Community Health

Health & Human Services

The Community Health team strives to facilitate health promotion and disease prevention programs, services, initiatives and events for NHBP Tribal Members and clinic patients.
From prenatal home visiting to health programs for Elders, the Community Health team supports health maintenance, protection and improvement across one’s lifespan.

True Mno Bmadzewen (live in a good way) requires a collective effort from many partners and departments. This collaboration is key in building and sustaining wellness for the next Seven Generations.

Programs and Services

Community Health

Hold it for the Holidays
Provides a seven week program to focus on avoiding weight gain during the holiday season. This program runs shortly before Thanksgiving and until after the New Year. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and employees. Registration is required.
Lunch and Learn
Provides a weekly congregate meal and education session at the Pine Creek Community Center. Lunch and Learn is free for Tribal Elders, $3 for Tribal Members and employees, and $6 for community members. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, NHBP Health Facility patients, employees and community members.
Matter of Balance
Provides an evidence-based eight week fall prevention class. Participants learn fall prevention tips and strength exercises. This program generally runs biannually and alternates locations. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members and NHBP Health Facility patients. Registration is required.
Michigan Indian Family Olympics Training
Provides practice for events found at the MIFO competition. This program runs weekly during June and July. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members and NHBP Health Facility patients. Registration is required.
Personal Action Toward Health
Provides a six week chronic disease self-management program that focuses on controlling chronic health problems like diabetes, heart conditions or asthma. This program typically runs on a biannually and alternates locations. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members and NHBP Health Facility patients. Registration is required.
Winter Meltdown
Winter Meltdown is a six week health and weight-loss competition featuring exercise, nutrition and stress reduction classes. This program runs February through March. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and employees. Registration is required.
We R Native
Provides education for 12 to 18 year olds through the evidence-based We R Native curriculum that teaches youth important topics such as media literacy, sexual education, drug and alcohol prevention, suicide prevention, bullying, healthy relationships and community involvement. This program is run biannually and alternates locations. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and NHBP Health Facility patients. Registration is required.
Light Up the Rez
An annual community 5K and 1 Mile event typically held in June. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, employees and community members. Registration is required.
Light Up the Rez
An annual community 5K and 1 Mile event typically held in June. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, employees and community members. Registration is required.
Annual Health Gala
The Heart Health Gala is an annual semi-formal event highlighting the importance of healthy living and disease prevention. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses and descendants. Registration is required.
Diabetes Case Management
Provides primary diabetic care to help achieve better results and self-management with the assistance of a diabetes case manager. Case management is available on an ongoing basis. This is open to all patients using NHBP for their primary diabetic care and participants must register.
Diabetes Education
Provides a one-on-one session to educate patients and caregivers on various aspects of life with diabetes. This is open to all NHBP clinic patients and support persons. Diabetes Education is available by referral only.
Diabetes in Motion
Provides a self-management incentive program specifically for diabetic patients through which, individuals achieve set self-management indicators, they receive program incentives. This program typically runs throughout the calendar year. This is open to NHBP Health Facility patients who use NHBP for their primary diabetes care. Registration is required.
Diabetes PATH
Provides a six week chronic disease self-management program that focuses on controlling diabetes. The tips learned can benefit people with most chronic health conditions. This program usually runs on a biannual schedule and alternates locations. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members and NHBP Health Facility patients. Registration is required.

Fitness Programs

The NHBP Health and Human Services Department offers a variety of fitness programs and classes to help the community Mno Bmadzewen (live in a good way).

