Office of Minority Health

Grantee Information

Organization: Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), Office of Health Disparities and Health Equity (OHDHE)

Organization Address: 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE, 68509

Phone Number: 402-471-3121

Fax Number: N/A

Organization website URL (if any): http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/default.aspx

[Brief Description of the Organization]: The Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) provides important and, oftentimes, life-sustaining services to Nebraskans. The mission of DHHS is "helping people live better lives," with the motivation to find ways to effectively provide these services and make a difference in the lives of so many people.

Grant Project Information

Title of Grant Project: Nebraska State Partnership Initiative

Amount of OMH Award: $ 199,389

Name of Project Director: Josie Rodriguez

Phone Number of Project Director: 402-471-1409

E-mail Address of Project Director:josie.rodriguez@nebraska.gov

Abstract

Thurston County, Nebraska is home to reservation land for two American Indian Tribes: Omaha and Winnebago. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), these populations experience the most significant disparities related to diabetes of all groups and geographic locations in the state. The goal of the Nebraska State Partnership project is to two-fold. At the individual level, the goal is to reduce the hemoglobin A1C levels among American Indians residing in Thurston County who are diagnosed with diabetes. At the population level, the goal is to decrease the prevalence of diabetes, and improve nutritional behaviors and physical activity.

The Nebraska Office of Health Disparities and Health Equity (OHDHE) will work with the Omaha and Winnebago federally recognized Tribes of Nebraska to deliver this project in four phases: needs assessment, training, implementation, and analysis. The first will include compilation of health data. Surveillance and other data will be incorporated to develop and publish a Health Disparities Profile regarding diabetes incidence and prevalence among Omaha and Winnebago American Indian Tribal populations in Thurston County, Nebraska. Phases two and three of the project will focus on organizing a diabetes task force in Thurston County to help reduce or eliminate barriers to care and incorporate interventions intended to reduce diabetes disparities in Thurston County. OHDHE will implement the promising care coordination Pathways Health Hub model to deliver diabetes self-management programs to American Indian participants using Community Health Representatives (CRH). They will also help connect patients to needed medical and social services. The final phase of the project will involve compilation of data collected throughout the intervention phases and collection and integration of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) data for the target populations. This will be followed by production and publication of the results of the project via presentations, articles, other documents that will compare the baseline data measures to the outcomes measures and address improvements in health outcome of the project.

From this program, OHDHE expects that from Phase 1, at least 75% of participants will indicate satisfaction with the conference track/sessions specific to diabetes and this project. From Phase 2 and 3, OHDHE expects that at least 70% of participants will indicate increased knowledge about diabetes, self-management, and the project. Expected outcomes also include that at least 65% of participants will achieve their physical activity and nutrition goals. OHDHE expects that Tribal partners’ knowledge about health inequalities and their participation in the program will increase.

Nebraska will conduct process and outcome evaluations. Process measures collected as part of the evaluation include:

• Number of clients served by diabetes education classes;
• Number of clients referred to local programs for additional information;
• Percent of all participants who were referred to clinical or community resources for self-management support;
• Percent of all participants who indicated satisfaction with the program;
• Number and percent of adults with diabetes;
• Percent of all participants whose overall average A1C score is greater than 9%.

Outcome measures include:

• Percent of all participants who indicated improvement in overall average A1c score;
• Percent of all participants who increased self-management knowledge;
• Number of clients who secured medication payment sources;
• Number of clients enrolled in Medication Access Program;
• Percent of all participants with resolved social barriers;
• Percent of all participants who achieve their physical activity goal(s);
• Percent of all participants who achieved one or more patient-identified behavioral goals.

NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR ACTION TO END HEALTH DISPARITIES GOALS

Awareness : Increase awareness of the significance of health disparities, their impact on the nation, and the actions necessary to improve health outcomes for racial, ethnic, and underserved populations.

Health System and Life Experience : Improve health and healthcare outcomes for racial, ethnic, and underserved populations.

Cultural and Linguistic Competency : Improve cultural and linguistic competency and the diversity of the health-related workforce.

Data Research and Evaluation: Improve data availability and coordination, utilization, and diffusion of research and evaluation outcomes.

RELATED HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 OBJECTIVES & SUBOBJECTIVES

None identified by the grantee