Cooperative Agreement H1H8IHS0032

The Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service awarded a $199,004 cooperative agreement to Indian Family Health Clinic of Great Falls Inc. on September 1, 2026, under the Indian Health Service Health Management Development Program (CFDA 93.228).

The recipient will implement Healing Through Memory, a culturally responsive dementia care initiative for American Indian and Alaska Native elders over a three-year period ending August 31, 2028. Key deliverables include cognitive screening implementation during wellness and annual visits for patients age 55 and older, launching caregiver talking circles, training all clinical staff in dementia-informed practices, training a registered nurse as a memory navigator, and developing a culturally grounded dementia toolkit designed for replication across urban Indian health organizations. The project addresses five primary drivers of dementia care: detection and diagnosis, ongoing care and support, caregiver engagement, workforce development, and education. The clinic will leverage existing partnerships with local health systems, tribal programs, and Alzheimer's organizations to strengthen care coordination. Evaluation will track increased cognitive screening rates, new dementia diagnoses, caregiver engagement levels, and reductions in emergency care utilization.

Work is performed in Great Falls, Montana. Indian Family Health Clinic is a minority-owned, nonprofit urban Indian health provider serving American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Great Falls area.