American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have been sharing oral histories for centuries. This strong tradition of story telling provides an excellent opportunity for the communication of family health history. Diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer typically run in families, and knowing what you are predisposed to can help you understand health risks and assist you in making healthy lifestyle choices.
To encourage urban AI/AN families to collect and use family health history, the UIHI, in collaboration with Genetic Alliance, launched the Family Health History Project. Working with our community advisory board, project staff at the UIHI adapted a national family history tool for the urban AI/AN population. The tool is comprised of two guide books that assist in the collection of family health history and outline the relationship between genetics and disease risk.
The UIHI would like to encourage all of the urban Indian health organizations to distribute these books to interested clients and community members. Copies of the books will be mailed to each of the 34 urban Indian health organizations across the country on Wednesday, June 24th. You can also download electronic copies of the guide books here:
Book 1: Does it Run in the Family? A Guide to Family Health History (PDF)
Book 2: Does it Run in the Family? A Guide for Understanding Genetics and Health (PDF)
Now, we are excited to announce the opportunity for individuals to create and personalize their own tool using Genetic Alliance’s new online family history guide, “Does It Run In the Family?” This tool will help people collect their family health history information and share it with relatives and healthcare providers. The tool has many parts that can be customized: personal stories about health, pictures of familiar faces, questions to ask relatives, disease information, local resources, quotes, and more. You can customize the tool then print or distribute electronically.
If you would like to request additional information or have any questions, please contact:
Meghan Jernigan, MPH
Project Coordinator
meghanj@uihi.org
