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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National IHS Public Health Council

Goals/Objectives

Goals

Epidemiology and Workforce Development

GOAL 1: Establish a quality public health data system for epidemiology and surveillance efforts.

Objectives:

  1. Establish the components for an ideal comprehensive data system and submit recommendations to HQ.
  2. Assess solutions for implementation of the comprehensive data system.
  3. Advocate for improvement of data quality (ex., lab data) and data systems where possible.

GOAL 2: Standardize disease surveillance to assess population and community health.

Objectives:

  1. Focus on infectious disease surveillance efforts that align with Agency priorities.
  2. Standardize methodology for infectious disease surveillance and epidemiology across the IHS enterprise – HQ, Area, TEC and local levels.
  3. Assess and document quality of public health data available for epidemiology and disease surveillance.
  4. Efficient dissemination of surveillance and epidemiology products.
  5. Establish strategy for data driven decision making.

Goal 3. Epidemiology Workforce Development

Objectives:

  1. Assess epidemiology capacity across IHS Areas through baseline survey.
  2. Establish a framework that supports close engagement from TECs & Tribal Advisory Committees (TACs).
  3. Develop a proposal to build sustainable infrastructure that strengthens the capacity of local staff through ongoing investment in and implementation of training.
  4. Support roll out of pilot training program modeled after CDC developed Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP).

Environmental and Occupational Health

GOAL 1: Provide information to tribal communities, partners, and clinical staff on the risk factors that contribute to asthma triggers/symptoms.

Objectives:

  1. Identify environmental factors that contribute to asthma in tribal communities particularly related to indoor air quality and outdoor sources of pollution that contribute to respirable particulate matter.
  2. Develop an online educational session and training material to assist clinicians with referrals to community partners that can assess patient homes and communities for sources of pollution that contribute to asthma.

GOAL 2: Identify and partner with health practitioners to assist tribal communities with adaptation and response activities to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Objectives:

  1. Establish environmental policies that support our IHS Service Units regarding heat and other environmental disadvantages.
  2. Develop training material and resources to eliminate Environmental disadvantages, assisting tribal communities responding to the effects of the changing environment (extreme heat, particulate matter from wildfires, vector control, and health disparities).

Health Promotion and Wellness

GOAL 1: Promote health and well-being through partnerships and collaborations.
Objectives:

  1. Assist communities to adopt healthy behaviors for all ages through their lifespan utilizing co-design concepts.
  2. Support public health initiatives to incorporate/strengthen public health policies.
  3. Facilitate effective communication about health factors to assist with health improvement.

GOAL 2: Strengthen health communication strategies through current evidence-based methods.
Objectives:

  1. Provide at least one assessment/evaluation to capture health needs of youth.
  2. Develop at least two culturally relevant seasonal and/or monthly campaigns.
  3. Utilize current data for public health information and initiatives.
  4. Use evidence-based health and wellness communication methods to convey important and relevant information to support improved health outcomes.
  5. Develop monthly awareness messaging and public health alerts relevant to AI/AN communities.