2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

330587
A Critical Examination of Tribal-State Relations: A New Approach to Addressing Persistent Tribal Health Disparities


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Gail Dana-Sacco, PhD MPH CHES, Maragaret Chase Smith Policy Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME
This research investigates how the quality of the tribal-state relationship in Maine affects the development of law and policy to improve tribal health. This research uses an in-depth case study to examine the context within which the Maine State legislature resolved to address Passamaquoddy tribal health disparities in 2009. Certain legal parameters and formal institutional structures established to facilitate the tribal-state relationship are investigated along with the political and legal context within which the relationship operates, in order to assess how effectively tribal health disparities are addressed through these mechanisms. The primary focus is on critically examining the structural limitations of political institutions and identifying the mediating factors affecting the tribal-state relationship. 

Documentary data, observational data and in-depth interviews with 22 key informants provide insight.

Results indicate that the process utilized for development and implementation of state laws, regulations, policies and protocols significantly impacts the quality of the tribal-state relationship and affects collective tribal health outcomes.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify one or more of the complexities of the tribal-state relationship. Describe how these complexities impact tribal health.

Keyword(s): Law, Native Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator for this study and have conducted other comparable research studies on Native health and health policy.
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.

Back to: 4280.0: Health Law Poster Session #1