Tribal EpiCenter Consortium
Mission:
The mission of the Tribal Epicenter Consortium (the Consortium or TECC) is to improve the collection and dissemination of high-quality health data for AI/AN communities by building a national network of tribal EpiCenters, fostering community-based and culturally appropriate data collection practices, and increasing the capacity of tribal EpiCenters to affect culturally relevant policy change.
Goals:
Our short term objective is to create a consortium of three tribal epidemiology centers (EpiCenters), to share the tools and experience of existing and prior data collection projects and interventions in Indian country. In the long term, the establishment of a national network among all EpiCenters will serve to maximize resources and experience, and further build tribal epidemiologic capacity with community-based participatory methods.
Strategies:
* Establish a formal collaboration between two newer EpiCenters (California and Oklahoma) and one of the longest standing and most productive EpiCenters (Northwest)
* Share tools and experience of existing and prior data collection projects and interventions in Indian country
* Promote the standardization and culturally competent use of health data to improve the health of Native people
* Establish a number of mechanisms for ongoing consultation with constituent tribes and a list of joint projects, allowing each EpiCenter to benefit from the experiences and expertise of the others
Tribes Served:
Together, the current project partners serve over 175 tribes in 7 states:
* Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (Lead Agency), Portland, Oregon (serving Idaho, Oregon, Washington)
* Southern Plains Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center, Oklahoma City Area Inter-Tribal Health Board, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (serving Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas) * California Tribal Epidemiology Collaborative, California Rural Indian Health Board / Indian Health Council / Riverside San Bernadino County Indian Health, Sacramento, California (serving California)
Funding:
Project activities are funded by the Office of Minority Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
