Tribal Implementation Center

Chickasaw Health Consulting serves as the Tribal IC responsible for partnering with  T/C/TECs on implementation support for their public health data modernization projects.

As the Tribal IC, Chickasaw Health Consulting will:

• Provide technical implementation support, project management support, and/or subject matter expertise to participating T/C/TECs for their data modernization projects.
• “Assist in” dissemination of findings and lessons learned from implementation projects through a variety of formats helps build a foundation for ongoing data modernization work in the broader T/C/TEC community.
• Assist T/C/TECs with any programmatic questions or concerns.
• Help with project management and program communications.

Below are some examples of implementation projects the Tribal IC may support. Additional project types can be identified in collaboration with the Tribal IC.

1. Implementing a new data system or upgrading existing data systems
   • Example: shifting to FHIR connectivity
2. Supporting data exchange with healthcare or across jurisdictions
   • Example: Establish electronic connections with a State or another Tribe, including drafting a new Data Sharing Agreement
   • Example: Establish connection within Tribal systems such as connecting public health to hospital or clinics
3. Integrating innovative tech to support Tribal PH decision-making
   • Example: Build a Tribe-specific large language model to support data analysis
4. Building data infrastructure to enable future data modernization activities
   • Example: Legal/policy, assessment, workforce, governance, sustainability planning

Considering a smaller-scale implementation project? The Tribal IC team is interested in meaningful public health data modernization projects that can be completed in 6–9 months with budgets under $600,000. Email tribalic@nnphi.org to explore whether your project might be a fit.

Funding Support. The Tribal IC Program offers funding support to T/C/TECs to support their data modernization projects. Specific awards will depend on the scope and size of the project. There will be three categories of subawards offered, though some awards may be smaller or larger depending on the scope of the project:

• Large: $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
• Medium: $800,000 – $1,000,000
• Small: $600,000 – $800,000

Funding can be used for the following project expenses:

• Relevant personnel, including indirect costs.
• Relevant training courses or membership fees (e.g., HL7 or HIMSS).
• Relevant travel, meetings, and events.
• Direct costs relevant to/within project-scope including but not limited to:
  • Hardware, software, and vendor costs.
  • System fees and maintenance costs.
  • Broadband internet, network connectivity, and similar infrastructure costs.
  • Fees related to connection to health information exchanges (HIEs), health data utilities (HDUs), and similar intermediaries.

Funding is available through a subaward, but it depends onT/C/TECs and national partner (ASTHO, NNPHI, or PHAB) agreement on the terms of the contract. These partners will work with T/C/TECs to finalize the details.

Tribal IC implementation support is available at no cost. The Tribal IC is here to help move data modernization projects forward. T/C/TECs can work with the Tribal IC to identify what types of support would be both feasible yet impactful to their community. Subaward funding is not required to pay for this support — it’s included within the implementation support component of the program. Please feel free to reach out to the Tribal IC by emailing tribalic@nnphi.org.

Sustainability Planning Support. It’s important to think ahead and build a strategy for how projects can continue once the funding period ends in fall 2027. The Tribal IC will help T/C/TECs plan for project continuation and/or sustainment after Tribal IC Program support has ended. Sustainability planning will be key to long-term success.

If selected, participating T/C/TECs will be expected to:

• Engage with the Tribal IC to draft a project charter that describes high-level scope and milestones for the proposed implementation project.
• Demonstrate Tribal support for their proposed implementation project with a Tribal Resolution. Tribal Consortia and TECs must provide a Tribal resolution from all tribes whose data will be involved in the proposed implementation project. While a Tribal Resolution is not required for initial application, it will be required for full onboarding to the program. As such, we encourage T/C/TECs to begin this process early if it may take a significant amount of time.
• Participate in the evaluation of Tribal IC Program to the best of their ability. Please note that no T/C/TECs implementing projects in the program will be asked to submit Tribal-level data, Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Protected Health Information (PHI) as part of the Tribal IC Evaluation.

Please note that no T/C/TECs implementing projects in the program will be asked to submit Tribal-level data, such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Protected Health Information (PHI), as part of the Tribal IC Program or evaluation.

In addition to implementation support, T/C/TECs are invited to participate in Tribal IC Program Community Support, where they can access educational resources and participate in peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. Specific Community Support offerings may include Communities of Practice, training, virtual webinars, playbooks, toolkits, and knowledge sharing sessions.

T/C/TECs will be able to learn from one another and share tips on how to successfully carry out data modernization projects. More information on Community Support will be shared soon.

This Tribal Implementation Center Program Update webinar recording provides an update on the Tribal Implementation Center Program, including an overview of recent changes to the program.

Participants will:

• Gain a clear understanding of the Tribal Implementation Center Program, including background and recent changes

• Learn about the types of funding and technical assistance offered and how to apply
• Explore tools and resources to help T/C/TECs navigate the application process
• Learn about future opportunities to ask questions and share feedback about program offerings

Access the Tribal IC Program FAQ (PDF) for answers to common questions about eligibility, funding, timelines, Tribal sovereignty considerations, and how to participate in the program.

• Sign up for our Tribal IC Email List to learn about opportunities to engage and receive program updates.
• Email your ideas for potential Tribal data modernization projects and any additional thoughts, suggestions, and questions to tribalic@nnphi.org.