PROJECT SUMMARY: The White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) have partnered successfully on NARCH I, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X. Each NARCH application has included an integrated focus on training and community driven research which has deepened our understanding of local and cross-tribal health disparities, produced new public health solutions and added to the continuous development of our innovative training model that combines student and faculty development. Overall goals of the WMAT-JHU NARCH XI initiative are to: 1) increase the pool of trained American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) scientists and research professionals; 2) strengthen our partnership with JHU and other research institutions through innovative community-based participatory research combining WMA and western cultural and scientific knowledge and world views; and 3) field innovative, strengths-based and culturally driven research to combat major AI/AN health disparities. The WMAT-JHU NARCH XI application includes four components to meet these goals: 1) a student and faculty development project that will integrate academic and field-based research training, and 2) three NARCH research projects to: a) address the large burden of Staphylococcus aureus; b) address alcohol, opioid, and other substance use among at-risk Apaches; and, c) improve breast cancer screening among White Mountain Apache women. The research projects are focused on tribal-specific priorities and designed to provide a supportive, multi-disciplined platform for training Apache investigators on broad scientific research methods. Methodological approaches and rigorous evaluation designs will contribute new cultural and scientific understanding to protective factor-based intervention development and outcomes in AI/AN settings. Apache scientists will build skills in: biomedical and behavioral sciences, qualitative and quantitative research methods, culturally grounded development and deep structure adaptation of strengths-based evidence-informed interventions; and, rigorous, culturally competent evaluation approaches. The studies are built upon previous NARCH research findings, will apply innovative methods and approaches, and tap cultural and community assets to address major AI health disparities across the lifespan with potential for intergenerational impact. Activities have been selected and will be guided by the existing White Mountain Apache NARCH Community Advisory Board.

PROJECT NARRATIVE: The White Mountain Apache-JHU NARCH XI builds on our 40-year partnership addressing tribal health disparities and promoting tribal health autonomy. For NARCH XI, Apache students and faculty will receive training in public health, biomedical and behavioral sciences, and develop applied skills through three research studies addressing: Staphylococcus aureus; drug and alcohol use; and, breast cancer screening.