GRADUATE STUDENT
FIELD PLACEMENTS AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) is a nonprofit tribal advisory organization
serving the 43 federally-recognized tribes of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. NPAIHB represents tribal
interests in state and national decision-making, facilitates health-related capacity development, and
provides education and technical assistance to the tribes. NPAIHB is also the home of the Northwest
Tribal Epidemiology Center, whose mission is to collaborate with the Northwest tribes to provide
health-related research, surveillance, and training to improve the quality of the life of American Indians
and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN).
In 2015-2016, NPAIHB will support a limited number of public health graduate student field placements
and projects at NPAIHB and/or at Northwest tribes. Up to five (5) total student placements or projects
will be funded for Fall, Winter, Spring and/or Summer terms/semesters. Each student will be eligible for
up to a $1,500 stipend to help cover living expenses. NPAIHB is pleased to offer these opportunities as a
Local Performance Site partner of the Northwest Public Health Training Center at the University of
Washington’s Northwest Center for Public Health Practice.
For more information about this program, please contact Bridget Canniff, NPAIHB, at
bcanniff@npaihb.org.
Field Placements: Field placements through NPAIHB will provide public health graduate students with
experience and exposure to tribal health programs and tribal public health organizations, to help
establish or strengthen the future placement of graduate students in health agencies serving tribal
communities. NPAIHB may offer field placement positions within one or more of our current projects,
and/or at our member tribes. For more information about NPAIHB projects, visit www.npaihb.org.
Collaborative Projects: Must involve a faculty member and graduate student working in collaboration to
enhance public health services within Northwest tribal communities. Collaborative projects should be
developed with tribal, local, state, and regional public health agencies and boards of health to help
enhance the quality of public health services being provided by public health personnel, especially for
underserved areas and populations. Students applying for project funding, or their faculty mentor, must
already have an established relationship with and approval from the tribe before applying to NPAIHB.
Examples of successful projects may include, but are not limited to:
 Surveillance and assessment of a population’s health and well-being
 Promoting and protecting population health and well-being
 Developing health programs and services to reduce health inequities
 Policy and strategy development and implementation
Revised: 8/17/15
Qualifications
Applicants must be enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral level course of study at a school or program of
public health. We give preference to qualified AI/AN public health graduate students who are highly
organized, professional, reliable, hard-working, and self-motivated. Non-Indian public health graduate
students, especially those with experience working with AI/AN or other underserved populations, are
also eligible and welcome to apply.
How to Apply
Fill out the attached Application for Field Placement or Collaborative Project form. All applicants should
attach a resume. Students who are proposing a collaborative project should also include a project
proposal of up to four (4) pages.
Please return the form, resume, and project proposal (if required) to Bridget Canniff at NPAIHB. If you
have questions, please contact Bridget at bcanniff@npaihb.org.
Procedures and Deadlines
Funding is available for up to five (5) placements or projects, at up to $1,500 per student, for the period
between September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016. Advance proposals for the 2016-2017 academic
year will also be accepted, pending availability of future program funding.
2015-2016 Deadline: Rolling – Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
Applications will be reviewed by NPAIHB and evaluated based on public health practice focus, service to
Northwest Tribes, and feasibility. Applicants for 2015-2016 awards will be contacted within two weeks
of receipt of their application.
Revised: 8/17/15
2121 SW Broadway, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97201
Email: bcanniff@npaihb.org Fax: (503) 228-8182
APPLICATION FOR FIELD PLACEMENT OR COLLABORATIVE PROJECT
Name: __________________________________________ Date: _____________________
Address: _________________________________City/State/Zip: ________________________
Phone: _______________________ Email: ________________________________________
Applying for: ____Field Placement ____Collaborative Project
Proposed Dates: From _____/_____/_____ to _____/_____/_____
month / day / year
month / day / year
For Field Placements
Please send your resume and a description of no more than (1) page, telling us about your particular
area(s) of interest or study, and why you should be considered for a field placement with NPAIHB.
Include any relevant background experience you have working with tribal, rural, or underserved
populations.
For Collaborative Projects
Please send your resume and a project proposal of no more than four (4) pages, which must include:
 Background and importance of topic
 Statement of purpose with specific practice-based aims
 Project plan including methods, timeline of tasks, and deliverables
 Budget including summary, key personnel, and other necessary resources
 Name of faculty mentor for the project
A letter of support from the collaborating tribe or tribal organization is also required.
NOTE: NPAIHB will provide a stipend of up to $1,500 per accepted student for field placements or
collaborative projects. NPAIHB does not provide additional funds for travel and/or lodging, other than
what is required for business purposes.
Educational Background
College or University
Revised: 8/17/15
From
To
Credits
earned
Major/minor
Degree Year
APPLICATION FOR FIELD PLACEMENT OR COLLABORATIVE PROJECT
References: List 3 persons who are NOT related to you and who have definite knowledge of your
qualifications and fitness for the position for which you are applying. Please ensure that telephone
numbers are current.
Name
Phone Number
Occupation
1. ___________________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________________
Indian Heritage: This information is essential if you wish consideration under the Indian Preference Act.
Verification of blood quantum, enrollment number, tribe, and reservation should accompany this
application.
TRIBE
_______________________________________
Enrollment Number/Blood Quantum
RESERVATION
YOU MUST SIGN AND DATE THIS APPLICATION. Read the following carefully before you sign:



A false statement on any part of this application may be grounds for not considering me for a field
placement or collaborative project, or releasing me after I begin my placement or project.
In consideration of NPAIHB’s review of my application, I hereby authorize NPAIHB and its agents to
investigate my background as it pertains to field placement or collaborative project considerations.
This may include, but is not necessarily limited to, investigation of past employers/supervisors,
personal references, educational institutions, criminal records/background checks, motor vehicle
records, and information contained in public records. I consent to the release of information to
NPAIHB by all persons and sources of information and their agents relative to such investigation. I
hereby release all such persons and sources of information and their agents from any liability or
damages on account of having furnished information to the NPAIHB, and release the NPAIHB and its
agents from any liability or damages on account of having conducted the investigation.
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of my statements contained in my
application and any attached documentation are true, correct, complete and made in good faith.
SIGNATURE
DATE
Except as provided by Title 25, U.S.C. § 450e(b), which allows for Indian preference, the NPAIHB does
not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, creed, age, physical or mental handicap,
marital status, sexual orientation, politics, membership or non-membership in an employee
organization.
Submit Application via email, fax, or mail, to:
Bridget Canniff
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
2121 SW Broadway, Suite 300
Portland, OR 97201
Revised: 8/17/15
Email: bcanniff@npaihb.org
Fax: 503-228-8182