CRIHB: Strengthening Public Health Systems In Indian Country - The California Rural Indian Health Board, Inc. (CRIHB) California Tribal Epidemiology Center (CTEC) was established in 2005 and is based out of Roseville, CA. CRIHB is a non-profit Tribal organization operating since 1969 under the Indian Self-Determination Act (PL 93-638). As an Indian Health Service California (IHS) area-wide program, CRIHB CTEC supports the epidemiologic needs of California Tribal and Urban Indian Health Programs, including those of the 109 California Tribes and American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIAN) in urban areas. CRIHB CTEC will target Tribal Health Programs among 58 Tribes within the California Rural Indian Health Board’s (CRIHB) service area. CRIHB CTEC plans to strengthen Tribal data/ information subsidizing the maintenance cost of electronic health record software required for data collection and optimization costs. Annual EHR maintenance and support costs amount to 20% of the original purchase price of licenses and software. Funding to help subsidize these costs will help stabilize Tribal Health Programs using a commercial off the shelf EHR and work towards optimizing data collection, software use, and developing interfaces with other health care systems. In order to conduct surveillance in Tribes to determine trends and health needs, Tribal Health Programs need to maintain and upgrade EHR software and systems interfaces. Through this program, CRIHB CTEC will carry out program capacity building and quality improvement strategies and outcomes within Tribes in order to improve Tribal data and information systems via surveillance capacity expansion. CRIHB CTEC anticipates the following short term and intermediate outcomes that will ultimately build capacity in Tribes to independently identify and address current health issues and decrease the burden of the public health issue(s) identified by the Tribe. Short-term Outcomes: •Improved collection, maintenance, interpretation, and dissemination of Tribal health data •Translation of evidence-based and evidence-informed practices into culturally appropriate public health programs, policies, and services •Increase in the number of data sharing agreements between Tribal Health Programs and Tribes and the CRIHB CTEC. Intermediate Outcome: •Implementation of culturally practice-based evidence programs and services In order to measure how these outcomes are accomplished, CRIHB CTEC will 1) Detail the number of Tribes whose capacity to collect or enhance Tribal health data is improved; and 2) Detail the number of overall culturally appropriate public health programs, policies, or services identified by Tribes. These outcomes will contribute to the strengthening of the Tribes’ public health capacity and capabilities to improve and protect the lives of AIANs and create healthier communities. This process allows for Tribes to continue to take control of their own health that is appropriate for their respective Tribe, while also allowing autonomy and protection of Tribal sovereignty. Estimated number of people to be served as a result of the award of this grant: 55,674
