Thursday, March 30, 2023
3/30/2023
The Forest County Potawatomi Community (FCPC or the Tribe) respectfully requests $50,000 from the Center for Disease Control’s Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Umbrella Cooperative Agreement solicitation. With these funds, the Tribe seeks to build the capacity of its Community Health Department (CHD) by expanding Tribal membership’s access to health and wellness resources, increasing engagement in community events, and supporting the involvement of Tribal membership in prioritizing the community’s public health needs, as well as in identifying and implementing methods to address those needs. The Tribe also seeks to build upon the capacity of its CHD workforce through professional development ventures and critical public health education necessary to effectively serve the Tribal community. Notably, FCPC is located in rural, northern Wisconsin. The Tribe consists of approximately 1,600 members, more than 700 of which reside in Forest County and have access to the Tribe’s local health services. More than 900 Tribal members, however, do not live in close proximity to these services. In fact, the Tribe’s reservation lands are spread across more than nine counties in Wisconsin, including Milwaukee County, where a large population of FCPC members reside. This disconnected segment of Tribal membership must either travel hundreds of miles to receive FCPC health services or they must utilize non-FCPC providers. By providing access to an online, technology-based platform, these members can connect with Tribal health resources in a way they currently cannot. While this platform will not replace face-to-face health care, the public health resources provided online will help to bridge the gap between those without ready access to culturally-based health care and the wealth of resources FCPC has to offer. Further, local membership will also have access to the proposed online platform, such that they can become more informed of available resources and more involved in Tribal activities, thus, becoming more invested in their own health, as well. FCPC CHD is on track to become the first Tribal public health department in the State of Wisconsin to be accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). This success is the result of the Tribe’s continual efforts to provide all of the ten essential public health services, as well as achieve PHAB’s twelve domain standards, including, but not limited to, access to care, community engagement, quality improvement, implementation of evidence-based practices, and maintaining a competent workforce. The Tribe proposes to promote additional community engagement, specifically by involving Tribal membership in the assessment of the community’s public health needs and the development of strategic plans to address those needs. With this, the CHD believes that Tribal membership will be more equipped to take ownership of not only their health, but that of the Tribal community as a whole. Further, by supporting the training efforts of FCPC’s CHD workforce to provide optimal care to the community through professional development and education on priority public health topics, the Tribe will strengthen the capacity of its public health program to provide continued services, resources, and overall awareness in the best interest of the Tribal membership served. All of these project components will work cohesively to strengthen the Tribe’s public health program on multiple levels, such that a meaningful, synergistic impact can be realized not only within FCPC Community Health program, but throughout the Potawatomi community.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
