Zuni Pueblo American Indians Community Needs, Essay Example

A brief description of the community needs identified in the Zuni Pueblo American Indians

During Week 6 group collaborative discussion at the venue of my practicum, most of the community needs that were identified coincided with the issues that were found to be prevalent in the area where my group project is focusing on. In the scenic valley in New Mexico, approximately 150 miles from the city of Albuquerque where the Zuni Pueblo American Indians lives, the residents were identified with critical health challenges including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and alcoholism as the most prevalent community needs. Members of this population are of Zuni descent and Christian origin.

Explain at least 3 implementation strategies on the basis of practicum setting and/or intervention methods you might use to address these community needs. Provide a rationale for each.

With the practicum setting in mind there are a few implementation strategies and/or intervention methods that could be used to address the community needs.  The first intervention involves implementation of a process that supports the need for a health promotion program to target childhood obesity in Zuni Pueblo American Indians Community in order to improve lifestyle choices for local residents. Existing community services may play a role in improving outcomes for local residents through the Teen Health Center and the Zuni Wellness Center (Pueblo of Zuni, 1999).

Another implementation strategy could involve addressing diabetes through health promotion, as it is one of the leading causes of death within the county (UNM Health Sciences Center, 2014).  If residents develop a healthy habit and learn new ways to stay active and healthy they can then take that knowledge learned and apply it on days the free exercise day is not offered (Zager, P. (2014).

Explain ways to limit challenges that might arise when using these strategies and/or methods in the community.

To limit challenges that might arise when using these strategies and methods in the community it is important that a consideration for promoting greater health and wellbeing in Zuni Pueblo American Indians Community is given priority which requires an effective understanding of the economic challenges that this community faces in order to alleviate the concerns associated with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and alcoholism within the community (Shah et.al, 2014). Community health workers must be available to provide support to local residents in identifying health concerns and supporting an organized approach to treatment that will contribute to effective outcomes for members of this community (Shah et.al, 2014). These challenges pose a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of Zuni Pueblo American Indians Community, given the lack of knowledge that is evident and the limited resources that are available to support this community in managing their health and wellbeing more effectively (Shah et.al, 2014). Therefore, cultural competence, improved access to screening tools, and other barriers must be lifted in order to accomplish the desired objectives, while also considering other tools that might be available to support this endeavor (Shah et.al, 2014). Health promotion within Zuni Pueblo requires a strategic approach that identifies current issues through the windshield survey, accompanied by specific factors that will enable this group to improve their health and wellbeing. However, cultural needs and expectations must also be recognized and supported in order to accomplish these objectives. A successful health promotion initiative requires the development of specific programmatic efforts that capture the essence of the Zuni Pueblo American Indians Community culture and the opportunities that are available to improve trust and relationships with members of this community.

References

Bryan, S.M. (2013). NM officials concerned about childhood obesity Retrieved from http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22728331/childhood-obesity-rise-nm

County Health Report Cards. Engaging in Communities to Serve the People of New Mexico. UNM Health Service Center. Retrieved from http://hsc.unm.edu/community/InTheCommunity/common/docs/CountyReportsFY13.pdf

Pueblo of Zuni. Tribal Programs. Retrieved from http://www.ashiwi.org/programs.aspx

Shah, V.O., Ghahate, D.M., Bobelu, J., Sandy, P., Newman, S., Helitzer, D.L., Faber, T., and Zager, P. (2014). Identifying barriers to health care to reduce health disparity in Zuni Indians using focus group conducted by community health workers. Clinical and Translational Science, 7(1), 6-11.