Author(s): Erena Kolb, Roni Knows Gun, Brandie Dodge
Mentor(s):
Institution SUU
Montana State University and the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe collaborated to create a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project called "Healthy Relationships are Sacred". The project aimed to support holistic child well-being by teaching Apsáalooke youth about healthy relationships in culturally consonant ways that centered Apsáalooke cultural values and strengths. The curriculum was developed through ongoing discussions with a wide variety of community members through focus groups, interviews, meetings, and handouts. Additionally, a community advisory board comprised of Apsáalooke leaders, was created to ensure the curriculum addressed the community's specific needs. The resulting curriculum has 10 lessons and each one takes about 30 to 60 minutes to teach. Topics such as respect, friendship, communication, and self-esteem are included in the curriculum to help youth build healthier relationships with family, friends, and their community. The curriculum is designed to be implemented in 5th-grade classrooms within the public school system. To ensure it meets Apsáalooke needs as well as state educational standards, our CBPR team worked on establishing alignment between the co-designed Healthy Relationship curriculum and the Montana Health Education Standards informed by both Montana’s Office of Public Instruction and Indian Education for All. This research presentation will share specific examples from the Healthy Relationships are Sacred curriculum to demonstrate how each lesson aligns with at least one of the eight health standards. It will also share the next steps in our CBPR process including the process of piloting the curriculum and relationship building in public education settings. By combining these cultural teachings with state health guidelines, the curriculum will provide students with the tools to foster positive relationships and make responsible, informed decisions that support their overall well-being.