About Us
The Black Hills Center for American Indian Health (BHCAIH) was incorporated in South Dakota 1998, for the purpose of conducting those activities that will lead to the enhanced physical, mental, spiritual, and cultural health of American Indians and American Indian tribes and communities. The Center's vision statement is "Toward Healthier Nations." BHCAIH has been accorded 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Center's activities are organized within four distinct missions (listed in order of present importance):

Research

BHCAIH will undertake original scientific and epidemiology (public health) research focusing on import American Indian health problems. The Center has received approximately $7.8 million in five NIH peer-reviewed grants in the last 28 months. The first grant constitutes a large, prospective study of cancer and associated dietary, lifestyle, and behavioral risk factors among a cohort of American Indians and Alaska Natives. BHCAIH is working with both the Cheyenne River and Oglala Sioux Tribes on this grant.
 
As one of the first seven grantees under the unique Native American Research Centers for Health initiative/partnership between NIH and the Indian Health Service, BHCAIH's second grant will examine Lakota Sioux attitudes toward biomedical research. This cross-sectional study will use a set of hypothetical research vignettes differing by one or more key factors (e.g., study type, benefits/risks, remuneration, PI, etc.).
 
Tribal college students, faculty, and staff on the three Lakota reservations in western South Dakota will be interviewed.
 
The Center's third grant is for a randomized clinical trial to prevent cardiovascular disease among American Indians with type II diabetes mellitus. This first-ever clinical trial among American Indians will endeavor to prevent heart disease through intensive risk factor management, well below even current guidelines for LDL cholesterol and mean blood pressure.
 
All three of these studies build on the excellent rapport that the Center maintains with its local American Indian tribes and communities, and the unique strengths of its investigative team. These and other similar research will translate into immediate and sustained benefits to American Indian peoples, tribes and communities. (50% Center activity)

Education

BHCAHI shall work to enhance the representation of American Indian students within health professions training programs (e.g., medical and nursing schools). The Center plans to apply for a Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) grant next year to help support this effort. This effort may include the provision of educational scholarships to appropriate students. Additionally, the Center plans to serve as a training center for tribal health care staff (e.g., public health nursing) in necessary clinical techniques and advancements, treatment models, behavioral health models, and health care administration topics. (20% Center activity)

Service

The Center will work with American Indian tribes, tribal health care systems and tribal communities to enhance their capacity for all phases of health care delivery, including the conduct of health research. This work will occur through training built into each of our grants and the dissemination of research results, as well as more formal types of consultation. This work is increasingly necessary and important as American Indian tribes assume control and governance of their health care systems. Both BHCAIH staff and subcontractors will perform this activity. (20% Center activity)

Philanthropy

The Center has the long-term goal of providing research to tribes, tribal health care systems, and tribal communities in order that they may conduct their own research or unique planning activities to advance or build upon the Center's own goals. This activity will be non-political and will most likely be organized at a later date through a subsidiary foundation. BHCAIH is presently preparing the establishment of its first student scholarships for promising reservation-based American Indian students. (10% Center activity)