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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Program

Community Health Representative Mini-Cog Screening Pilot

nurses walking in a hallway

The IHS Alzheimer's Program provides funding to support Community Health Representative (CHR) programs to test screenings and other dementia-related services through short-term pilot projects.

The CHR Mini-Cog Screening Pilot is a multi-year project testing how well the Mini-Cog tool works to screen patients for memory and thinking issues in community settings. The project also helps develop a referral process for individuals needing follow-up care.

Project Goals

The CHR Mini-Cog Screening Pilot is designed to:

  • Increase dementia and Alzheimer’s awareness in American Indian and Alaska Native communities
  • Build peer-to-peer learning networks for CHRs
  • Improve data collection and documentation of screenings

Why Are CHRs Important in Dementia Care?

CHRs play a key role f in supporting people with dementia and their caregivers. CHRs can:

  • Promote early detection and diagnosis.
  • Educate communities about dementia and brain health.
  • Connect individuals and families to local resources and support services.

Progress and Next Steps

During the launch of the first six-month CHR Early Dementia Detection Initiative pilot:

  • Six tribal locations across six IHS Areas participated.
  • CHRs conducted 193 dementia screenings.
  • 34 positive outcomes (17.6%) resulted in referrals for follow-up care.

A second round of pilot projects began in 2025.

To learn more about CHRs, visit the CHR program website.