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In January, all workgroups convened, and the first all-member meeting of the calendar year took place on Friday, January 24th. Below is a summary of each workgroup session along with updates from the all-member meeting.
We are also pleased to highlight best practices for engaging Tribal Leadership on topics related to social drivers of health. These recommendations were developed by members of the Tribal Health Systems workgroup.
Closed-loop Referral Systems (CLRS)/Data Technology and Standards (DTS)
The CLRS and DTS workgroups were invited to attend each other's workgroup sessions for the month of January. Discussions focused on coding, standardizing domains and current screening tools being used by members. The next steps will be reviewing examples from within the state as well as considering efforts of the Gravity Project.
Meeting highlights:
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Jaffer Traish led a discussion on the importance of coding systems (e.g., Z-codes, CPT, LOINC, SNOMED) for linking social care activity to health outcomes. Link to presentation.
- Roberto Martinez is the point of contact for the HCA's development and implementation of the statewide CLRS. He will continue to bring updates and opportunities for engagement to the NMSDOH-C workgroup meetings. Currently HCA is working on three priorities 1) setting up the governance structure 2) focusing on the IT 3) identifying the roles of MCOs, providers, statewide networks, CBOs and others.
- The CLRS/DTS workgroups responded to the following questions:
- What is the name of the HRSN screening tool your organization uses?
- Has your organization adapted the tool you use in any way? Explain.
- What would like to see in a standardized HRSN screening tool?
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Review the responses to these questions here.
Community Engagement (CE)
The CE workgroup reviewed the newly approved pledge form and best practices in its utilization and implementation. The group also reflected on processes to measure a pledge’s effectiveness or impact and came up with an idea towards an annual process for review. This may be a survey and/or report process about the pledges that members sign.
Operations
The Operations workgroup revised the 2023 logic model. The next step is for the edits to be reviewed by the Steering Committee. Once the logic model is approved, it will be shared with all collaborative members.
Tribal Health Systems (THS)
The THS workgroup expressed their support for the development on an Indigenous Social Drivers of Health curriculum. The group will be reviewing the timeline and identifying key partners at the next meeting.
The THS workgroup is pleased to share recommendations for engaging tribal leadership in discussing social drivers of health. These recommendations were compiled in recognition that many of the Tribal Nations within New Mexico have elected new leaders. They are meant to serve as a guide and foster strong relationships as we collectively work to address social drivers of health in New Mexico.
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Meet Tribal Leaders and Communities Where They Are: Prioritize visiting and connecting with Tribal communities and their programs, meeting with Tribal leadership Council and their appointed reps, chapter house officials (Navajo Nation), and understanding their unique needs and perspectives.
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Regular and Direct Communication: Use direct communication through phone calls, emails, and scheduled in-person and online meetings to foster a transparent and accessible dialogue. In-person communication can go a long way to build relations.
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Leverage Existing Structures: Support existing Tribal health councils, Tribal programs, and state agencies that already interact with Tribal leaders to facilitate communication and dissemination of information.
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Patience and Realistic Expectations: Recognize that building relationships and gaining trust takes time, and not all initiatives will receive immediate support.
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Regular Engagement and Visibility: Maintain consistent presence and engagement in tribal areas, not just during formal meetings but also at community events like feast days to build personal, genuine relationships.
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Training and Education: Offer training sessions co-created and tailored to the specific needs and contexts of different Tribal communities, ensuring their active participation in the creation of these programs.
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Connect with State Departments: Meet with state departments, such as the Indian Affairs Department, Department of Health, Healthcare Authority, who have Tribal Liaisons, to enhance outreach and ensure Tribal leaders receive timely and relevant information.
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Cultural Respect and Humility: Approach interactions with respect and humility, understanding the cultural, social, and political dynamics that influence tribal leadership and governance.
Steering Committee Updates
- The Collaborative’s Charter was updated and approved.
- The Steering Committee will be reviewing the logic model and developing measures for the Collaborative.
Upcoming Workgroup Sessions
- CLRS/DTS Workgroup Meeting - Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 am MT
- Community Engagement Workgroup Meeting - Friday, February 21, 2025, 2:00 pm MT
- Operations Workgroup Meeting - Tuesday, February 25, 3:00 pm MT
- Tribal Health Systems Workgroup Meeting - Thursday, February 27th, 11:00 am MT
For any questions, please contact Danielle at dlucero45@phs.org.
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