PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: April Hale at [email protected]

NIHB Announces Third Tribal Public Health Cohort for Strong Systems, Stronger Communities Initiative
WASHINGTON, DC—November 13, 2020—The National Indian Health Board (NIHB), in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is pleased to welcome eight Tribal health departments into the third cohort of the Strong Systems, Stronger Communities (SSSC) initiative, which is designed to increase public health capacity and programming in Indian Country. With SSSC funding, NIHB offers support and technical assistance to sub-awardees to complete projects that help to satisfy national public health accreditation standards, improve performance practices and/or promote interconnection across the public health system to expand population health in Tribal communities.
“The Strong Systems, Stronger Communities opportunity for Tribes is an extension of the National Indian Health Board’s commitment to strengthening Tribal public health systems and we recognize that Tribal health institutions are an integral part of providing that critical work to educate and protect our Tribal communities,” said NIHB CEO Stacy A. Bohlen. “The path in strengthening public health capacity is unique for each Tribe and NIHB works to provide Tribes with the tools, information and resources to build a public health system that is accredited, supports healthcare workers, connects state and Tribal relations and exercises sovereignty. Our people deserve a healthy system that is designed for their needs.”

As part of the SSSC, NIHB and CDC will provide sub-awardees a financial award along with technical assistance, opportunities for peer-to-peer networking and access to national networks and resources. About half of the cohort will work on a self-assessment of their department’s current need and ability to meet public health accreditation standards as defined by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). This group will also examine the benefits and processes of accreditation and consider how their department can undertake the activities to achieve accreditation. Health department staff will learn about accreditation through webinars, conference presentations, networking or non-specific venues. The other participants will work on specific tasks looking at relationship building, quality improvement evaluation, workforce trainings, strategic planning, building performance management systems or improving data systems.

All participants have an opportunity to share and learn from one another through the TALC (Tribal Accreditation Learning Community), which is a peer learning group coordinated by NIHB. TALC is open to all Tribes interested in learning about public health performance improvement, system improvement and public health accreditation in Tribal communities.
Strong Systems, Stronger Communities (SSSC) Initiative Tribal Sub-awardees:

Self-Assessment Cohort
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
Hualapai Tribe
Ramah Band of Navajos
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes

Performance/System Improvement (PI/SI) Cohort
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
Forest County Potawatomi Community
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Yurok Tribe

The SSSC project is made possible by funding and support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, and is administered by NIHB. More information on SSSC, including specific details on awardee projects, resources for PI/SI and information about TALC can be found at https://www.nihb.org/tribalasi/index.php.

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National Indian Health Board | www.nihb.org | 202-507-4070
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Reach the NIHB COVID-19 Response Team, contact [email protected]
For media inquiries, contact April Hale at [email protected]