IEA Tribal Affairs

Purpose

The Tribal Affairs component of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs was established in 2000 to serve as the official first point of contact for Tribes, Tribal Governments, and Tribal Organizations wishing to access the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Organizationally, the Tribal Affairs component is situated within the Immediate Office of the Secretary, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) and is the Departments’ lead office for Tribal Consultation in accordance with Executive Order 13175- Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments. Other duties and responsibilities of the Office of Tribal Affairs include:

Coordination and management of IGA's tribal and native policy issues and serves as the Department's expert and informational resource to the Secretary
Provides executive direction for the Secretary's Intradepartmental Council on Native American Affairs (ICNAA)
Collaboration and outreach to Tribes and national Native organizations
Coordination of HHS participation in national Tribal meetings and Tribal site visits for HHS executive leadership
Advice and assistance to the HHS Regional Directors and Senior staff on tribal affairs
Coordination of the Secretary's policy development for Tribes and national Native organizations

HHS Tribal Eligibility Grants Tool

Each HHS component that provides grant funding conducted a detailed review of its grants. HHS coordinated collection and reporting of a common set of data elements so that Tribes would be able to more easily access and compare information on HHS grants across all parts of the Department. The detailed data chart is intended to provide a summary snap shot of HHS grant information that can be used as a potential starting point for tribal, native, and federal analysts. HHS added the narrative report with accompanying graphs, to provide a summary for tribal leaders and others with interest in this subject but limited time to examine the detailed data.

This report and an accompanying detailed data chart present the results of this work.

The Excel file above is not fully compatible with all types of assistive technology. Accordingly, if you need accessibility assistance with this file, please contact Elizabeth Carr at [email protected] or by phone at 202-260-6125.

Tribal Consultation Policy

The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Indian Tribes share the goal to establish clear policies to further the government-to-government relationship between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes. True and effective consultation shall result in information exchange, mutual understanding, and informed decision-making on behalf of the Tribal governments involved and the Federal Government. The importance of consultation with Indian Tribes was affirmed through Presidential Memoranda in 1994, 2004 and 2009, and an Executive Order (EO) in 2000.

The goal of this policy includes, but is not limited to, eliminating health and human service disparities of Indians, ensuring that access to critical health and human services is maximized, and to advance or enhance the social, physical, and economic status of Indians. To achieve this goal, and to the extent practicable and permitted by law, it is essential that Federally-recognized Indian Tribes and the HHS engage in open, continuous, and meaningful consultation.

This policy applies to all Divisions of the Department and shall serve as a guide for Tribes to participate in all Department and Division policy development to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. Read more.

Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee (S.T.A.C)

The Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee signals a new level of attention to Government-to-Government relationship between HHS and Indian Tribal Governments.

The STAC's primary purpose is to seek consensus, exchange views, share information, provide advice and/or recommendations; or facilitate any other interaction related to intergovernmental responsibilities or administration of HHS programs, including those that arise explicitly or implicitly under statute, regulation or Executive Order. This purpose will be accomplished through forums, meetings and conversations between Federal officials and elected Tribal leaders in their official capacity (or their designated employees or national associations with authority to act on their behalf). Read more.