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 2025, GLITEC served Tribes by administering several grant-funded programs directly or through sub-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.

GLITEC had the following grants in fiscal year 2025:

1. Colorado Resource Center for Tribal Epidemiology Centers:
   Colorado Resource Center for Tribal Epidemiology Centers allows GLITEC to expand its research capacity through the University of Colorado’s Resource Center by offering support, training, and opportunities for research. The university provides targeted technical assistance to enable GLITEC to conduct locally relevant, scientifically meritorious studies and to disseminate the results thereof.
2. Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC):
   The GHWIC grant aims to reduce the rates of death and disability from commercial tobacco use, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and reduce the prevalence of obesity in American Indian/Alaska Native communities through policies, systems, and environmental changes with a cultural approach. Oral care is also part of this grant due to its linkages to other chronic diseases. 
3. Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Champions Program: 
   The aim of the HBI Program is to implement public health strategies focused on brain health, caregiving, and dementia. This is achieved through community discussions, training sessions, presentations, and the development of resource materials. 
   
4. Indian Health Services (IHS) Epidemiology Cooperative Agreement: 
   The Epi Cooperative Agreement is a cooperative agreement between IHS and GLITC to serve American Indian/Alaska Native tribal and urban communities by managing public health activities with other public health authorities.
   
5. Lead Testing in Tribal Schools and Childcare Centers Program: 
   The Lead grant allows GLITEC to offer free drinking water testing for tribal childcare centers, after-school programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, tribal schools, and other similar tribally operated programs and facilities. The goal of this program is to protect the health of all children and people who use educational facilities.
6. Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (NCREW): 
   NCREW funding supports tribal communities in research focused on traditional healing practices for culturally appropriate substance use recovery services and mental health support for overall wellness. Its work supports the future Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center (ARWC) and Tribal Institutional Review Board (IRB).
7. Public Health Preparedness (PHP): 
   The PHP grant supports GLITEC in convening tribal health officials and partners across the region to identify major disaster risks and resources available and to mitigate or manage them. This program facilitates the development and implementation of a regional five-year work plan to improve public health preparedness and response using evidence-based strategies and interventions for tribal and urban Indian populations.
8. Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services in Indian Country Cooperative Agreement (SPH): 
   The SPH grant aims to strengthen tribal public health systems and service to reduce health disparities. This is done through improving the capacity and infrastructure of tribal communities to prevent disease, promote health, and respond to emergent threats and chronic disease.
9. TEC Consortium to Increase Vaccination Coverage Across American Indian/Alaska Native Adult Populations Currently Experiencing Disparities (iVAC): 
   Through the iVAC grant, GLITEC works on various activities to support and promote the increase of vaccines among American Indian/Alaska Native adults.
10. Tribal Epidemiology Center Public Health Infrastructure (TECPHI): 
    TECPHI is a grant that builds the public health capacity and infrastructure of GLITEC and tribal/urban Indian communities. This helps GLITEC and communities to conduct and bolster disease surveillance; epidemiology; program monitoring/evaluation; and prevention and control of disease, injury, and disability.

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.