Native American Health Center facts for kids
The Native American Health Center (NAHC) is a special non-profit organization. It helps Native American people and other communities in California's San Francisco Bay Area. NAHC has been providing important health services since 1972.
The Native American Health Center started in 1972. It was first called the Urban Indian Health Board, Inc. Today, NAHC has several locations. It has two centers in San Francisco, two in Oakland, and one in Richmond. It also runs eight health centers inside schools. NAHC offers many services. These include medical care, dental care, and family support. They also help with nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being. They offer support for young children and families.
Who the Health Center Helps
The Native American Health Center helps many different communities. Anyone can get healthcare services there. You don't need to belong to a specific tribe. Your background or where you live doesn't matter.
The people who visit the center come from many groups. About 37% are Latinx, 21% are Native American, and 20% are African American. Around 12% are Euro American, and 9% are Asian/Pacific Islander. In 2011, the center helped about 11,265 people each year. While everyone is welcome, the center also has special programs and events just for Native people. Their main goal is to "provide complete services to improve the health and well-being of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and people in the nearby communities, respecting their cultures and languages."
The Team at NAHC
The Native American Health Center has about 225 employees. These include people who manage the center and dentists. Many of the employees are Native American, about 36.9%. Other employees are White (20.4%), Hispanic/Latinx (16.5%), Asian/Pacific Islander (18%), and African American (9.3%).
The staff works together to help the community in many ways. They have ten different departments. These include Medical, Dental, and Youth Services. There are also departments for Nutrition + Fitness and School Based Health Centers. They all work to support the health of the community.
Fun Events and Groups
The Native American Health Center is more than just a healthcare center. They also host many social events. These events are especially for Indigenous and Native communities. They focus on culture and community, not just medical needs.
Many groups and events happen at special locations. These include the Sage Center in Oakland. The Circle of Healing is in San Francisco. The Native Wellness Center is in Richmond. These activities are for all ages, from young people to elders.
Here are some of the groups and events:
- Beading Circle
- Cross Stitching Circle
- Men's Drum Circle
- Healthy Living Circle
- Talking Circle
- Elder Group
- Tribal Athletics
- Traditional Arts
- Educational Support
- Cultural Activities and Events
- Young Warriors Society and Young Women's Group
- Family Nights and Outings
- Leadership Development
- Summer Program
- Youth Fellowship
- Youth Council
- Media Classes
The Native American Health Center also hosts the Indigenous Red Market. This is a free community event. It helps Native artists, vendors, and musicians share their work. The market happens on the first Sunday of every month in Fruitvale.
A Look at History
The San Francisco Bay Area has a rich history of Native American people. The Ohlone People, the Coast Miwok, and the Pomo People lived there first. When Europeans arrived in the 1500s, it changed their way of life. The Native American population sadly decreased for a long time.
In the 1950s, a program called the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs' relocation program began. It moved many Native Americans from reservations to cities like San Francisco and Oakland. People were told they would find jobs, homes, and healthcare. While some promises were kept, many services were not good enough. This led to a community that felt left out. Some people went back to their reservations, but many stayed and built new communities in the Bay Area.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Native American communities in the Bay Area started to respond. They wanted to take charge of their own lives and become self-sufficient. New Native American-run organizations were created to help.
Today, the Bay Area has one of the largest groups of Native Americans in the country. People from over 240 different nations live there. In 2010, about 66,443 Native American individuals lived in the five counties of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Indian Relocation Act of 1956 led to many Native Americans moving to the Bay Area. They often didn't know much about city life or where to find help. This need for support and community led to the creation of the Native American Health Center in 1972. Its first location was in San Francisco. It quickly grew to help even more Native Americans in the Bay Area.
