Overarching Question What can TECs do now that they were not able to do before TECPHI funding?
Thanks to TECPHI funding, the Alaska Native EpiCenter was able to use infrastructure built in the first two years of TECPHI to stay connected virtually when the COVID-19 global pandemic forced the entire department to work from home. Thanks to TECPHI, we already had tools like Zoom, Slack, and Trello in place to efficiently and effectively shift our work virtually. The infrastructure we built over the past few years allowed us to connect and share information no matter where we work.
Photo Narrative – Year 3
EQ1 – AWARENESS To what extent has awareness of the services and expertise offered by TECs increased as a result of TECPHI activities?
Alaska Native EpiCenter staff continue to participate in Alaska’s State Health Improvement Plan, Healthy Alaskans 2030 (HA 2030). TECPHI Year 3 coincided with the first official year of the HA2030 initiative. Participating from HA2030’s beginning allowed TECPHI staff to expand the data and evaluation services offered to this important partnership between the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the State of Alaska. These expanded services and expertise mean HA2030 will now have an evaluation for the first time, giving the initiative the opportunity over the next ten years to continually receive feedback to help improve the health and well-being of all Alaskans.
Photo Narrative – Year 3
EQ2 – CAPACITY To what extent has the capacity of TECs to collect and monitor data on health status of Tribal populations increased as a result of TECPHI funding?
In TECPHI Year 3, the Alaska Native EpiCenter worked collaboratively with ANTHC’s Injury Prevention program to produce the Alaska Native Injury Atlas - 3rd Edition. Thanks to TECPHI, this report utilized data resources not previously available. This resulted in a more robust report that provided greater depth and detail than earlier editions.
Photo Narrative – Year 3
EQ3 – TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE To what extent has technical assistance been delivered by TECs to Area partners and organizations to develop capacity in the use of data for surveillance and epidemiology and health priority setting as a result of TECPHI funding?
In TECPHI Year 3, Alaska Native EpiCenter continued its partnership with ANTHC’s Dental Health Aide Therapy (DHAT) program. For each year of TECPHI, EpiCenter staff have provided introductory public health, epidemiology, and evaluation training to DHAT cohorts. This year, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the training successfully pivoted last minute from in-person to virtual with zero issues. Moving the training successfully to a virtual setting was only possible because of the strong partnership built in TECPHI’s first years.
Photo Narrative – Year 3
EQ4 – PARTNERSHIPS To what extent have partnerships between TECs and Area partners and organizations been enhanced or established as a result of TECPHI funding?
The Alaska Native EpiCenter continues to focus on enhancing its relationships with key stakeholders from its Scientific Advisory Council (SAC). Thanks to the partnerships we have built with SAC members over the years, when the COVID-19 global pandemic occurred, we were still able to collect valuable feedback from our SAC stakeholders by conducting phone interviews and completing an interview summary report for internal department use. While we typically hold an annual in-person SAC meeting, EpiCenter staff noted how the report collected additional background information typically not collected during the in-person meetings. Programs stated the information in the report would be useful in enhancing our partnerships with Tribal and non-Tribal organizations.
Photo Narrative – Year 3