Defining Your Goal

Tribes and Native-serving organizationsFor this resource, Native-serving organizations includes Tribal and urban Indian organizations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs). need correct health information, so that community leaders can make informed decisions. But how do you know if requesting health data is the best choice for you and the people you serve? The first step toward answering this question involves defining your goal.

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Is Getting Data the Best Choice?

Correct health information can help us understand disease trends. It can also help us decide where to put our money and energy.

Sometimes the data we need is held by another entity. But how do you know if requesting health data is the best choice?

Deciding If Data Is the Best Choice

Step 0 - Hidden For Functionality Reasons.

Step 1 – Consider what question or questions you are trying to answer

To do this make sure to identify the:

People you want to know about (ex: community members from a particular Tribe)
Condition that may impact them (ex: heart disease)
Peoples’ location (ex: X state)
Time period (ex: 2010-2020)
Group(s) you want to compare the peoples’ data to, if any (ex: the general population)

Next, write down your question or questions.

For example:

We want to understand how many community members from a particular Tribe living in X state were impacted by heart disease from 2010-2020 compared to the general population.

Step 2 – Learn if the data exist

Tribes, counties, states, and the federal government regularly collect health data. Data is often stored in databasesDatabases are collections of data.. To learn if the data you are looking for exists, read about common databases in Tribal public health.

Step 3 – Decide if you want to request data

The decision to request data can involve many factors. This handout can help you decide if you should request data. If you do decide to request data, consider learning more about building partnerships, getting approvals, and obtaining data.

Step 4 – Reaching out for support

It is common to need assistance when requesting data. There are several supports who can help. Consider getting legal counsel early, so you can tackle any legal issues head on.

Keep in Mind

Tribes are sovereign nations. Tribes have the power to govern their people, land, and resources how they see fit. As sovereign nations, Tribes have the right to data sovereignty. This means that Tribes have control over how Tribal data is collected, managed, and used. Note that principles of Tribal (or Indigenous) data sovereignty may extend to data on American Indian and Alaska Native people off Tribal lands as well.

To honor Tribes, Native-serving organizationsFor this resource, Native-serving organizations includes Tribal and urban Indian organizations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs)., and American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, it is essential to uphold and defend Tribal data sovereignty and public health authority.