Nearly 60% of American Indians reside in urban areas, yet there has never been a comprehensive study of their health status or health care needs. This paper will provide a follow-up to last year's presention in which we reported on the collaborative and participatory action research strategies of the Southern California American Indian Health Working Group. Since 1997, this collection of community leaders and public health researchers have focused on addressing data deficits in the urban Indian population in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. With the understanding that data drive policy, the group's first task was to conduct a state-sponsored pilot study to collect information regarding health status, beliefs, and access to care. The next step was to design a larger study that would include a valid and reliable survey instrument and a sampling strategy that could provide generalizable results. This paper will outline the findings of this second step in our efforts to develop baseline data on health care needs of urban American Indians. The methods included performing 30 Key Informant interviews with leaders among the California American Indian population and conducting a conference that included community leaders and survey experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Institute, and the Indian Health Service. This study has set the stage for conducting a health care needs assessment for urban American Indians in California that can serve as a model for replication in urban centers in other states.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to assess the methodology for a campus/community partnership in a baseline health needs assessment. Participants should be able to evaluate its usefulness and replicability in other urban Indian contexts
Keywords: Community Collaboration, Community-Based Partnership
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Center for Health Policy and Research, University of California, Irvine
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.