Host Site Application Information
ASPPH/CDC Tribal Health Department Fellowship Program
Fellowship Program Overview
Tribal Health Departments provide culturally grounded public health services, yet many face persistent challenges related to limited funding, staffing shortages, and workforce development. Fellowship programs are a proven strategy for building organizational capacity while preparing future public health professionals for careers in Tribal public health. This program places Master of Public Health–level graduates from CEPH-accredited ASPPH member schools and programs of public health in Tribal Health Departments for an 11-month, full-time applied learning and training program focused on projects identified by the host site. Fellows contribute meaningful capacity while gaining hands-on, mentored experience in Tribal public health systems.
The program is designed to respect Tribal sovereignty, align with Tribal priorities, and complement — not replace — existing Tribal public health efforts. Host sites define the scope of work based on their community’s needs, and ASPPH provides administrative, training, and professional development support throughout the fellowship year.
Host Site Application Information
Application period
January 15 – February 8, 2026
Application deadline
February 8, 2026 | 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Applications will be reviewed using criteria aligned with program goals, host site readiness, and mentorship capacity.
Informational Webinar
ASPPH will host an optional informational webinar for interested Tribal Health Departments and Tribes. Registration is required.
Date/Time
January 26, 2026 | 3 – 4 PM Eastern Time
Fellowship Program Structure
- Placement period: September 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 (11 months)
- Fellow credentials and experience: Fellows will hold a minimum of a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from a CEPH-accredited ASPPH member institution, issued within the past five years. Competitive fellow applicants will have previous experience serving in Tribal communities and/or Tribal Health Departments.
- Fellow commitment: Full-time
- Project focus: One to two substantive projects that address identified Tribal Health Department capacity needs.
- Professional development: Fellows will receive monthly professional development coordinated by ASPPH, as well as regular on-site mentorship by their host site mentor.
- Location: Depending on host site capacity and fellow/host site match, some fellows may be required to serve in-person at the host site while others may serve remotely.
Fellowship Project Guidelines and Examples
Fellow projects should be scoped to ensure meaningful contribution at the master’s level and be feasible within the 11-month placement. Projects should not be entry-level or purely administrative. ASPPH encourages host site applicants to describe one to two potential fellow projects in their application, and ASPPH will work with sites selected for the 2026-2027 cycle to refine their fellow project descriptions.
Acceptable project types include, but are not limited to:
Community Assessment & Data
Conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment; develop or improve data collection and reporting systems
Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation
Plan and lead phased implementation of a priority public health program; design and pilot an evaluation framework
Policy, Systems & Organizational Capacity
Develop department-wide policies or standard operating procedures; lead a quality improvement or accreditation readiness initiative
Workforce Development & Administration
Develop a workforce development plan; design and deliver staff trainings or onboarding materials
Partnerships, Communication & Community Engagement
Design and implement culturally grounded health communication or community engagement initiatives
Grant Development & Sustainability
Develop multi-year sustainability strategies; prepare funding proposals or grant support materials
Benefits of Being a Host Site
Tribal Health Departments selected as host sites receive the following benefits:
Dedicated capacity support
An MPH-level professional devoted full-time for 11 months to one or two priority projects identified by the Tribal Health Department.
No cost to the host site
Fellows are supported through the CDC-funded cooperative agreement administered by ASPPH.
Workforce pipeline development
Opportunity to mentor and train future Tribal public health leaders and assess potential long-term hires.
ASPPH-led professional development
Fellows participate in monthly, culturally responsive professional development activities coordinated by ASPPH.
Additional capacity-building assistance
Host sites may request tailored workforce development or technical assistance based on their needs.
Infrastructure support
Limited funds may be available to support infrastructure necessary to host a fellow successfully.
Host Site Requirements and Eligibility
The opportunity to host a fellow and serve as a host site is limited to Tribal Health Departments of a federally recognized Tribe or a federally recognized Tribe with public health-related operations. Tribal Epidemiology Centers and other Tribal Serving Organizations are not eligible to apply as host sites under this opportunity.
General Requirements
- Ability to host a fellow for the full fellowship period (September 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027)
- Provide a safe and secure physical workspace for the fellow’s daily operations (for in-person placements)
- Provide orientation to the Tribal Health Department, Tribal government, and Tribal community served
- Identify one primary mentor and one substitute mentor for the fellow
- If hosting an in-person fellow: ensure reasonably priced housing is available within one hour of the host site or provide safe and adequate Tribal housing near the host site
- Demonstrate that hosting a fellow would add critical capacity to meet the needs of the community served
Mentorship Requirements
Strong mentorship is essential to the success of both the fellow and the host site. Mentors must be existing full-time staff and able to provide consistent guidance.
Primary Mentor
- Is existing full-time staff
- Has experience and/or job duties relevant to the fellow’s project(s)
- Available for day-to-day supervision as needed
- Commits to at least one hour of one-on-one mentorship per week
- Has prior experience supervising or mentoring staff, fellows, or students
Substitute Mentor
- Serves as a backup when the primary mentor is unavailable
- Is existing full-time staff
- Available for daily guidance and weekly one-on-one mentorship when needed
Host Site Application and Onboarding Timeline
| Date (2026) | Step |
| January 15 – February 8 | Host site application cycle open |
| January 26 | Informational webinar for host site applicants |
| February 9 – 13 | Review of host site applications |
| February 16 – 20 | Host site finalists interviewed |
| February 23 – 27 | Host site offers extended |
| May – June | Fellow selection and host site matching |
| May – August | Host site onboarding |
| September 1 | Fellows report to host sites |
Contact Information
Questions about the host site application process may be directed to trainingprograms@aspph.org
Acknowledgement of Funding
Funding for this project is provided through PW-24-0080 Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of financial assistance award no. NU38PW000021 awarded to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC or HHS.