Bike Loan
Provides a bicycle and routes to explore the Pine Creek Indian Reservation. Stop in at the Pine Creek Health Facility to sign up and reserve your bike. Bikes are available April through October. This is available to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees and registration is required.
Fitness Assessments
Provides a one-on-one appointment that assess cardiovascular risk, fitness status and baselines for an individual, resulting in a customized fitness plan. These are available for NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, clinic patients and employees.
Fitness Center Access
Provides on-site fitness centers that feature cardio equipment, nautilus style strength equipment and some free weights. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, clinic patients and employees. Registration and fitness center assessment is required for key FOB access.
Hours of Operations
Grand Rapids Fitness Center
Every Day: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Pine Creek Fitness Center
Monday through Friday: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Fitness Classes
Provides various fitness classes throughout the year at NHBP Fitness Centers including Focus T25, yoga, Zumba, kickboxing, whole person wellness, walking groups, sit n be fit, tae kwon do, body blast and enhance fitness. Classes are offered periodically throughout the year. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, employees, clinic patients and guests.
Fitness Classes
Provides various fitness classes throughout the year at NHBP Fitness Centers including Focus T25, yoga, Zumba, kickboxing, whole person wellness, walking groups, sit n be fit, tae kwon do, body blast and enhance fitness. Classes are offered periodically throughout the year. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, employees, clinic patients and guests.
Nike N7
Provides Nike N7 shoes, which are Native-specific Nike shoes with specialized fit and design.

Select styles are offered at wholesale prices and are ordered quarterly throughout the year. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees.

Girls on the Run
Provides girls in third through fifth grade a 10 week running and self-confidence building program. This runs in the spring at both the Pine Creek and Grand Rapids Health Facilities. This is open to the community and registration is required.
Snow Shoe Loan
Provides snow shows and poles for loan to explore the snow-covered Pine Creek Indian

Reservation. Stop in at the Pine Creek Health Facility to sign up, reserve snow shoes and receive a trail route map. Snow shoes are available December through March, depending on the weather. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees. Registration is required.

Health Education

In order for the NHBP Health and Human Services Department to continue improving the lives of the community, they must educate members of the community on how to improve their daily lives.

Digital Stories

Provides a chance to share a personal health success story. The Health and Human Services Department will help create and publish a personal digital health story for an individual. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees. Sessions are available through appointment only.

Click Here for digital stories archive

Mno Bmadzewen Health Facebook Group

Previously known as the Gwiwenzemen Quarterly Health Publication, NHBP now shares health tips and tricks to help you live in a good way via a Facebook group.

Click Here to view the Facebook group.

Health Education

Learn more about health and disease prevention with a one-on-one appointment with a health educator. Learn more about health conditions like hypertension and prediabetes. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees. Sessions are available by appointment only.

Nutrition Mailer
Learn more about health and disease prevention through the Nutrition Mailer. All clinic patients are eligible to receive a monthly mailing with important information about upcoming programs, a simple, healthy recipe, and tips to help the individual live in Mno Bmadzewen (live a good way).

Click Here for current issues

Health Coaching
Provides success-setting, personal health goals with the assistance of a health coach. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees. Sessions are available by appointment only.
Health Coaching
Provides success-setting, personal health goals with the assistance of a health coach. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees. Sessions are available by appointment only.
Tobacco Cessation
Counseling and Case Management One-on-one commercial tobacco counseling and case management is available through appointment with a health educator. Appointments can be made throughout the year. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees. Appointment is required.
Freedom From Smoking
Provides an eight week commercial tobacco cessation program offered both in group settings and as individual appointments. The group program typically runs semiannually and alternates locations. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, clinic patients and employees. Registration is required.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Provides nicotine replacement therapy that may be used in conjunction with other cessation efforts as determined in collaboration with clients, commercial tobacco cessation case managers and medical providers. Appointments can be made throughout the year. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members or Health Clinic patients. Available by appointment only.

Tribal Member Support

Community Health Representatives are available at both the Pine Creek and Grand Rapids Health Offices and provides home health services including, but not limited to:

  • Home visiting
  • Patient advocacy
  • Medical transition assistance
  • Care coordination services
  • Conducting home health assessments
  • Well checks
  • Home fall risk assessments and offering accommodation

In Home Care Services

Chore Providers offer limited at home help for services such shopping and errands, meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, transportation and friendly reassurance. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members residing on or within close proximity of the Pine Creek Indian Reservation.

Mom, Baby, Child

The Mom, Baby, Child staff work directly with children and parents to continue improving the family members lives. They host play groups every month along with larger events throughout the year to celebrate the precious children’s lives.

