Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) work in partnership with the local or area Tribes to improve the health and well-being of their Tribal community members by offering culturally-competent approaches that work toward eliminating health disparities that are faced by AI/AN populations. Accomplishing this often requires the TECs to work with a coordinated approach with the Tribes, the Indian Health Service (IHS), other federal agencies, state agencies, and often academic institutions throughout the country.

Tribal Epidemiology Centers provide various types of support and services due to the variation of the TECs organization structure, divisions, Tribal populations, and their mission and goals. There are currently 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers in the United States.

The TECs recently celebrated their 20th year working to improve public health capacity and the availability of valid and reliable data in AI/AN populations. Currently, the TECs serve all 12 IHS Areas and the Urban Indian population.

Mission:
To improve the health of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) by:

Identifying and understanding health problems and disease risks

Strengthening public health capacity

Developing solutions for disease prevention and control

Vision:

Increased awareness about public health needs in Indian Country
Strengthening capacity & the practice of public health in Indian Country
High level, responsive expertise on public health subject matter & methods
Integrating public health practice into IHS/Tribal clinical & health services
Continuous public health strategy & innovation
Expanded & enhanced strategic partnerships
Network of proactive, responsive to TECs or Tribes & regions

7 Core Functions History Publications Subcommittees Success Stories TECPHI

Tribal EpiCenters

Tribal EpiCentersMonday, March 27th, 2023 at 5:28pm

We are so excited to highlight all the great work that happens at Tribal Epidemiology Centers across the country! Stay tuned over the next few months for a series of success stories from TECs and their member Tribes.

First up is the School Food Institute with Rocky Mountain TEC. In 2022, the Rocky Mountain Tribal Epidemiology Center (RMTEC) formally partnered with the Chef Ann Foundation, No Kid Hungry, and the Coalition to End Childhood Hunger to bring a comprehensive diabetes prevention approach to the Tribal schools in the RMTEC region. With the help and expertise of these partners, RMTEC aims to transform Tribal school food programs at the local level through diabetes education and training of school food service workers. The RMTEC School Food Institute sponsors a set of online courses offered by the Chef Ann Foundation that provides professional development and training on successful “scratch-cook” operations in schools, giving school food service professionals the tools and knowledge to make fresh, healthy school meals for its students and staff. In April 2022, RMTEC staff and staff from the Chef Ann Foundation visited the Blackfeet and Flathead Tribal sites to provide onsite scratch-cook training. The chefs trained school food service staff on making simple, healthy meals with fresh ingredients and served the meals in the schools. Staff also received education and training on using locally available ingredients. RMTEC hopes to expand these partnerships to include all Tribal sites in the Rocky Mountain region over the next few years.

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