Indian Health Care Resource Center Receives Federal Grant for Healthy Tulsa Pathways Collaborative P

Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa is one of eight nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive the Office of Minority Health “Partnerships Active in Communities to Achieve Health Equity” (PAC) federal grant. The family-centered “Healthy Tulsa Pathways” project will benefit American Indians and other minority populations in ten of Tulsa’s high risk zip codes. The funding will provide $485,000 per year for three years to improve outcomes for Tulsa’s at-risk minority populations in the areas of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

The intent of the PAC program is to demonstrate the effectiveness of community-based networks in improving health outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities. The program seeks to improve health outcomes through the establishment of integrated networks that collaboratively employ evidence-based disease management and preventive health activities; build the capacity of communities to address social determinants and environmental barriers to healthcare access; and increase access to and utilization of preventive care, medical treatment, and supportive services.

The mission of the OMH is to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of policies and programs that reduce health disparities and gaps in care. Racial and ethnic minorities have historically experienced poorer health outcomes.

In its role as an urban Indian health organization (UIHO), Indian Health Care Resource Center (IHCRC) will expand existing health promotion and disease prevention programs. For the past six years, IHCRC has used an Indian Health Service “Healthy Heart” grant to provide case management, coordination of care, and evidence-based diabetes and cardiovascular disease interventions to adult American Indians. The Healthy Heart grant was just renewed for another two years at $324,000 per year.

IHCRC is also a leader in local food security initiatives including Food for Life, a USDA Community Food Project which established a local food security council and led to the effort to install community and school gardens throughout the city. IHCRC currently serves 17,000 active patients who live in the Tulsa metro area.

The Office of Minority Health grant will engage over 20 city, county and state organizations to support the Healthy Tulsa Pathways project. Local clinical care partners will include Morton Comprehensive Health Services and Community Health Connection community health centers. The collaborative approach of the project will include a subcontract with the Tulsa Health Department’s campaign to provide 1,000-1,200 health screenings annually in at-risk areas. Other funded partners include the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, Kendall Whittier, Inc., the YWCA and YMCA. These community partners will help coordinate physical fitness and nutrition education, assist with outreach and serve as health screening sites in the project area.

The ten Tulsa zip codes selected for the Healthy Tulsa Pathways project include eight with the poorest overall health according to the Tulsa Health Department’s 2010 Tulsa County Health Profile. Two additional zip codes were selected due to their high rates of death from heart disease and diabetes. The 2006 Lewin report, Strategic Planning for Safety-Net Services found the predominantly Black residents of Tulsa north die 14 years earlier than individuals living in mid-town or south Tulsa. Today, the health disparities most commonly associated with Tulsa north affect other largely minority areas including zip codes in west and east Tulsa. Health care and outcomes aren’t just tied to race and ethnicity. Rather, they are the result of a combination of complex socio-economic and related issues. Poverty is a key factor.

According to the most recent America’s Health Rankings, Oklahoma is ranked 49th in the nation for overall health. Oklahoma is one of only six states with more than 30% obese adult population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports adult obesity rates are 51% higher for Blacks than Whites and 21% for Hispanics. Nearly a third of Oklahomans (1.2 million) are suspected of being pre-diabetic. In Tulsa County, the death rate from diabetes is almost three times as high for Blacks and twice as high for American Indians than for Whites. The death rate from heart disease for Blacks (340.4 per 100,000 population) far exceeds all other racial and ethnic groups.

In additional to its clinical disease management activities, IHCRC will use the Tulsa Healthy Pathways funding to conduct school-based primary prevention activities. Physical fitness and nutrition education will be promoted to over 9,000 students and their families at the 27 Tulsa Public Elementary Schools located in the target zip codes. Healthy Tulsa Pathways will build on or expand current evidence-based programs at those schools and bring new programs to others. The project will also provide additional nutrition and cooking classes in community settings.


Each component of the Tulsa Healthy Lifestyles project will be strengthened by a strong spirit of community collaboration and partnership. In support of increasing community capacity to address the social determinants of health, the program includes an assessment of current resources and also, unmet needs and gaps. The Community Service Council will convene focus groups of local agencies to discuss economies of scale, evidence-based programs, create strategic plans, and identify funding. The goal is to ensure the project components are permanently and seamlessly incorporated into the culture and achieve sustainability to ensure improved health outcomes for generations to come.



Organizational Overview

Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, Inc., (IHCRC), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, comprehensive health care facility, governed by a local volunteer Board of Trustees. IHCRC provides medical, health education, dental, optometry, behavioral health, chemical dependency, HIV/AIDS prevention and pharmacy services directly to the Tulsa Indian community. Quality, health care is provided on a sliding scale fee, ability to pay, basis. Members of any federally recognized tribe and their children under the age of 18 are eligible to receive care. No one is refused services due to inability to pay.