In Montana, urban Indian healthcare is evolving through community empowerment, cultural integration, and advocacy for essential policies like Medicaid expansion.
In this episode, Lisa James, Director of Development at the Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health (MCUIH), and Rachel Arthur, Executive Director of the Indian Family Health Clinic (IFHC), talk about the roles of their organizations in supporting urban Indian health services. Rachel highlights how the MCUIH provides crucial technical assistance, advocacy, and Medicaid support to urban Indian healthcare facilities like the IFHC, which is especially critical during election years when policies like Medicaid expansion are at risk. Lisa shares how MCUIH initiatives focus on empowering communities through workforce development, data management for grant applications, and cultural integration in healthcare services. Throughout the conversation, both emphasize the importance of trust and cultural sensitivity in healthcare, encouraging new workers to approach Native communities with respect and an open mind.
Listen to explore how Montana’s urban Indian healthcare is empowering communities and preserving culture!