About

About

Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) work in partnership with Tribes, Tribal Organizations, Urban Indian Organizations (T/TO/UIOs), and Tribal communities. The TECs work to improve the health and well-being of AI/AN people by offering culturally responsive approaches to epidemiologic and public health support. Each TEC is uniquely positioned in their respective regions to provide technical assistance in these and other public health activities to T/TO/UIOs. The TECs often coordinate with the Tribes, the Indian Health Service (IHS), other federal agencies, state agencies, and partners to work towards eliminating health disparities experienced by many AIAN populations.

View/Download the TEC Comprehensive Brochure (PDF 951 KB)

TECs have Seven Core Functions. The TEC program enhances epidemiologic and public health support to AI/AN people and communities by performing seven core functions. These seven functions have remained the core focus of TEC work and each of the 12 TECs structures its work around the following functions to best serve their areas:

  1. Collecting data and monitoring health
  2. Evaluating data and programs
  3. Identifying health priorities
  4. Making recommendations for health service needs
  5. Making recommendations for improving healthcare delivery systems
  6. Providing epidemiologic technical assistance
  7. Providing disease surveillance

TECs are public health authorities. Permanently reauthorized in 2010, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) designated TECs as public health authorities. As public health authorities, TECs can access data, including protected health information, held by the US Department of Health and Human Services for various public health activities.

TECs as Public Health Authorities (PDF 3 MB)

 

MISSION:
Improve the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native people by identifying and understanding health risks and inequities, strengthening public health capacity, and assisting in disease prevention and control.

 

VISION:
We are a strong, interwoven group of centers working together to develop a national Tribal Epidemiology Center narrative; enhanced data access and stewardship; respected multi-directional public health collaborations; and a diverse sustainable funding base. We work together for the betterment of the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people living in a variety of settings in the United States.

 

Seven Facts you need to know about Tribal Epidemiology Centers

Did you know the TECs serve approximately 9.7 million people across the United States? Here are seven facts about TECs:

The 1992 Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) amendments mandated the creation of the TEC program to serve each IHS area. In 1996, the first three TECs were established to serve the Alaska, Phoenix/Tucson, and Bemidji Areas. There are now 12 TECs, with one in each of the IHS areas and one serving UIOs across the country.
Together, the TECs offer services to 574 Tribes, 41 UIOs, and 9.7 million AI/AN people nationwide. Each TEC strives to meet the data and information needs of their areas, as well as address acute and chronic epidemiologic services.
Although “epidemiology” is in the name, the TECs work across all 10 EPHS to support T/TO/UIOs and Tribal communities. TEC work is essential for developing policies and systems and understanding overall community conditions to make progress in achieving optimal health for all.
TECs provide technical assistance to T/TO/UIOs, Tribal communities, states, federal, and other partners. TA includes consultations, resource sharing, data requests/analysis, evaluation, and hands-on support.
TEC staff participate in professional development opportunities to enhance skills. TECs provide training on various topics including epidemiology, health education, community health, grants and project management, evaluation, and data analysis.
TECs rely on grant funding. The core funding began with the IHS and has expanded over time with grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, Office of Minority Health, and many others.
TECs produce and disseminate reports and other publications for Tribal and non-Tribal entities, to monitor health on the Tribal, local, and regional levels. The publications can be used by Tribal leaders, decision-makers, planners, and researchers.