Infection Prevention Control
The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) project is geared toward providing foundational and practical knowledge directly to Montana frontline healthcare personnel across Urban Indian Organizations (UIO) to create a culturally competent healthcare workforce skilled in core infection prevention and control practices. Using these practices, the IPC project will help UIO healthcare workers to develop their ability to protect their community from infectious disease threats. Native Americans were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and so were the UIOs in Montana that provide services to the AI/AN population. The UIO facilities do not have established, approved and/or completed IPC policies in place, and this project will remedy this need.
The project will allow the UIOs to have an on- site IPC Program Assessment, develop an IPC training program, secure training, and certifications for staff, identify facility storage for ease of access to supplies, and develop a stronger culture of safety throughout the UIO facilities. All these activities are needed and will assist in the delivery of quality care in situations where infection prevention and control are critical functions.
Demonstration Site Grant
The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health Notice of Award has been granted to the Native American Development Corporation. The purpose of the award is to provide support for a strategic collaboration between the Native American Development Corporation (NADC), the Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health, and four Montana Urban Indian Health Centers.
This project aims to address health disparities experienced by the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population in urban communities in Montana, where they are served by an Urban Indian Health Center and the Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health. To achieve this, active involvement will be taken in developing a framework, process, and tool for assessing and identifying policies that may contribute to structural racism and create or perpetuate health disparities.