Addressing Data Inequities in American Indian Communities Through an Environmental Public Health Tracking Pilot Project

Abstract

National and state surveillance systems identify American Indians/Alaska Natives inconsistently and often inaccurately within their data sets. Consequently, communities may not be represented with data at the level of geography needed. Collecting and presenting environmental and health-related data to the public are done by state Tracking Networks. Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC) conducted a groundbreaking 2014 Tribal Environmental Health Tracking pilot project that engaged tribes, an urban Indian community, 3 state health departments, a Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC), and a federal agency. Two other TECs-the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (AASTEC) and Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (NW EpiCenter)-are now modeling GLITEC's project. They will forge active partnerships with at least one tribe and build relationships with state Tracking programs, explore environmental priorities, identify health outcomes of greatest concern for each community, and determine whether environmental or health inquiries can be addressed through state Tracking data. The Tribal Environmental Health Tracking pilot project provides an example of how state public health Tracking programs can be responsive to data inequities, build relationships between tribes/urban Indian communities, and increase their competency for working with indigenous communities.