Tribal Epidemiology Centers  

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Authorized by Congress in 1996, four Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) were established by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) as a way to provide enhanced public health support to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations (T/TO/UIOs). The reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) in 2010 acknowledged TECs as public health authorities. This law directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to grant each TEC access to data, data sets, monitoring systems, delivery systems, and other protected health information (PHI) within the possession of the Secretary (25 USC 1621m(e)(1)). Today there are 12 TECs across the nation serving AIAN Peoples in urban settings as well as across the 12 Indian Health Service Areas.

Each TEC is unique and may vary in structure, staffing, programs, and how they operationalize the seven core functions based on Area needs and funding sources. However, they are unified in their Mission, "To improve the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native people by identification and understanding of health risks and inequities, strengthening public health capacity, and assisting in disease prevention and control.” All TECs perform seven core functions, which include:

1. Collecting data;
2. Evaluating data and programs;
3. Identifying health priorities;
4. Making recommendations for health service needs;
5. Making recommendations for improving health care delivery systems;
6. Providing epidemiologic technical assistance; and
7. Providing disease surveillance.

Using culturally-informed approaches in all the work TECs do is key.

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Join our Zoom room to learn more about TECs!

Times include:

• Monday (Oct. 25), 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. MT https://anthc.zoom.us/j/95049993608
• Tuesday (Oct. 26), 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. MT https://anthc.zoom.us/j/99049424486

TEC Year 3 Progress and Qualitative Reports

The TECPHI annual reporting includes three reports: The annual Progress Report, the Photo Narrative, and the Qualitative Projects report.... More Info Less Info





The TECPHI Year 3 Progress Report describes the collective progress and achievements of the 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) located nationwide and the Network Coordinating Center (NCC) in meeting the goals of the program by increasing capacity, infrastructure, and serving Area partners and organizations to their fullest ability.

Each year two additional qualitative reports are also produced. The Photo Narrative Report incorporates visual story telling into the annual evaluation reporting, allowing TECs to add context to their experiences. The Qualitative Projects report allows for an additional opportunity for TECs to highlight work that may not be captured in the quantitative data, and allows for a more holistic picture of the work being done to support the health and well-being of AIAN people around the country. 

Click here to check out the reports for Year 3!



Where are the TECs located?

There are 12 nationally recognized Tribal Epidemiology Centers spread across the Nation.... More Info Less Info







Each Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) is different and works to meet the unique needs of the area it serves. To learn more about the 12 TECs, follow this link and then hover over the map to view a specific TEC page.

Click here to visit the TEC Map



TEC Best Practices Book

The Tribal Epidemiology Centers Best Practices Book is a report that addresses some of the successes and challenges that TECs have had in securing access to data and ensuring that data provided to our constituents is accurate.... More Info Less Info







This report represents a collaborative effort of the Tribal Epidemiology Centers. It specifically addresses some of the successes of individual TECs and it also highlights significant challenges that TECs have had in securing access to data and ensuring that data provided to our constituents is accurate, reflecting the state of health inequity present for AIAN peoples.

The TEC Best Practices Book was produced to illuminate the situation, response, and impact of TECs to improve American Indian/Alaska Native public health surveillance data availability and data quality. The information in this report emphasizes the need for the innovative and individualized programmatic reponse of TECs to engage Tribal communities to meet the need for these. 

To read the full report, please click here.



TEC Brochure

Our Tribal Epidemiology Centers Brochure includes inserts for each of the 12 TECs with information about each TEC's mission, what they do, and contact information.... More Info Less Info





Our Tribal Epidemiology Centers Brochure includes inserts for each of the 12 TECs with information about each TEC's mission, what they do, and contact information.

Tribal Epidemiology Centers Brochure