The “Together Overcoming Diabetes” (TOD) program is a home-based, family-centered intervention designed to address the growing concerns of type 2 diabetes and its impact on American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. First developed with White Mountain Apache and Navajo communities in the Southwest, the intervention was adapted by Ojibwe communities in the Great Lakes, and now TOD expands to the Great Plains.

The program’s primary goal is to help adults living with type 2 diabetes manage their condition while also preventing diabetes among youth in their families. The program emphasizes a culturally tailored approach, adapted to reflect the unique needs and values of Lakota Peoples.

Family Health Coaches use the 8-lesson TOD curriculum, offering hands-on support and regular follow-up. Coaches build relationships and trust, helping participants adopt healthier habits while honoring their values. The program centers intergenerational learning—bringing adults and youth together to share knowledge, strengthen connections, and build a foundation for holistic family wellness.

Through TOD, families are empowered to make positive health changes together. The program supports adults in managing type 2 diabetes and helps prevent it among youth by improving blood sugar, body weight, and overall wellness, while addressing the social determinants of health that disproportionately affect AI/AN populations. By promoting healthy behaviors and providing educational support, TOD seeks to reduce the burden of diabetes and create lasting health improvements across generations.

Stephen Yellowhawk, a project collaborator at Oyate Health Center expressed:

“I am so thankful for the strong partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health’s Together Overcoming Diabetes program. Our Diabetes program and the education we offer has been strengthened to new levels with this partnership”.

Stephen Yellowhawk, MA (Itazipco Lakota)
SDPI Program Director, Okiciyapi Fitness Center
Oyate Health Center

For more information on the TOD Project, please reach out to Dr. Courtney Claussen (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) at cclauss1@jh.edu.