How NAWDIM is incorporating traditional practices and advocacy to support thriving communities across Indian Country.
The Native American Women’s Dialog on Infant Mortality (NAWDIM) nurtures the opportunity for Indigenous infants and mothers to thrive. In 2000, Public Health Seattle-King County (PHSKC) and allies from the African American and Latinx communities realized that infant mortality rates in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community were even higher than the rates for the Black community. These key allies began to convene Native leaders who reached out to other Native mothers, aunties, grandmas, organizers, and direct service providers, who came together to learn and act. NAWDIM has since sought to improve Native infant survival in Seattle/King County through traditional cultural practices such as offering cradleboard making classes, advocacy for mothers and families, and strong networks across Indian Country - including growing relationships with Indigenous birth workers and advocates. Learn more about NAWDIM here.
Read more information about King County Infant Mortality and Washington State Maternal Mortality.
How Consejo Counseling and Referral Service's mobile clinic is paving the way for equitable behavioral healthcare.
The Consejo on Wheels (COW) program is a mobile clinic that brings behavioral health services directly to underserved communities in King County's remote and rural areas. By addressing barriers such as financial limitations, transportation challenges, language differences, and mental health stigma, the COW program ensures access to care for all. Staffed by licensed professionals, the clinic offers a range of services, including crisis intervention, assistance with enrollment, and personalized care coordination. This community-focused initiative ensures that residents across King County have access to culturally and linguistically relevant, responsive care, wherever they are. Learn more about the COW program here.