Coronavirus Preparedness and Response (CPAR)

The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC) received funding from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the Supporting Tribal Public Health Capacity in Coronavirus Preparedness and Response (CPAR) project.

This project is working to address the public health problem of COVID-19 specifically, as well as other emergency-related topics. It is doing this by conducting public health activities related to communications that help support Tribal health departments and other components of the Tribal public health system in their response to emergencies such as COVID-19.

Purpose of the project

The main purpose of CPAR is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. The focus of this project is communications in the Bemidji Area (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Chicago).

Project goals and objectives

Through CPAR, GLITEC has launched an emergency response website and a new email delivery system. This work was guided by a survey that assessed the communication emergency response needs of Native communities and identified effective communication interfaces.

• Bemidji Area Emergency Response Website: This website is designed to function as a single, centralized location where Native community members, Tribal leaders, and health professionals can find information related to COVID-19 and other emergencies in the Bemidji Area. The website contains content that reflects Indigenous cultures.
• Email Delivery System: Sign up to get emails from GLITEC on topics you care about, such as events and news alerts. Through this platform, information from GLITEC and state, federal, and other partners can be shared rapidly and efficiently, allowing community members and decision-makers to access the information they need to respond to emerging crises on community and individual levels.

In addition, CPAR is helping disseminate regular epidemiology situation reports, is working to develop risk communication materials, has been hosting calls with Bemidji Area communities, and will assess opportunities for improving the communication platform and activities.

All of the CPAR project’s strategies and activities have been designed to facilitate communication with Native communities in the Bemidji Area during emergency response efforts and empower the communities in responding to COVID-19 and other emergencies. Overall, the CPAR activities are intended to provide new and better ways to connect with Native communities, facilitate partnerships, improve communication, and provide and receive information.

Benefit to individual Tribes

The CPAR project will help strengthen Tribal preparedness and response to COVID-19 and other emergencies through building a robust communication platform and increasing the quantity, quality, and types of messaging delivered.