The Cradleboard Project will develop and conduct community-based workshops that bring together the crafting of traditional cradleboards with culturally tailored learning for families on child raising, child development, and safe sleep practices. The workshops will reach a total of 180 families across Tribal communities in Arizona (Navajo Nation; White Mountain Apache) and Minnesota (White Earth, Leech Lake, Red Lake Nation). The two-year project timeline is January 2025 through December 2026.
- PLANNING: Identify local partners and advisors to engage in each community; recruit workshop facilitators; develop workshop content and structure, including both cradleboard making content and health education; recruit caregivers to participate in the workshops.
- IMPLEMENT WORKSHOPS: Implement community-based, group-based workshops for new and expecting parents. These workshops will combine the crafting of traditional cradleboards with culturally tailored health education for families. The workshops will facilitate family-based conversations about cradleboard crafting and child-rearing practices.
- REFINEMENT OF WORKSHOPS: During Year 1, pilot test the content, structure, and attendance of the workshops; during Year 2, implement the lessons learned during the pilot phase to enhance the workshops and serve a larger number of participants.
- MONITORING AND FEEDBACK: Track all program processes and facilitator notes from each workshop; administer pre-post feedback surveys with workshop participants to monitor: 1) satisfaction with workshop content and structure; 2) engagement in traditional cradleboard crafting; 3) cradleboard use in their home; 4) knowledge and awareness about traditional cradleboard making practices, safe sleep guidelines, and child development. Some participants may be invited to participate in follow-up interviews or discussions to further understand their experiences with the workshops.
PROJECT DIRECTORS
Navajo Nation: Crystal Austin ckee1@nicole-gero
White Mountain Apache: Novalene Goklish ngoklis1@etennes1jhu-edu
Minnesota partners: Karla Decker Sorby ksorby1@jh.edu