Improving Robeson County Public School Curriculum to Create Educational and Health Equity Among Lumbee Tribe: A Pilot Program to Reform Policy

Discrimination is a social determinant of health and can occur across systems, including educational systems, resulting in disparities in success and wellbeing. Robeson County, North Carolina is home to the Lumbee Tribe who experience worse educational outcomes (end-of-year grades, secondary attainment, etc.) and health outcomes (substance use, uninsurance, etc.), despite their cultural and social cohesion. Discrimination in Robeson County high schools will be addressed by an Accountable Care Community (ACC) comprised of stakeholders in public health, education, policy, and the Lumbee community. ACC members will work together to propose a countywide policy requiring American Indian history and culture be taught in schools. The aim of this policy is to increase the proportion of adolescents who consider their schoolwork to be meaningful and important, a measure of decreased discrimination in schools. Impacts of the policy include improved evidence for statewide policy and decreased health disparities among Lumbee members in Robeson County. Master of Public Healt