New Innovations in Tribal Training

Paul Andrews – RTI International

Michiko Burns – Southern Ute Tribe

Dave Wilcox – Gold Systems Inc

Austin, TX November 28, 2007

STORET and the Region VIII Tribes• Created WebSIM

– Eliminate need for individual installations

– Address local data management issues

• Regional Data Warehouse– Data privacy concerns

• Assist with Data Migrations

Implement Training and Outreach• Data Templates • Created Tutorials• Regional Trainings / Workshops• Provide Instruction, not

Migration Assistance• Implemented in Region V and

Region VIII

Sustainability

• Develop a Regional Support Network

• Reduce Contractor Dependence• Implemented in Region VIII

Region 5 Tribal Project

Paul AndrewsRTI International

EPA Region 5 Tribal STORET Project Collaboration• Fond du Lac Tribe – Sponsoring

Tribe• EPA Region 5 Tribal

Coordinators• EPA Headquarters• Gold Systems, Inc• RTI International• Region 5 Tribes

Goals of the EPA Region 5 Tribal STORET Project• Train all of the 33 EPA Region 5

tribes to submit data to STORET

• Get as many tribes as possible in EPA Region 5 to submit data to STORET

• Make it as easy as possible for tribes to submit data to STORET

Components of Region 5 Tribal STORET Training• Ongoing Technical Assistance• 1-on-1 Data Reviews• Workshop Reports• Tools Provided for Easier Data

Entry– STORET Template– WebSIM – WebSIM Tutorials

Tribal Template

Tribal Template Structure

Result Columns

Results Data Entry Template

Allowable Values

WebSIM Tutorials

• Level 1 – Inserting records into STORET

• Level 2 – Troubleshooting Errors

WebSIM

Import Configurations

Importing Data

WebSIM Access

Project Outcome

• 33 tribes participated in 1-on-1 and group meetings

Project Outcome• 12 Tribes Entered Data Into STORET

(9/30/07)– Bay Mills Indian Community– Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa– Forest County Potawatomi Community– Grand Portage Band of Chippewa– Hannahville Tribal Community– Ho Chunk Nation– Lac du Flambeau Band of Chippewa– Little River Band of Ottowa Indians– Little Traverse Bands of Odawa Indians– Mole Lake Chippewa– Stockbridge-Munsee Community– Upper Sioux Indian Community

Lessons Learned

• Involving laboratories worked extremely well– Less effort needed when tribes

request lab results electronically– Some labs agreed to enter field

measurements, which helped streamline the process

Lessons Learned

• General sessions helped to introduce the project and gain support

• 1-on-1 data reviews worked well to inform staff of the steps to format their data

• Receiving data in advance of workshop allowed better preparation

Lessons Learned

• Staff turnover is an issue – backup personnel encouraged

• Ongoing monthly support invaluable after training

• There are benefits to entering data more frequently

Region 8 – Peer Training Network

Michiko BurnsSouthern Ute Tribe

Issues encountered in Region VIII• Complexity - Lack of technical

experience within tribal programs• Use of varied spreadsheets and

statistical tools i.e. Dazzler, IMLink, Access, Excel

• Regional trainings – Several trainings were held in remote reservation areas within Region VIII

• Employment turnover – Trained staff were offered more opportunities with other tribal offices or outside agencies/entities

• Sustainability – Without trained staff, tribal programs were unable to continue

• Cost effectiveness – Overall cost to program to provide trainings was prohibitive

Issues encountered in Region VIII

USEPA Region VIII

Development of the Peer Training Network (PTN)

• Select willing participants from across the Region

• Provide in-depth training to the peer trainers

• Work with peer trainers to become proficient in the tools

• Peer trainers then provide regional training and support

Selection of Peer Trainers• Identifying experienced users

across the region through interviews

• Technical experience and willingness to train others was a key element to the interviews

• How much time could trainers offer to tribes in their areas

• Approval from the trainers directors was needed

PTN Management

• Initial and annual meetings with trainers to discuss technical support issues

• Conference calls between SU, GS and trainers occur monthly. Trainers update SU and GS on training issues and tutorial needs

• Need for streamlined procedures were identified (i.e. Assistance Request and travel reimbursement forms)

Tribal Benefits

• Trainers are localized. Can provide timely support via on-site visit or phone

• More tribal staff are trained in an office leads to sustainability

• Trainers have ability to contact GS for immediate support

Tribal Successes

BEFORE• 6 regional tribes

trained at 4 regional trainings

• GS formatted and migrated data into individual warehouses

• Tribal involvement was minimal

• Training cost ~1/3 of project budget

AFTER• 9 tribes received

individual on-site trainings

• Tribes continuing to format and import data into STORET

• 19 tribes migrated data into Regional Warehouse

• Tribal involvement and ownership achieved

Future Needs

• On-site trainings and phone support to tribes on-going

• Additional tutorials will be developed to address issues that are identified by trainers

• Trainers will be instrumental in continuing support in the transition to WQX and with use of the XML generational tool

Next Steps -Transition to WQX

Dave WilcoxGold Systems, Inc.

Future Direction

• Region V Move to National• Apply Lessons Learned to National

Project• 2008 Region VIII Tribal Project

– WQX Database– Peer Training Support– Focus on Data Quality and Usability– Peer Trainers as Focus Group

• Tribal Use of the XML Gen Tool

Remarks

• Thanks again to all who collaborated in this effort

• Thursday 1-3 pm – Tribal STORET Workshop