The mission of UIHI is to support the health and well-being of Urban Indian communities through information, scientific inquiry, and technology.
In July 2000, the Urban Indian Health Institute was established as a division within of the Seattle Indian Health Board, a community health center targeting urban American Indians and Alaska Natives. Since 1996, nationwide tribal epidemiology centers have built public health capacity in American Indian/Alaskan Native communities through core funding from the Indian Health Service. One of eleven tribal epidemiology centers, the UIHI focuses on the nationwide urban American Indian/Alaskan native population while the other ten serve tribes regionally. A crucial component of the health care resources for all American Indians/Alaska Natives, tribal epidemiology centers are responsible for:
- Managing public health information systems,
- Investigating diseases of concern,
- Managing disease prevention and control programs,
- Responding to public health emergencies, and
- Coordinating these activities with other public health authorities.
The Urban Indian Health Institute serves the 34 urban Indian heath organizations, which are private, non-profit agencies that provide either direct or referral services to American Indian/Alaska Natives living in 94 select urban counties in 19 states across the country. UIHI staff work on multiple, ongoing research projects to benefit urban American Indian/Alaska Natives. Requests for data may be submitted to the Urban Indian Health Institute’s Project Coordinators.
