TRIBAL PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION
SUPPORT INITIATIVE:
DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN
JUNE 12, 2015
Swinomish
Coast Salish people
1855 Treaty of Point Elliott:
Sovereign nation
~1,000 enrolled tribal
members
Reservation: ~3,000 acres
tidelands + ~7,000 acres
uplands
Reservation 90%
surrounded by water
“When the tide is out,
the table is set.”
Background For many years, Swinomish has been working toward
developing a public health program
Recently received a small grant from National Indian Health Board to initiate the public health accreditation process
Many ways to start; chose to develop a strategic plan of what a “community” health program would look like
10 Essential Public Health Services
according to the Public Health
Accreditation Board
We are starting here.
Strategic Plan Process
Swinomish Health-related Depts./ ProgramsPrimary Departments/ Programs:
Medical Clinic
Dental Clinic
Mental Health Counseling
Services
Early Education Center (birth to
K)
Education Department (K –
adult)
Social & Community Services
Fitness Center
Senior Services
Youth Center
Wellness Program (chemical
dependency treatment)
House of Healing (domestic
violence shelter)
Connected Departments/
Programs:
Office of Emergency
Management
Police Department
Planning (e.g., transportation)
Fisheries
Dept of Environmental Protection
Housing Authority
Utilities Authority
Lands Management
Public Works
Wildlife and Hunting
Economic Enterprises
Communications Dept
Office of Tribal Attorney
Strategic Plan Process
Swinomish Health, Education, and Social Services Committee
as advisory board (monthly meetings)
Met with dept./ program staff and commissioned officer from
each of identified primary depts. in list, and several in
secondary depts. (n=20)
Discussed connections between their program/ dept. and public
health (community)
Identified gaps/ needs
Discussed priorities, desires to see happen, potential next steps
Identified strategic priorities, goals and objectives
Drafted plan—circulated for comments
Then presented to HESS
Next step: Senate review
SWOT Analysis• Strong community
connection to &
interest in First
Foods
• Well-established
health programs
• Strong Swinomish
gov’t support
• Enact a CHA
• Increase
department/
community
connectivity
• More effective
community outreach
with Swinomish
specific materials
• Continued assertion
of sovereignty
• Lack of connection/
communication
between some
departments/
programs
• Limited health codes
• Low community trust/
use of some programs
• Some
underdeveloped
programs/ activities
• Outside government
agencies controlling
Swinomish health
activities/ goals
• Unprepared for some
potential/ emerging
issues (e.g., infectious
diseases, natural
disasters)
Value statement
A healthy community encompasses all
aspects of tribal relationships and tribal
priorities that affect a community. This
includes physical, social, mental and spiritual
health on individual, familial and community
levels, as well as relations between people,
the environment, and the spiritual world.
Vision
Develop a community health program that
supports and enhances current Swinomish health-
related departments, programs and activities,
thereby effectively asserting Swinomish self-
determination about how health is defined,
assessed, improved and maintained.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Swinomish community
health program is to create and sustain
organized community efforts to
prevent, identify and counter threats to
our community’s health and wellbeing.
Overarching themes
We are resilient people. We need to continue to
preserve our way of life.
Salmon health is an indicator of
human/community health, not just tribal
communities but all our communities in the region.
Our community health is related to the health of
our economy and environment.
Efforts need to be more coordinated (both within
tribes, among tribes, and with other
jurisdictions/agencies).
Need to focus on our elders and youth–emphasize inter-generational roles to protect
communities.
Community-based Indigenous
health indicators (IHIs):
Community
Connections
Self
determination
Balance
(emotional
security)
Natural
Resources
Security
Cultural Use
Education
Begin to populate the plan
Examples of Swinomish Community Health program
proposed activities:
Walking trails with signs about traditional plants in English and Lushootseed
More activities teaching about first foods
(traditional foods)
Increase opportunities for youth-elder interactions
Work with programs/ depts. to develop effective
community health ed/ outreach materials for community members
Next steps
Concurrent focus on two parts of the
essential health services:
Conduct a community health assessment
Develop policies and plans (i.e., update
codes)
Infectious diseases
Housing/ Envr Health
Food Safety
Five year timeline
Thank you.
Questions? Please contact:
Jamie Donatuto
(360) 466-1532
http://www.swinomish-nsn.gov/ihi/
