254103 Importance of an Indigenous Public Health Workforce

Wednesday, November 2, 2011: 12:30 PM

Ralph Forquera, MPH , Urban Indian Health Institute, Seattle Indian Health Board, Seattle, WA
We urgently need specific public health community-based interventions delivered by an informed and competent workforce to address the growing health crisis that Indigenous populations endure. When interventions are created to meet the needs of the most vulnerable (e.g., geographically, politically, socio-demographically), they have application to the public at-large and therefore the health of the entire nation will improve.

The Seattle Indian Health Board has celebrated over 35 years of excellence in healthcare, offering clinical, community, chemical dependency, clinical support and traditional Native health services. While remaining true to its mission, SIHB has expanded its services to include the Urban Indian Health Institute, a public health and research center, and the Family Medicine Residency Program, which emphasizes the importance of returning Indigenous Physicians to their communities.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Describe 3 examples of successful strategies to foster the public health workforce. Identify 2 ways Indigenous public health workforce will strengthen the overall delivery of public health services.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked in the field of public health with indigenous populations for nearly 40 years and with particular expertise in working with urban American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.