Epidemiology Program for American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and Urban Indian Communities

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The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to strengthen public health capacity and to fund Tribes, Tribal and urban Indian organizations, and intertribal consortia in identifying relevant health status indicators and priorities using sound epidemiologic principles. Work-plans submitted in response to this announcement must incorporate the grantee's desired objectives and demonstrate at minimum, four of the seven Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) core functional areas as outlined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) at 25 U.S.C. Section 1621m(b). Below is a list of the seven core functions of the TECs: (1) Collect data relating to, and monitor progress made toward meeting, each of the health status objectives of the Service, the Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in the service area; (2) Evaluate existing delivery systems, data systems, and other systems that impact the improvement of Indian health; (3) Assist Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in identifying highest-priority health status objectives and the services needed to achieve those objectives, based on epidemiological data; (4) Make recommendations for the targeting of services needed by the populations served; (5) Make recommendations to improve health care delivery systems for Indians and urban Indians; (6) Provide requested technical assistance to Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in the development of local health service priorities and incidence and prevalence rates of disease and other illness in the community; and (7) Provide disease surveillance and assist Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian communities to promote public health. As grantees develop their desired objectives addressing a minimum of four of the core functions as outlined in IHCIA, grantees may include but are not limited to the following activities: research, prevention and control of disease, injury, or disability; assessment of the effectiveness of AI/AN public health programs; epidemiologic analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data; investigation of disease outbreaks; development and implementation of epidemiologic studies; development and implementation of disease control and prevention programs; and coordination of activities of other public health authorities in the region. It is the intent of Indian Health Service (IHS) to fund sufficient TECs to serve Tribes and urban Indian communities in all 12 IHS administrative areas. Each TEC selected for funding will act under a cooperative agreement with the IHS. During funded activities, the TECs may receive Protected Health Information (PHI) for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability, including, but not limited to, reporting of disease, injury, vital events, such as birth or death, and the conduct of public health surveillance, public health investigation, and public health interventions for the Tribal and urban Indian communities that they serve. TECs acting under a cooperative agreement with IHS are public health authorities for which the disclosure of PHI by covered entities is authorized by the Privacy Rule, 45 C.F.R. Section 164.512(b). To achieve the purpose of this program, the recipient will be responsible for the activities under letter B. Grantee Cooperative Agreement Award Activities. Program Office will be responsible for activities under letter A. IHS Programmatic Involvement.

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