Navajo NARCH - Admin-Core

Dine' College, Tsaile AZ

Investigators

Abstract

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section The Administrative Core of Navajo NARCH will use collaborative leadership of Diné College and Northern Arizona University (NAU) to direct, coordinate, and facilitate the cohesive functions of the Center, as well as guidance from an interdisciplinary Community Advisory Board (CAB). The leadership team will leverage their institutional knowledge, partnerships, and long standing collaboration to expand educational programs, provide research opportunities, support career development in health and public health research, and support infrastructure development by the Diné College Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board (NNHRRB). The Administrative Core will benefit from the career and personal experiences of the leadership’s and the Center’s positions as partners in public health efforts within Navajo Nation (NN), particularly with NN Department of Health (NNDOH) which includes the NNHRRB, Tribal Epidemiology Center, Community Health Representative program, and Health Education Program, as well as Navajo Area Indian Health Service, NN Tribal Council and the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development. These relationships have established a network strengthened by the Diné (Navajo) concept of k’é (connectedness, kinship, respect, and responsibility), and a collective commitment to educating Navajo students and scholars, and enhancing the public health, healthcare workforce, and research infrastructure serving the Diné people. The Administrative Core aims to: 1) Manage an infrastructure that fosters transparent communication among all Center personnel, CAB members, and NNDOH, supports efficient operation and an environment conducive to ethical and productive training, collaboration, research and infrastructure development; 2) Provide clear leadership and oversight to: a) facilitate effective distribution of resources to the Center components and partnering institutions; b) synthesize verbal and written reports on proposed and executed activities; and c) identify training and career development opportunities for NARCH team members, NARCH-supported students and scholars, and institutional partners; and 3) Convene quarterly CAB meetings (two tele-conference and two in person) to review Center plans for funded activities and subsequent progress, gain guidance and feedback on implementation and dissemination activities, and solicit strategies to leverage Center resources to build the health services infrastructure and research capacity of the Navajo Nation. The Administrative Core will use a mixed methods approach to track factors contributing to progress, achievements, delays and related changes of the Center components’ stated goals and aims and to evaluate the Center's outcomes and challenges.