The 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA S.3623) continues to support programs and offer enhanced protections for American Indians and Alaska Natives who experience domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Stalking is recognized as a form of power and control, and often intersects with other victimization types, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and homicide. Categorized as a violent crime under many tribal codes and state laws, stalking impacts nearly 1 in 2 (48.8 percent) American Indian and Alaska Native women at some point in their lifetime (1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men across the U.S. overall). The Stalking, Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC) defines stalking as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their own safety, the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.
For awareness, common tactics used in stalking can include, but are not limited to:
- Unwanted following or watching of an individual.
- Unwanted appearances or showing up in places, such as the person’s home, workplace, recreation center, school, and educational or ceremonial events.
- Unwanted text messages, calls, or posts to social media.
- Unwanted use of technology to track or monitor the individual.
- Leaving strange or potentially threatening items for the individual to discover.
- Unwanted cards, letters, flowers, or gifts,
- Damaging personal property (e.g., cars, phones, clothing, sacred or religious items, etc.),
- Harassment, which includes harassing the individual, their family, or friends.
- Hacking into online accounts to change settings, passwords, or personal information.
The Indian Health Service, along with tribal and urban (I/T/U) facilities, continue to support ongoing awareness efforts against stalking. This year, several I/T/U facilities are raising awareness by hosting educational and tabling events for employees and the community. They are sharing resources with patients and families, and they are enhancing response efforts in collaboration with their local Coordinated Community Response/Multidisciplinary Response Teams.
This year’s SPARC theme for National Stalking Awareness Month is “KNOW IT. NAME IT. STOP IT.” During the month of January, the IHS reaffirms its commitment to raising awareness and supporting prevention efforts against stalking - to Know It. Name It. and Stop It. January 18 is the National Stalking Awareness Month Day of Action. How do you plan to raise awareness and take a stance against stalking on January 18, and every day?
Helpful Resources:
- Stalking, Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC):
- Website: https://www.stalkingawareness.org/
- National Stalking Awareness Month – Know It. Name It. Stop It. and related resources can be found at this link - https://www.stalkingawareness.org/stalking-awareness-month-2025/
- Stalking Response Considerations When Working with Native Communities - https://www.stalkingawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SPARC-Stalking-and-Native-Communities.pdf
- U.S. Stalking Laws & Statutes - https://www.stalkingawareness.org/map/
- Strong Hearts Native Helpline - https://strongheartshelpline.org/
Provider Resources:
- The IHS Forensic Healthcare webpage offers a variety of resources, including provider guidebooks, forensic-related health topics, programs and initiatives, provider resources, training, policies, and a sign-up option for the Forensic Healthcare Listserv.
- The IHS awarded the Forensic Nursing Consultation Program contract to Texas A&M University Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing for providing education, training, and mentoring resources to boost forensic health care related workforce activities across all I/T/U facilities. Through this contract, training modules specific to human trafficking are available through Nurses United Against Human Trafficking (NUAHT).
