Introduction
This practice brief is one in a series developed by the Tribal Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) 2.0 evaluation team. The briefs are used to disseminate findings from the evaluation of the Tribal HPOG 2.0 Program. The Tribal HPOG 2.0 Program supports demonstration projects that provide eligible individuals with the opportunity to obtain education and training in a healthcare related field that pays well or puts them on a career path to an occupation that pays well.
Purpose
The purpose of this brief is to examine how and why the Tribal HPOG 2.0 grantees and their partners incorporate tribal culture and heritage into training programs.
Key Findings and Highlights
Tribal HPOG 2.0 grantees and their partners infused tribal culture into training curricula, program services and events, and the resources and supportive services offered to students, particularly those students training to provide direct patient care. Grantees and their partners have:
- Integrated tribal values into curricula at both the institutional and programmatic levels, preparing students to provide culturally sensitive healthcare services;
- Offered events and supportive services that connect students with their culture and build community; and,
- Provided culturally-specific gathering spaces where students can connect with others of similar backgrounds and seek out resources.
These efforts to integrate culture and practices help to maintain tribal language and traditions, create a sense of community, and promote cultural sensitivity in healthcare delivery.
Methods
The tribal evaluation team is conducting a comprehensive implementation evaluation grounded in culturally appropriate approaches. In developing this practice brief, the tribal evaluation team used qualitative data collected during annual site visits to each of the tribal grantees, including focus groups with program participants and interviews with program staff, local employers, program completers and non-completers, and other stakeholders. The tribal evaluation team also used program operations data collected through the HPOG Participant Accomplishment and Grantee Evaluation System (PAGES) and other program documentation.
Citation
Hafford, C., Fromknecht, C., Tolbert, E., Dougherty, M. (2021). Implementation of Tribal HPOG 2.0: Integration of tribal culture into healthcare training programs. OPRE Report #2021-83, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Glossary
- AI/AN:
- American Indian/Alaska Native
- HPOG:
- Health Profession Opportunity Grants
- CCCC:
- Cankdeska Cikana Community College
- CITC:
- Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc.
- GPTLHB:
- Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board
- TMCC:
- Turtle Mountain Community College
- UMUT:
- Ute Mountain Ute Tribe