Healthy Native Youth is fire!
It’s 2023 and we are excited for the possibilities of the New Year! Our ongoing goal and intention is to support educators, parents, and caring adults with free, strength-based culturally-relevant health promotion curricula, tools & resources for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth.

The January monthly newsletter includes HNY website spotlights, the Talking is Power text messaging service for parents, unveiling the 2023 Community of Practice line-up, and resources to fill your educator toolbox.
We are committed to you, our readers and dedicated supporters, to another fabulous year ahead with our 2023 theme: “Healthy Native Youth is fire!”

It’s a movement, so let’s do this! 
Healthy Native Youth Website Spotlights
Curriculum Spotlight
Native STAND 2.0
Native Students Together Against Negative Decisions (STAND) 2.0 is a free, flexible, inter-tribal comprehensive sexual health curriculum for high school aged teens (14-17 years old) that draws on cultural teachings and values from across Indian Country and Alaska. Native STAND can lead to increased communication about sexual health topics, improvements in knowledge and self-efficacy, and substantial adoption of risk-reducing behaviors among teens who complete the program. 
A groundbreaking research study included 48 implementation sites with trained diverse educators who collectively reached over 925 AI/AN youth in a three-year time span. The research study concluded:                 
 
 “The Native STAND curriculum helps fill a critical gap in evidence-based sexual health programs that reflects the unique needs and experiences of AI/AN youth.”
 
Order A Free Print Copy of the NS 2.0 Curriculum
The updated features in Native STAND 2.0 include:
  • Streamlined the number of lessons, focusing on the most important skills.
  • Ensured lessons could be delivered in a 50-minute class.
  • Updated content for medical accuracy.
  • Improved inclusion for Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ participants.
  • Made trauma-informed adjustments to each lesson.

We have a limited number of hard copies of the Native STAND 2.0 curricula available for those planning to deliver the program. Please fill out the order form to get a free copy.
Implementation Toolbox: Prepare
Implementation Action Plan Template
It’s the new year, and time to kick it into gear implementing a program! The HNY Implementation Toolbox is for you! The Prepare Phase has ready-to-use templates to prepare an action plan, reach out to guest speakers, and start ordering supplies and incentives to make your program a success.

Our renowned Native STAND educators will tell you that preparation is the most important phase. View the Implementation Action Planning Template and get started!
Text Message Campaign: EMPOWER
Encourage Parents & Caring Adults to Subscribe
The facilitators during our Native STAND national study recommended sharing resources with parents & caring adults to support learning at home about sensitive topics such as sexual health, pregnancy, STDs, condoms, healthy relationships and consent.
 
The Talking is Power text message campaign was created to offer culturally appropriate tips and resources to parents and caring adults, to encourage open and honest conversations with their teen.   
 
Encourage parents to text the word ‘EMPOWER’ to 94449 to sign-up.
 
It's important that parents & caring adults be a part of the learning circle too! 
Lesson Enhancements for Youth
New We R Native Articles
We R Native - a multimedia website for Native Youth, by Native Youth - has 50 new articles written by Native teens and young adults available on the website. We would like to shine a light on three, offering a shout out to our talented & gifted writers, for taking time out of their busy schedules to share their voice on topics important to them.

Author: Summer Wildbill (Confederated Tribes of Umatilla)

Author: Summer Lewis (Muscogee and Seminole)

Author: Shaelee Singer (Navajo Nation)
New Campaign with Free Educational Materials
StopSyphilis.org 
Unfortunately, syphilis cases are on the rise. You can increase community awareness by ordering free Stop Syphilis campaign promotional materials (posters, condoms, handouts, stickers, social media) online, to help encourage community members (and pregnant people) to get tested.
Community of Practice
A New Year of Community of Practice
Coming Up: Culture is Power
The fall series of the Community of Practice sessions focused on Healing & Hope. In the new year, the theme will be Take the Power Back! Click below to register and join us! 
In Case You Missed It: The Tribal Relationship
On December 14th, an intergenerational panel came together to discuss the Tribal Relationship - the beauty, complexity, and evolution of Tribal intergenerational relationships. This relationship is at the heart of everything we do in adolescent health. Tune in hear the many voices and words of wisdom from the panel! 
The Latest News
The Indigenous HIV/AIDs Syndemic Strategy
To support the development of comprehensive solutions to end the HIV epidemic in Indian Country & Alaska, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, the Indian Health Service National HIV Program, and a dedicated advisory committee created the Indigenous HIV/AIDS Syndemic Strategy: Weaving Together the National HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis PlansThis document shares emerging practices, existing initiatives, and traditional Indigenous knowledge we can use to holistically address the syndemic of HIV, STIs, and viral hepatitis. 
Center for Native American Youth Publication
Center Us: State of Native Youth Report
The Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute is proud to release Center Us: The State of Native Youth. This report celebrates and honors Native youth and the issues they care about. CNAY is proud to present the Report as a resource and roadmap to help decrease barriers and increase opportunities for Native youth.
NICWA Grandfamilies Toolkit: Helping Children Thrive Through Connection to Family and Cultural Identity
Both inside and outside the foster care system, American Indian and Alaska Native children are more likely to live in grandfamilies - families in which grandparents or close family friends are raising children with no parents in the home - than any other racial or ethnic group. National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) released a free toolkit designed to give resources and tips to child welfare agencies, other government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, so they can better serve American Indian and Alaska Native grandfamilies.
We R Native Gear Store - Now Open!
You asked, we delivered -> The We R Native gear store is now open! This is your chance to get We R Native branded clothing. Whether you rock it at powwows, meetings, or use it for student learning incentives, we got you covered!
 
Hurry, store closes January 25thYou can text the word, "GEAR" to 94449 and Purchase Order (PO) forms are available. Please contact Tommy Ghost Dog for more information- 
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