voices For Change Award Winners

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 27 Sep 2010 - 5:00 PDT


The American Diabetes Association, the nation's leading voluntary health organization in the fight against diabetes, announces several leading Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) grantees presented with the John Pipe Voices For Change Award in recognition of their effective diabetes treatment and prevention services in American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. The awards were presented at the National Indian Health Board's 27th Annual Consumer Conference on Wednesday, September 22nd in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

"At nearly 17%, Alaska Natives have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes among all U.S. racial and ethnic groups," said Gale Marshall, Chair of the American Diabetes Association's Awakening the Spirit Native American initiative. "The John Pipe Voices For Change awards give us the opportunity to honor selected programs for their outstanding achievements in the delivery of diabetes prevention and treatment services in tribal communities. By showcasing these programs we are also acknowledging over 450 SDPI programs and their valuable efforts to stop diabetes."

The name of these awards was changed to honor long-time diabetes supporter John Pipe of Wolf Point, Montana, who passed away earlier this year. Pipe was a dedicated diabetes advocate and served as a member of the Awakening the Spirit Subcommittee. His longstanding advocacy efforts reached from his local community to Washington, DC and impacted countless tribal communities.

The 2010 John Pipe Voices For Change Award recognizes SDPI programs that have excelled in the following categories: Advocacy, Outcomes, and Innovation.

Advocacy Award:
Hualapai Healthy Heart Program
Peach Springs, Arizona
The Hualapai Healthy Heart Program is an SDPI funded demonstration project designed to reduce cardiovascular disease, the most compelling complication of diabetes among their participants. They have engaged their greater community in a variety of successful advocacy efforts having a local, regional and national impact.

Outcomes Award:
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation (BBAHC)
Dillingham, Arkansas
BBAHC Diabetes Prevention/Lifestyle Change Program provides a comprehensive array of programs in effort to prevent diabetes or diabetes related complications spanning 34 villages within the Bristol Bay region. Programs work on improving individuals' rates of diabetes, nutrition and exercise education, as well as lowering blood pressure.

Innovation Award:
Tuba City Diabetes Treatment and Prevention
Tuba City, Arizona
The Department of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Services at the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) has employed innovative approaches that have resulted in community wide collaborations to effectively provide diabetes prevention and treatment services.

Honorable Mentions:

Advocacy Honorable Mention:

- Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA) Diabetes Treatment & Prevention Program (Portland, Oregon)

- Cow Creek Health & Wellness Center (Roseburg, Oregon)

Outcomes Honorable Mentions:

- SDPI Diabetes Prevention Program Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center Indian Health Services (Warm Springs, Oregon)

- American Indian Health and Family Services (AIHFS) Diabetes Program (Detroit, Michigan)

Innovation Honorable Mention:

- Chickasaw Nation Division of Health (Ada, Oklahoma)

The SDPI continues to give Indian health programs and tribal communities the resources and tools they need to both prevent and treat diabetes. It funds more than 450 community directed programs, offering local tribes and health programs the opportunity to set priorities that meet the needs of the community, whether it be prevention activities or treatment. For over a decade Congress has provided funding for the SDPI and the American Diabetes Association has played an integral part in promoting this important program. The Association will continue to work for strong support of SDPI.

Source:
American Diabetes Association

• Additional
• References
• Citations