Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board - Native Boost: Strengthening Vaccine Confidence and Demand in Tribal Communities through Communication, Education, Outreach - The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board’s (NPAIHB) Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (NWTEC) is applying for the funding opportunity Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services in Indian Country (CDC-TO-23-0001). NPAIHB is a tribal organization as defined by Public Law 93-638, and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, that is directed by and serves the 43 federally-recognized American Indian tribes of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. NPAIHB is a regional tribally-designated organization that serves tribes in HHS Region 10 and the Portland IHS Area. Our mission is to eliminate health disparities and improve the quality of life of American Indians and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people by supporting Northwest tribes in their delivery of culturally appropriate, high-quality healthcare. Since 1997, NPAIHB has housed the NWTEC, one of the 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers that provide epidemiology and public health services to tribal and urban Indian organizations nationwide. NWTEC proposes to conduct activities under two strategies: 1. Foundational Public Health Capabilities a. Activity 1: Engage with Northwest tribes on a biweekly basis through a virtual Tribal Public Health Community of Practice (CoP) to provide training, technical assistance, and peer-to-peer learning b. Activity 2: Develop resources and guidance for developing tribal public health programs, including support for workforce recruitment, development, and retention; as well as identifying and addressing capacity and expertise gaps to ensure effectively delivery of essential public health services 2. Data Modernization a. Activity 1: Enhance the use and capabilities of informatics in public health by investing in tools to improve the management, analysis, visualization, and reporting of public health data b. Activity 2: Collect and share data that provide information on conditions of public health importance and health status of the population At the end of the five-year project period, the NWTEC will have achieved the following short-term outcome: improved capacity to implement public health programs and services to address prioritized public health activities in AI/AN communities. If successfully funded through this application, the NWTEC will strengthen the public health infrastructure and capacity of Northwest tribes by developing infrastructure, reducing data access barriers, and increasing strategic partnerships between tribal, local, state, and federal partners. Under both the strategies addressed in our application, the NWTEC will take direction from our tribal partners to ensure that the services provided meet the cultural and infrastructure needs of the tribes.
