Background: In order to effectively plan for community health goals tribes need to have easy access to a variety of local, state and national data specific to Native Americans. This includes population numbers, morbidity and mortality, economics, education and housing. While many tribes use RPMS or other clinical data, demographic data is sometimes difficult to acquire. Methods: Michigan Department of Community Health Vital Records information and U.S. Census information was accessed and then data was sorted by county grouping which corresponded to tribal CHSDAs. Information was acquired from Internet web sites as well as specific software programs designed by state and federal programs. Results: The data was then presented to each of the 11 Michigan Tribes in table, chart, and other graphic formats which illustrated a community profile from which base line date could be easily selected for community planning, reporting, and resource development. Conclusions: Tribal health staff and community planners found the easy access information included in these individual community profiles extremely valuable and time saving when it came to community planning, reporting, and grant writing.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Recognize that specific data/information gathering skills are necessary to effectively plan for community health goals and that Tribes/Urban groups need to have easy access to a variety of local, state and national data specific to Native Americans. This includes population numbers, morbidity and mortality, economics, education and housing. While many Tribes use RPMS or other clinical data, demographic and vital records data are sometimes difficult to acquire. 2. Develop methods to access vital records information and U.S. Census information; sort that information by county grouping which corresponds to Tribal CHSDAs/Urban area. 3. Create individual community profiles which may be presented to Tribes/Urban groups in table, chart, and other graphic formats which illustrate a community "snap-shot" from which base-line data may be easily selected for community planning, reporting, and resource development
Keywords: Information Technology, Community Planning
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, Inc
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.