The Navajo Epidemiology Center (NEC) has renewed its data-sharing agreement with the New Mexico Department of Health, strengthening access to updated vital records and improving the ability to monitor health trends within the New Mexico portion of the Navajo Nation.

 

Using newly available data from 2018-2024, NEC conducted an updated mortality analysis. Findings show that unintentional injuries, chronic liver disease, and COVID-19 are among the leading causes of death in the region.

 

This partnership supports more timely, accurate public health data and helps inform community-driven prevention efforts, resource allocation, and health planning to better serve Navajo communities.

View/Download the report to learn more and explore the full findings. (PDF 1 MB)

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CTEC recently concluded the HIV/STI/HCV Capacity Building Project with seven Indian Health Programs. The project combined assessments of clinical and prevention practices with strategic planning and training to support Tribal public health staff.

Through these efforts, more than 700 STI testing kits and “Undetectable = Untransmittable” educational materials were distributed to providers, people living with HIV, and community members.

 

These educational materials are intended to reduce stigma related to HIV, STIs, and HCV while encouraging testing and awareness.

 

In addition to the educational campaign and workforce development activities, CTEC developed a Health Equity Dashboard that highlights trends in STI prevalence across California and serves as a data resource for Tribal communities.

Together, these initiatives strengthen Tribal capacity to turn data into action and support long-term wellness in American Indian and Alaska Native communities across California.

To learn more about CTEC’s ongoing work to advance health equity and improve the AI/AN health across California, visit CTEC’s website.

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The USET Office of Tribal Public Health has developed a new ODMAP Toolkit, a resource designed to help Tribal Nations leverage real-time overdose surveillance to strengthen public health and safety across Indian Country.

 

ODMAP (Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program) is a free, web-based platform that enables first responders, public health agencies, and Tribal Nations to log suspected fatal and non-fatal overdose events in near real time.

 

It includes features such as “spike alerts”, which notify users when a designated area experiences a sudden surge in overdoses, as well as tools for filtering, charting, and layering additional data like Naloxone dispensing and Tribal boundaries to support rapid response and long-term public health planning.

The new ODMAP Toolkit provides a tailored, Indigenous-centered guide to implementing ODMAP across Tribal Nations. Scheduled to roll out this month, the toolkit includes guidance on:

• How to get started with ODMAP
• Using ODMAP data to inform public health strategies
• Preserving Tribal data sovereignty

The USET Office of Tribal Public Health is offering technical assistance and guidance to any Nashville Area Indian Health Service Tribal Nation or Urban Indian Health Organization interested in ODMAP, including support with enrollment, training, and using ODMAP data to strengthen overdose response efforts.

View/Download the ODMAP Toolkit (PDF 912 KB)

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Guided by data from technical assistance requests, the Oklahoma Tribal Epidemiology Center (OKTEC) took meaningful steps to strengthen public health infrastructure across the region.

Tribal Nations voiced a clear need for deeper skills, greater resources, and sustainable systems and OKTEC responded by bringing together more than 100 Tribal leaders and TEC staff for two powerful convenings.

 

These gatherings created space for connection, learning, and shared problem-solving, helping shape a stronger and more resilient future for Tribal public health.

 

Read the full Impact Statement to learn more about this work.

 

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In September, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s (ANTHC) Alaska Native Epidemiology Center hosted a Basic Applied Epidemiology for Public Health Workers training to strengthen public health capacity and infrastructure.  The goal of this training was to provide a practical, engaging, and applicable course focused for public health workers on key public health analysis and investigation methods, including but not limited to descriptive epidemiology, outbreak investigations, and quantitative methods. 

The training brought together participants from ANTHC, Alaska Tribal Health Organizations, the State of Alaska Department of Public Health, and Anchorage Health Department to spend three days in person learning about applied epidemiological methods through a mix of lectures, group discussions, exercises, and case studies.

The agenda included a diverse array of topics, including sessions on:

• Rates, ratios, and proportions,
• Descriptive epidemiology,
• Analytic study design,
• Outbreak investigations,
• Questionnaire design,
• Sampling,
• Measures of association,
• Developing an analysis plan,
• Adverse childhood experiences, and
• Regression & modelling

Following the event, participants provided feedback about the value this training provided to them, including many positive reviews of the content.  Participants shared that this was an “excellent training”, in particular the most useful parts being:

• “Real world examples tied into Alaska relevant scenarios;”
• “Getting practical experience with examples and guided exercises;”
• “Engagement and Alaska Native case studies;”
• “Case studies;” and
• “Networking with other people, learning more about ANTHC Epi, going through some exercises on outbreak investigation and study design;” among more.

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The final event evaluation demonstrated that 100% of respondents found this training to be “good” or “excellent”, and many participants shared their gratitude for the time to connect with other public health workers.