The Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System’s (WCHS) Public Health Department proposes an increase in public health resilience by expanding capacity through the Public Health Accreditation process. This will include a collaborative community-wide initiative in certain areas, such as strategic planning, creating an environment to help support the Winnebago community and the Winnebago Public Health Department (WPHD) staff. This request is for $400,000.00 per year, for each of the three-years of the grant. The WPHD proposes to engage in community partnerships to expand upon the Public Health Accreditation work that has already been achieved within a comprehensive planning process. This will enhance the capacity to implement core public health functions, services, and activities to further develop and improve public health management capabilities. Resources and funding for an Accreditation Coordinator’s time, and cost associated with pursing Public Health Accreditation, is needed to become fully accredited.
The WPHD was established in the 1970s through the Indian Self Determination Act (ISDA), with contracting from the Indian Health Service of the Public Health Nursing and Community Health Representative programs. Throughout the years, the department has increased to over 18 field health programs. In 2018, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska entered into a compact under ISDA, allowing self-determination of programs and funding choices. The WPHD has approximately 113 employees with a variety of education levels. The staff is comprised of about 75% Tribal members, not solely Winnebago, but from any federally recognized tribes.
Needs clearly pertaining to the 10 Essential Public Health Services were identified while pursuing Public Health Accreditation. The tribal community evaluated past performance and current capabilities to determine which of these ten services to work on. The WPHD would like to formalize and enhance the training for quality improvement and performance management through a continued relationship with the Public Health Foundation. Secondly, the WPHD would like to network with the Great Plans Tribal Epidemiology Center for an epidemiologist to assist in the analysis of data and provide guidance throughout the data collection process. They would also like to network with the University of Nebraska Medical Center School of Public Health to provide other assistance through this process.
The implementation of these initiatives will be evaluated by a contractor that is ground in Indigenous way of knowing and being, therefore, will be able to relate to our department with an established relationship. The evaluator will be producing pre- and post-tests to gage the knowledge of the staff as they learn through the process. An evaluation report will allow us to make improvements while we are building capacity, changing plans and providing education and training.
This program will be supportive of the current practices, while enhancing and expanding those practices for the WPHD staff. This strong foundation for the WPHD will act as the change agent for the Winnebago community, in decreasing the Indigenous social determinants of health. Cultural protective factors will be woven and incorporated throughout these processes.