Native Center for Behavioral Health

PI & Director: Dr. Anne Helene Skinstad

The Native Center for Behavioral Health is a research center at the University of Iowa College of Public Health committed to developing programs to support the behavioral health workforce in Native American and Alaska Native communities across the country. Current projects include a Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) initiative, the National American Indian and Alaska Native Childhood Traumatic Stress Center – CAT II, Breathing Life into Motivational Interviews – a program offered to all nine Tribal Communities in the State of Oregon, and a Tribal College and University Initiative. Technical assistance is provided to Tribal and Urban Indian communities and programs.

The University of Iowa Prevention Research Center

PI & Director: Dr. Rima Afifi
Deputy Director: Heidi Haines

The University of Iowa Prevention Research Center for Rural Health (PRC-RH) was first funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2002 with the mission of addressing disparities in and across Midwestern communities to promote well being. The PRC-RH conducts research to develop strategies that work and can bring long-term benefits to rural communities; and offers training and technical assistance to local and State public health agencies and community-based organizations. The current PRC-RH main research project focus (2024-2029) is on increasing smoking cessation among young adults in micropolitan communities in Iowa (Co-PIs: Drs. Mark Vander Weg, Aaron Seaman).