Oklahoma Area Tribal Epidemiology Center (OKTEC) is a division of the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board (SPTHB). The SPTHB is a non-profit foundation that was established in 1972 to provide service to all Tribes in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Within this area, we serve 43 federally recognized Tribes, 38 in Oklahoma, 4 in Kansas, and 1 in Texas. In 2004 the SPTHB was awarded with funds from the Indian Health Service which created the OKTEC. Since it’s beginning, OKTEC has been offering many services, knowledge, expertise, guidance, and advocacy within the region and nationally. To better accomplish these tasks, OKTEC has developed and nurtured partnerships both regionally and nationally.
Its mission aims to improve the health of American Indian/Alaska Natives in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, by providing public health services in epidemiology, data management, data analysis, training, health promotion/disease prevention, and research through outreach and creative partnerships.