Online Program

328356
Evolution of a Training Program for Tribal Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Law


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 9:10 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Tina Hershey, JD, MPH, Health Policy and Management, Center for Public Health Practice, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Montrece Ransom, JD, MPH, Public Health Law Program - Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Aila Hoss, JD, Public Health Law Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Alyssa Landen, MPH, Center for Public Health Practice, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
The threats our nation faces from infectious disease and other public health emergencies are matters of serious concern.  Thus, it is critical that all levels of government have the capacity to effectively respond to these threats.  Legal preparedness is an important component of public health capacity, as laws are essential to delivery of public health services, including emergency response.

Tribal governments are sovereign entities with authority to create their own laws.  However, many tribal communities have not yet fully developed public health codes.  Moreover, jurisdictional issues often arise between federal, state, and tribal governments due to the complex history surrounding delivery of public health services to tribal communities.  Thus, navigating public health and emergency response issues in Indian Country can be challenging. 

A training program was developed by the University of Pittsburgh in collaboration with the CDC Public Health Law Program and Association of State and Territorial Health Officials regarding tribal public health and emergency preparedness law.  Seminars were held in 2012 and 2014 involving over 20 tribes with a focus on the tribal judiciary. In June 2015, the training will be offered as a workshop for tribal communities and their partners in the southwestern United States.  A redesigned curriculum will be offered, emphasizing tribal perspectives, best practices, and lessons learned. 

This session will focus on the need to increase tribal public health capacity, including development of tribal public health laws and other legal preparedness materials.  Topics will include curriculum development, venue and speaker selection, evaluation data, and key findings.

Learning Areas:

Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Explain the need to increase tribal public health capacity, including development of tribal public health laws and other legal preparedness materials. Discuss collaborative curriculum development that incorporated tribal perspectives. Describe venue and speaker selection, evaluation data, and key findings.

Keyword(s): Law, Native Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the director of a CDC-funded training program designed to educate tribal communities regarding public health and emergency preparedness law.
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.