A strengths-based curriculum for Tribal early childhood education to support lifelong health and wellness
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11416748 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A culturally grounded program helps preschool-aged Indigenous children learn traditional foods, language, movement, and wellbeing in tribal education settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $677,719 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD119707-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416748 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Preschool-aged Indigenous children in Tribal early childhood education settings and their families.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside the target communities or those not engaged in Tribal early childhood programs may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project brings a culturally grounded curriculum into Tribal early childhood classrooms to promote lifelong health and wellness. It focuses on Indigenous food stories, language, traditional foods, and movement, aligned with the Anishinaabe lunar calendar to support developmental milestones. By partnering with Indigenous communities in Michigan, the program aims to strengthen community connectedness and child wellbeing from a young age.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could improve health and wellness foundations for Indigenous children and families through culturally meaningful education.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary feedback from pilots suggests positive acceptability and potential benefit, but broader impacts are still being studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wentworth Fournier, Chelsea — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Wentworth Fournier, Chelsea
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.