More than 140,000 Native Americans from over 200 recognized nations and tribes call Los Angeles County home, creating California’s largest urban Indigenous community. There is only one health center that exclusively serves that community: United American Indian Involvement, Inc. (UAII). Trust is a basic component of health care, and for many years UAII has been the only place many American Indians and Native Alaskans trust.
In almost 50 years, UAII has grown from a small self-empowerment community center into a multi-million dollar holistic clinic that treats physical, mental and behavioral health, addiction recovery as well as classes and activities for women, elders and youth. And soon, oral health.
The importance of oral health for Native American communities is masked by other health concerns, notably diabetes and kidney disease. Native Americans are at a greater risk of diabetes than any other group in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dental care is a key element of diabetes treatment; high blood sugar can cause tooth decay, cavities and gum disease. In addition, national research shows tooth decay among Indigenous children is as much as five times that of their peers. Tooth decay and gum disease “influence overall childhood health and well-being.”
A new office
The decision to build a dental office inside UAII headquarters in Los Angeles’ Echo Park was informed by research and driven by need. While UAII doctors and counselors had been referring patients to dentists in Los Angeles, staff began hearing from the IHS, or Indian Health Service, clinics in Santa Barbara and San Diego….
Read the full article here
