This project is funded under the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s program, Community Research for Health Equity (CRHE), a community-led research program that seeks to elevate community voices and make the priorities of communities the primary goal of local health system transformation efforts. The goal of the study is to collect health status data among marginalized Native American communities within the Delmarva region along the east coast to inform health system approaches for addressing the physical, social, and mental health needs of these communities. Using a tribal-specific Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, the study seeks to establish general baseline health descriptors, COVID-19 status, and racial discrimination factors for each tribal community. The local data collected will be compared with national data for tribes and the general population. Deliverables will include a project work plan and annual and final narrative and financial reports. The project team will also produce a public-facing product of their choice to share new knowledge that can address local health care system inequities and/or make recommendations for action toward system improvements.

Principal Investigator(s)

John Lowe headshot
Researcher

John Lowe

Joseph Blades Centennial Memorial Professor - University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing

Dr. John Lowe is the Joseph Blades Centennial Memorial Professor at the University of Texas at Austin School o... Read Bio

Chief Coker headshot
Researcher

Dennis Coker

Principal Chief - Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware

Chief Coker has been the elected Principal Chief of the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware since 1996. Because of... Read Bio