When public health professionals want to get a complete picture of a community’s health, they don’t limit their assessments to hospital visits or the number of doctors in a certain area. They also look at the conditions in which people were born, grew up, work and live, according to the Centers for Disease Control. They understand that access to quality jobs, education, housing, safe environments and healthcare itself are key to supporting positive health outcomes.
As part of Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Master of Science in Native American Leadership – Community Health program, students explore the social determinants of health, or the non-medical factors that impact health outcomes. By graduation, rising leaders have the knowledge they need to create stronger community health systems in careers as tribal public health directors, health educators and wellness program managers in Native communities.
Understanding Health Through a Holistic Community Lens
Health outcomes of individual patients are only part of the story when it comes to understanding the whole of what influences community health. As the Cleveland Clinic explains, social determinants of health such as education, income level and physical environment don’t exist in isolation. Someone’s education level influences the amount of income they can earn, which in turn affects their housing options and ability to live in a neighborhood with a grocery store offering nutritious foods, for example. Understanding these connections empowers leaders to develop comprehensive solutions that address multiple factors simultaneously.
Native communities have unique strengths and cultural resources that influence health outcomes. Research published by the National Institutes of Health in 2024 demonstrates how social determinants of health shape opportunities for Native American communities. Traditional knowledge systems, strong family networks and deep connections to land and culture provide powerful foundations for community wellness initiatives. However, = effective health initiatives often require targeted, culturally informed responses, according to the NIH.
Effective tribal health leaders recognize these historical impacts while building on inherent community strengths to develop sustainable solutions. As the CDC points out, social determinants of health — both negative and positive — are deeply embedded in society. Successful health initiatives leverage existing community assets and cultural practices while addressing systemic barriers through policy advocacy and resource development.
Leading Public Health Innovation in Tribal Communities
Leaders in the tribal health space are already implementing innovative initiatives that build on community strengths to improve health outcomes for Native American communities. Amanda Gibson, a registered nurse and Cherokee Nation citizen, writes that all staff in tribal and Indian Health Service facilities are required to complete training to understand the effects of trauma on physical and mental health. Telehealth services have become a mainstay in delivering primary and public health care to Native American communities, and federal funding has supported patient education initiatives to help residents manage and prevent diabetes.
Gibson notes that integrating traditional healing practices with contemporary healthcare approaches and addressing the historic past of the community through culturally grounded methods can help healthcare professionals create comprehensive solutions and build lasting community capacity. According to the CDC, public health organizations can accomplish their goals by convening community members to identify priorities and assets; collect health data to develop strategies; and use their influence to advocate for solutions at the local, state and national levels.
Strengthen Native American Community Health Leadership With Southeastern Oklahoma State
Emerging public health leaders in tribal communities must analyze complex systems and advocate culturally appropriate policies and services. Students in Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online M.S. in Native American Leadership — Community Health program learn to evaluate and influence public health policy, work collaboratively with community health partners and develop initiatives that are responsive to the specific needs of Native communities.
In their Theories of Health Behavior course, students examine how best to guide health promotion and education efforts to influence behavior among community members. They apply those skills in the Community Health Education and Prevention course, where they learn how to conduct a needs assessment using evidence-based techniques. Combined with coursework that explores specific historical and present-day social determinants of health prevalent in Native American communities, graduates have the skills they need to become established voices for Native American communities in the healthcare space.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Master of Science in Native American Leadership – Community Health program.