What is a Tribal Epidemiology Center?
The 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) offer epidemiologic and public health support to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities, Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and urban Indian organizations (T/TO/UIOs). The TECs recently celebrated their 25th year working to improve public health capacity and the availability of valid and reliable data in AIAN populations.
Funded in part by the Indian Health Service, TECs manage public health information systems, investigate diseases of concern, manage disease prevention and control programs, and respond to public health emergencies.
The TECs provide services to an estimated 574 Tribes1, 41 UIOs2, and 9.7 million AIAN people3 across all 12 IHS Areas.
12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers
MISSION:
Improve the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives by identifying and understanding health risks and inequities, strengthening public health capacity, and assisting in disease prevention and control.
What is Epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the study of the origin and causes of diseases in a community. It is the scientific method of investigation problem-solving used by disease detectives— epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, statisticians, physicians, other health care providers, and public health professionals—to get to the root of health problems and outbreaks in a community.**Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). The Importance of Epidemiology. CDC 24/7.
1The 574 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in the United States, February 8, 2023. Retrieved from https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47414
2Overview of Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). Retrieved from https://ncuih.org/uio-directory/
32020 Census Illuminates Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Country. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/improved-race-ethnicity-measures-reveal-united-states-population-much-more-multiracial.html