Core Functions

As one of the 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers across the nation, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC) is an established public health authority (Public Law 10L-191, 110 Stat.1936).

GLITEC works to fulfill seven core functions outlined in federal law:

1. Collect data relating to, and monitor progress made toward meeting, each of the health status objectives of the Service, the Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in the Service area;
2. Evaluate existing delivery systems, data systems, and other systems that impact the improvement of Indian health;
3. Assist Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in identifying highest-priority health status objectives and the services needed to achieve those objectives, based on epidemiological data;
4. Make recommendations for the targeting of services needed by the populations served;
5. Make recommendations to improve health care delivery systems for Indians and urban Indians;
6. Provide requested technical assistance to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in the development of local health service priorities and incidence and prevalence rates of disease and other illness in the community;
7. Provide disease surveillance and assist Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian communities to promote public health.

Grants

In fiscal year 2023, GLITEC is made up of six grants. Some of these grants contain multiple components and projects. Some projects just serve one community or several communities, while other projects serve all 34 Tribes and four urban Indian communities across the Bemidji Area.

The six grants of GLITEC in fiscal year 2023 are:

1. IHS Epidemiology Program Cooperative
2. Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC)
3. Increasing Vaccine Coverage in AI/AN Adults (iVAC)
   Increasing Vaccine Coverage in American Indian/Alaska Native Adults (iVAC) is a five-year grant with funding originating from CDC. Through this grant, GLITEC will work on various activities to support and promote the uptake of vaccines among American Indian/Alaska Native adults, including influenza and COVID-19 vaccination. Activities may vary across the span of the grant; in the first year, GLITEC will focus on promoting COVID-19 vaccines.
   
4. Lead Testing in Drinking Water
   
5. Tribal Epidemiology Center Public Health Infrastructure (TECPHI)
6. Tribal Public Health Capacity Building (UMB)

Tribes can send GLITEC a request for assistance. One of the grants above will look into fulfilling your request. Please complete the Request for Assistance form if interested.

Coronavirus Preparedness and Response (CPAR)

This website was developed as part of the Supporting Tribal Public Health Capacity in Coronavirus Preparedness and Response (CPAR) grant. The focus of this grant was communications in the Bemidji Area.

This emergency response website was created to serve as an information hub. It is designed to function as a single, centralized location where American Indian/Alaska Native community members, Tribal leaders, and health professionals can go to find information related to COVID-19 and other emergencies in the Bemidji Area.