Maliseets recognized for diabetes program

    Noelle L. Edwards, Diabetes Program Director for the Association of American Indian Physicians recently announced the selection of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Community Diabetes Coalition to receive the honor of Diabetes Model Program for 2008. As a Diabetes Model Program, the Maliseet community will be recognized nationally for their efforts to implement effective diabetes education strategies at the AAIP Annual Meeting in July. During the meeting, the Maliseet Coalition will make a presentation on their outreach efforts and also participate in the Diabetes Breakfast, a networking and partnership building opportunity.
     The AAIP has built strong and lasting partnerships throughout Indian Country with tribal communities that are committed to the elimination of health disparities in Native populations.  The HBMI have been an AAIP Diabetes Coalition Affiliate since 2004. Goals of the Coalition are to promote awareness of the seriousness of diabetes in the local community, motivate the community to address and better manage diabetes through educational health promotion life style interventions and to utilize AAIP as a resource for culturally specific materials, best practice training and assistance.