MDHHS
Indian outreach workers help youth maintain tribal identity
Every day, our Indian outreach workers meet with Native American youth across Michigan, trying to help them maintain their tribal self-identity and their culture.
In doing so, we hope to prepare these children for a successful and bright future
Studies have shown that supporting a youth’s tribal identity results in less risky behaviors, including teen pregnancy, substance abuse and suicide. Indian outreach workers, who assist Native American families in a wide variety of ways, often help solidify tribal identity through role modeling and sharing personal stories with youth and families.