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Week of March 24, 2025

Present at the 2025 National Tribal Health Conference: Call for Workshop Proposals Now Open!

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) invites Tribal leaders, health and public health professionals, policy specialists, advocates, and allies to submit workshop proposals for the 2025 National Tribal Health Conference (NTHC) on September 7-12, 2025 in Chandler, Arizona.  The NTHC showcases the interconnectedness of Indian health care, public health, and health policy. We welcome workshop proposals that (1) advance American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health through effective programs, policies, or systems; (2) infuse Tribal or Indigenous perspectives and approaches; and (3) are action-oriented. Additionally, our workshop proposal selection process prioritizes proposals that elevate underrepresented perspectives. This year’s Conference theme is “Culture Is Medicine; Community Is Healing” and will focus on the five following Content Areas: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Behavioral Health; Public Health Policy, Infrastructure, and Systems; Advocacy; and Strengthening Health Care Delivery in Indian Country. For more details on what to include in your proposal, see the full Call for Proposals. Proposals submissions are due by Friday, May 16, 2025. Submit your Workshop Proposal Here!

The Coalition Group

The National Indian Health Board is proud to stand alongside 14 other Tribal organizations as part The Coalition Group, a united coalition dedicated to ensuring that the actions of the current administration do not harm American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes or the vital programs that serve our people. Together, we are actively engaging with federal agencies, Congress, and the administration to uphold the Trust and Treaty Responsibilities—sacred obligations that Tribes have paid in full with their lives and lands. The Coalition serves as a centralized hub for resources related to the Administration's early actions, including executive orders, memos, and coalition products. We emphasize the importance of educating officials on the Nation-to-Nation relationship, deepening Congressional and Administrative ties, and coordinating efforts to protect Indian Country's interests during this unique historical moment. To see the most recent communications and other template materials, you can visit thecoalitiongroup.net.

Congress returns this week from their week-long recess last week. As Congress approaches this three-week work period before their Easter Recess, Senate and House leadership are going to re-engage on negotiating a unified budget resolution to proceed with reconciliation. Currently, the House and Senate are far apart in their two budget resolutions passed in mid-February, and before they can move forward with passage of any reconciliation package, both chambers must pass identical budget resolutions.

The Senate is continuing to move forward with nominations. CMS Administrator-nominee Oz is not scheduled for a vote in committee this week as of Monday morning, but it’s expected that he will move out of Senate Finance Committee in short order before his confirmation vote is held in the coming weeks.

Hearings

Topic: Mission Incomplete: Strengthening the TAP Program to Ensure a Smoother Transition to Civilian Life for Tomorrow’s Veterans

Committee: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Oversight Hearing

Date: March 25, 2025, at 10:15 AM

Hearing Website Link

Topic: Breaking Down Barriers: Getting Veterans ACCESS to Lifesaving Care

Committee: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Subcommittee on Health Oversight Hearing

Date: March 25, 2025, at 2:30 PM

Hearing Website Link

IHS March 6 Letter: The Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders to share updates on enhancements to the process for requesting a Tribal Delegation Meeting (TDM) with the IHS Director. The IHS is also inviting Tribal Leaders to contribute to a display honoring Tribal Nations that will be installed at IHS Headquarters.

SSA January 17 Letter: The SSA Acting Commissioner writes to Tribal Leaders to share updates to the SSA benefits program and office activities.

IHS January 17 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to express deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve as the Indian Health Service Director.

See IHS Dear Tribal Leader Letters from 2024.

Consultations

27^th Annual HHS Tribal Budget Consultation

The Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, sent out a DTLL, inviting Tribal Leaders to the 27^th U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Annual Tribal Budget Consultation (ATBC), which will take place on April 22-23, 2025, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building at 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Official comments are due April 12, 2025, at 5:00pm ET to consultation@hhs.gov.