Baby Celebration
Welcomes newly born NHBP babies into the Community. This takes place in the spring. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, spouses, descendants, parents, family members and the Community. Registration is required.
Lactation and Breastfeeding Consultation
Provides individual lactation counseling with the Community Health Nurses. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants, mother of NHBP babies and Maternal Child Health Program families.
Developmental Screenings
Identifies strengths and needs early to ensure healthy growth and development. Community Health Nurses are available at both locations for developmental screenings and consultations. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and clinic patients with children who are up to five years old. Participants must be enrolled in the Maternal Child Health Program and services are available by appointment only.
Healthy Start Play Groups
Provides developmentally appropriate activities, outings and even camaraderie with other early childhood families. Healthy Start Play Groups take place monthly at both locations. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and clinic patients. Registration is required.
Nutrition Assessment and Family Nutrition Counseling
Provides individual nutrition assessment and family nutrition counseling. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants, employees and clinic patients. By referral only.
Healthy Start and Tribal Visiting
Provides home visiting services utilizing the Family Spirit Curriculum for clients, prenatal to age five, and provides experiences with the new cultural literacy program, Gikinawaabi.” This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and clinic patients with children who are prenatal to five years old. Participants must be enrolled in the Maternal Child Health Program. Services are available year-round and by appointment only.
Healthy Start and Tribal Visiting
Provides home visiting services utilizing the Family Spirit Curriculum for clients, prenatal to age five, and provides experiences with the new cultural literacy program, Gikinawaabi.” This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and clinic patients with children who are prenatal to five years old. Participants must be enrolled in the Maternal Child Health Program. Services are available year-round and by appointment only.
Child Passenger Safety
Provides a car seat along with installation and safety education. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members and descendants with children, up to 4’8” in height Other federally recognized Tribal Members and clinic patients may be eligible depending on the continuation of the state run program. Services are available by appointment only.
Patient Advocacy and Care Coordination
Provides early childhood patient advocacy and care coordination services and provide connections to appropriate resources. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and clinic patients with children who are prenatal to five years old. Participants must be enrolled in the Maternal Child Health Program. Services are available year-round and by appointment only.
Safe Sleep and Pack’N Play
Provides one Pack ‘n Play per family, based on need while supplies and grant funding lasts. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and maternal child health families with children who are prenatal to five years old. This is open to enrolled families of the Maternal Child Health Program.
Nutrition Prescription Program
The Maternal Child Health Nutrition Prescription Program runs annually throughout the growing season. Enrolled program participants can earn monthly veggie boxes by meeting set program requirements.

Nutrition Programs

Through the use of comprehensive nutrition programs, the Health and Human Services Department continues to work towards Mno Bmadzewen to improve the lives of federally recognized Tribal Members.

Cooking Matters
Provides a six week class for adults to learn strategies and recipes to eat healthy on a budget. This program typically runs biannually at the Pine Creek and Grand Rapids locations. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and health facility patients. Registration is required.
Elders Farmers Market Vouchers
Provides tokens or coupons to participating Elders for the purchase of fresh produce at local farmers’ markets. Farmers’ Market Vouchers are available during the June through August growing season. This is open to NHBP Tribal Elders, registration is required.
Elders Meal Cards
Provides a $100 a month reloadable gift card for the purchase of healthy foods such as produce, dairy and lean meats. Elders also receive a monthly nutrition mailer with tips, education and recipes. This program runs year-round. This is open to NHBP Tribal Elders and registration is required.
Healthy Start and Tribal Visiting
Provides home visiting services utilizing the Family Spirit Curriculum for clients, prenatal to age five, and provides experiences with the new cultural literacy program, Gikinawaabi.” This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, descendants and clinic patients with children who are prenatal to five years old. Participants must be enrolled in the Maternal Child Health Program. Services are available year-round and by appointment only.
Harvest Health Food Program
Provides a four week program that focuses on various healthy-eating topics including clean eating, eating mindfully and eating to celebrate. This program takes place in the fall. This is open to Tribal Members, spouses, descendants and employees.
YMCA Veggie Van
Provides a chance to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from the mobile farmers’ market, which visits the NHBP Grand Rapids location. Times vary seasonally, please call the Grand Rapids Health Facility for the current schedule. This is open to NHBP Tribal Members, employees and Community members.

Rosalind Johnston

Health and Human Services Director