The MN Department of Health's Office of Statewide Health Improvement committed to a year-long community engagement process with the state's tribal nations to gather information and rebuild the Tribal Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) and Tribal Tobacco grant programs. Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC) was the selected contractor.

This volume is for students and practitioners interested in improving their understanding and skills in the area of needs assessment. The text follows the typical sequence of an actual needs assessment process. Case studies are used to illustrate conceptualization of the task through the application of needs-based data to effective public health solutions. Examples are drawn from myriad public health efforts, recognizing that not all public health sector agencies bear direct responsibility for all activities that could be considered part of public health.