• Register to attend the virtual ATBC Planning Sessions on March 5 and 19, 2025, here.
• Register to attend the ATBC in-person on April 22-23, 2025, here.
• Request a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with HHS Divisions, during the ATBC, before April 11, 2025, here.

Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Tribal Technical Advisory Committee (TTAG)

Date: March 25-26, 2025

Location: Washington, DC 

3^rd Quarter DSTAC Meeting

Date: April 24, 2025

Meeting Website

HHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC)

Date: April 24, 2025

Location: Washington, DC 

Social Security Administration Webinar Wednesday – Are you eligible for Social Security Survivor Benefits?

Date: March 26 at 2:30 PM EST

Meeting Website

2025 Tribal Self-Governance Annual Conference

Date: April 7-10, 2025

Meeting Website

NCUIH 2025 Annual Conference

Date: April 22 – 25, 2025

Event Webpage

Indigenous Trauma and Resilience Research Center COBRE Symposium at the University of North Dakota

Date: April 24-25, 2025

Event Registration

National Tribal Health Conference 2025 in Chandler, Arizona

Date: September 12-17, 2025

Event Website

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Paraprofessionals (HRSA-25-066) | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: April 1, 2025

Description: The purpose of the BHWET Program for Paraprofessionals is to develop and expand community-based experiential training such as field placements and internships to increase the skills, knowledge, and capacity of students preparing to become mental health workers, peer support specialists, and other behavioral health paraprofessionals. The program has a special focus on developing knowledge and understanding of the needs of children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth who have experienced trauma and are at risk for behavioral health disorders including anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder. The program also emphasizes developmental opportunities and educational support in interprofessional collaboration by using team-based care in integrated behavioral health and primary care settings to improve the distribution of a well-trained behavioral health workforce. The program also aims to recruit a workforce that is interested in serving high-need and high-demand areas. 

Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Grants | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: April 4, 2025

Award Amount: Up to $1,000,000

Description: The grant will support 5-year cooperative agreements between ACF and federally recognized Indian tribes (or a consortium of Indian tribes), tribal organizations, or urban Indian organizations interested in developing, implementing, sustaining, or expanding an evidence-based home visiting program serving expectant families and families with young children aged birth to kindergarten. Additionally, awards will support the implementation of high-quality, culturally grounded, evidence-based home visiting services to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) families and children; implementation of performance measurement and continuous quality improvement systems; development of early childhood systems; and participation in research and evaluation activities to build evidence around home visiting, particularly in Tribal communities

Long-term Care Joint Venture Construction Program | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: Phase I Application due on close of business, April 10, 2025

Description: Under the LTC JVCP, federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes construct a Tribal-owned Long Term Care, Skilled Nursing Facility, or Long-term Home facility using non-IHS funds that meets IHS design criteria and approval. In exchange, IHS will enter into a 20-year nominal lease for the facility and request annual appropriations for the operation and maintenance of the facility during the lease period. Additional priority is to be given to Tribes who agree to fund the initial equipment portion of the project.

Tribal Management Grant Program | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: April 28, 2025

Description: The Indian Health Service is now accepting applications for grants under the Tribal Management Grant Program, a competitive grant for federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations that is administered by the Office of Tribal and Urban Affairs.

The Tribal Management Grant Program is designed to enhance and develop health management infrastructure and assist tribes and tribal organizations in assuming all or part of existing IHS programs, functions, services, and activities through agreements under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act. It also assists tribes and tribal organizations with existing agreements to further develop and improve their management capabilities.

The Tribal Management Grant Program consists of four project types, with funding amounts and project periods indicated below:

• Feasibility Study: Maximum funding: $70,000. Project period: 12 months
• Planning: Maximum funding: $50,000. Project period: 12 months
• Evaluation Study: Maximum funding: $50,000. Project period: 12 months
• Health Management Structure: Average funding: $100,000. Project period: 12 months. Maximum funding: $300,000. Project period: 36 months.

National Indian Health Board | www.nihb.org | 202-507-4070