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Description of Organization:
The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) was established as a council in 1952 to provide a united voice for Indian tribes located in Arizona to address common issues of concern. The highest elected officials (tribal Chairmen, Presidents and Governors) of 20 of the federally-recognized tribes represent the membership of the Council. On July 9, 1975, the Council established a private, non profit corporation, which has an Executive Board of Directors elected from its membership who oversee and approve the activities of the organization. The corporation has the goal of promoting Indian self-reliance through public policy development, and to provide member tribes with the means for action on matters that affect them collectively and individually. The ITCA has a staff of more than 65 professionals and paraprofessionals with responsibility for more than 46 projects and programs totaling more than $16 million in operating budgets. In 1996, the IHS established four Tribal Epidemiology Centers (Epi Centers, or TECs) to develop tribal capacity for obtaining, evaluating and disseminating AI/AN health information. The mission of the ITCA Epi Center is "To empower the American Indian tribes in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah in the further development of health services and systems." The vision for the Epi Center is to build independent, local, tribal capacity to collect and use community health information in directing programs, managing resources, and building relations with local, state and federal public health systems. Through grants and contracts, the Epi Center has ongoing relationships with the faculty and staff of Arizona State University and University of Arizona. The Epi Center partners with the tribes, universities, TECs, state and federal agencies through various programs and activities. The Epi Center provides a strong platform for community-based, participant focused research, training and education with a vulnerable and underserved population, and supports federal public health initiatives such as Healthy People 2010. (http://www.itcaonline.com/epi)

Description of project:
The overall mission of this project is to reduce the burden of motor-vehicle-crash (MVC) injuries in tribal communities. To achieve this mission, the plan proposes the following five goals:

• Identify, assess and evaluate existing MVC injury data sources and surveillance systems at the tribal, state and federal levels,
• Develop and/or improve existing tribal MVC injury surveillance systems,
• Build and sustain tribal capacity to reduce MVC related injuries and mortality through evidence-based prevention strategies,
• Strengthen tribal leadership and policies to address disparities and improve current status of MVC related injuries in tribal communities and
• Promote and/or enhance career pathways for AI/AN health care professionals, paraprofessionals and researchers in broader community-based prevention areas.