Welcome to the United South and Eastern Tribes
Tribal Epidemiology Center (USET TEC)!

Based on the priorities of the Indian Health Service/Tribal/Urban health programs (I/T/Us) in the south and eastern United States and effective partnering with external subject matter experts, the USET TEC is striving to assist its I/T/Us implement and enhance American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) disease surveillance systems (ongoing collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health data) to help guide public health policy and action for prioritizing health status objectives, monitor progress towards meeting those objectives, and develop, implement, and evaluate disease control and prevention programs.

BACKGROUND

The USET TEC was established in 2000. Until recently, monitoring and surveillance of disease and associated risk factors among AI/AN people has been a function of the Indian Health Service (IHS). Downsizing diminished the capabilities of IHS to adequately perform basic epidemiologic functions such as monitoring the health status of AI/AN communities. In the late 1990s through a process of cooperative grants the IHS in partnership with federally recognized Tribal Organizations created a national network of TECs (twelve total), with each TEC covering a distinct geographic area or AI/AN population of the United States. TECs are organizations that, working with Tribal entities and urban AI/AN communities, manage public health information systems, investigate diseases of concern, manage disease prevention and control programs, respond to public health emergencies, and coordinate these activities with other public health authorities.

OBJECTIVES

To accomplish its vision the USET TEC team and its partners are focused on implementing and maintaining the following seven broad based work plan objectives.

Objective 1: Maintain USET TEC Advisory Council (UTAC) system whereby USET TEC receives guidance from joint AI/AN community members and public health science experts on selecting and accomplishing TEC work activities.

Objective 2: Maintain and enhance Area I/T/U Data Collection Assessment System to address internal data quality and external data linkages.

Objective 3: Maintain and enhance system for producing/disseminating epidemiological reports and catalyzing community health action.

Objective 4: Maintain and enhance capacity to collect and analyze data.

Objective 5: Maintain and enhance system for developing/implementing health promotion/disease prevention (HP/DP) studies/projects in cooperation with other public health entities that have practical application in improving AI/AN health, support IHS Director’s initiatives and performance contract, and help facilitate recommendations for improving I/T/U public health services.

Objective 6: Participate and support systems for sharing, improving, and disseminating aggregate health data at a national level for purposes of advocacy for AI/AN communities, Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Healthy People 2010, and other national-level activities.

Objective 7: Maintain and enhance system that helps ensure USET TEC supports and participates in public health emergency preparedness and response activities in collaboration with the IHS Nashville Area Office, IHS Division of Epidemiology and Disease Prevention (DEDP), I/T/Us, Federal/State/Local, and other health authorities. 

For more information, please review the sub-sections to the left or contact us directly at:

USET Tribal Epidemiology Center
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.
711 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37214
Tel: 615.872.7900