University of South Dakota Center of Excellence/Childhood Obesity Prevention Program (USD COE/COPP)
The University of South Dakota Center of Excellence/Childhood Obesity Prevention Program (USD COE/COPP) is a partnership between the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (USD SSOM), Sanford Research/USD, and Sinte Gleska University (SGU). Through this partnership, we are addressing health disparities among Native American peoples in the Great Plains region as well as supporting health disparities research through training and education.
This partnership receives funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and the grant contributed to the establishment of a joint National Institute for Minority Health Disparities Exploratory Center of Excellence.
The USD COE/COPP has four core areas: Administration, Research Education and Training, Research, and Community Partnership and Outreach. USD COE/COPP incorporates these core areas into its programming through the development of useful research projects, programs that promote and retain Native American undergraduates at USD pursuing health professional degrees, undergraduate summer research programs, annual health care careers days for middle and high school students on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, and developing sustainable collaborative relationships with tribal communities. The Community Partnership and Outreach Core provides technical assistance, training and support to tribal health organizations and physical activities programs to conduct Community Child Health Needs Assessments as well as facilitates the development of tribal programs to prevent and reduce childhood obesity.
