COPE Program | Research

Research & Evaluation

Our Strategy

"The power to overturn long-standing, historical health inequalities lies inherently in Native communities themselves"

Community members guide us in all stages of research and evaluation, from planning to evaluation to dissemination

Core Values In Our Research and Evaluation Team

Empowerment

Our research is led by community members with lived experience
We seek to empower our partners with the data they need to lead change
We train community members in research and evaluation

Respect

We honor the fact that data belongs to Navajo Nation
We acknowledge our partners’ contributions to our work
We respect community consent by sharing information back

Learning

Our research ideas are generated through community listening
We are constantly learning from our partners and our data

Teamwork

Our research and evaluation team works closely with program staff and implementing partners in collaboration to demonstrate impact through evaluation of activities – collectively across COPE programs and externally with partners
Our team is here to answer questions that are meaningful to the community – our values are aligned by our community partners who guide our work

Commitment

COPE is a community-based participatory program committed to systems-levels long-term health changes and local-capacity building across Navajo Nation
We see program evaluation and research as a tool to catalyze and drive long-term change and impact through local-capacity building
We are committed to sharing findings back to the community and to bi-directional learning

Honesty

COPE engages with all levels of program stakeholders and partners to decide how and what information is collected, shared and disseminated
We let the community know what we’re doing at all stages of research and what program activities may not be feasible as well as maintain strong partnerships through the sharing of data
Maintain strong relationships with Navajo IRB and are guided and informed by NNHRRB’s leadership

Our Key Findings

Strengthening CHR Program and Health Systems

What We Evaluated:

Integrating CHRs with provider team and providing structured health outreach to individuals living with diabetes

What We Found:

Significant improvements in blood sugar and cholesterol levels

Greater utilization of primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services

Stronger patient
self-reliance

Deeper collaboration and work satisfaction among clinic providers and CHRs

Publications

Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment: A Collaborative Initiative for Chronic Disease Management in Navajo Nation

Cultural Elements Underlying the Community Health Representative - Client Relationship on Navajo Nation

Glycemic Control and Healthcare Utilization following Pregnancy among Women with Pre-existing Diabetes in Navajo Nation

Integrating Community Health Representatives with Health Care Systems; Clinical Outcomes Among Individuals with Diabetes in Navajo Nation | Published 11/27/2019

Strengthening the Role of Community Health Representatives in the Navajo Nation

Primary Care and Survival among American Indian Patients with Diabetes in the Southwest United States: Evaluation of a Cohort Study at Gallup Indian Medical Center, 2009-2016

Food Systems Strengthening

What We Evaluated:

We evaluated the impact of the Navajo Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program on health outcomes, and the impact of the Healthy Navajo Store Initiative (HNSI) on access to healthy food and purchasing behavior

What We Found:

More children had healthy body mass index after completing in the FVRx Program

Both women and children reported increased fruit and vegetable consumption due to FVRx

Stores that took part in the HNSI had more fruit and vegetable promotion and local shoppers bought more fruits and vegetables at HNSI stores

Publications

Healthy Stores Initiative Associated with Produce Purchasing on Navajo Nation

published 11/7/2019

The efforts described on this page are supported by grants to COPE 501(c)3 and grants to our partner organizations, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Partners In Health.