2016-02-02 BOCC Update Health Tribal Relations Resources Update 2-2-16Tribal Relations Options/Resources
1/28/16
Head Start Policy Council
The Policy Council actively participates in the development of school readiness goals and helps to
assess the program’s progress in achieving those goals. The Policy Council also promotes the critical
role that parents play in supporting their children’s progress towards school readiness.
Designing Governance Processes: There are three very important aspects of designing governance
processes and procedures that are shared between the policy group and the governing body.
The first is to ensure that there are clearly written procedures for each item that requires shared
decision-making. Because many of the individual items are part of the ongoing systems of the agency, it
is imperative that policymakers (policy group and governing body) understand how action on one item
must be taken before action on others can occur. For example, the funding application is not developed
before goals and objectives have been adopted. Procedures must be established using the "givens" that
the agency must respond to, including the cycle of funding for the Head Start program.
The second consideration when designing a governance system is the need for a procedure to resolve
disputes between the governing body and the policy group. The dispute resolution process must be
developed and approved by both the governing body and the policy group. The process must describe
when an impasse exists and how the process is activated. The procedure is required in the event that
there is a dispute between the two bodies. Many agencies are able to avoid such conflicts if their
procedures for shared decision-making are supported by a good communication system that provides
thorough and timely information to both groups. In addition to quality information, both groups must
respect and support the shared decision-making process.
The third consideration when designing governance procedures is to assure that a procedure for hearing
and resolving community complaints about the program exists. Both the governing body and the policy
group are given operating responsibility for developing and implementing the community complaint
procedure. This procedure allows both bodies to hear about issues that arise from within the
community and to ensure that steps are taken to respond in a timely and thorough manner.
Integrating Governing Body and Policy Group Membership
Open communication and access to information are important ingredients of shared decision-making.
Many programs enhance communication between the groups by having at least one representative
from the governing body serve on the policy group and at least one representative from the policy
group serve on the governing body. In public agencies for which governing body membership is limited
to elected members, other solutions, such as board and policy group liaisons, may help to accomplish
similar results.
To accomplish this purpose, it is necessary to define how the two groups relate to each other.
Understanding Shared Decision-Making in Head Start Programs. Fostering Program Governance. Training Guides
for the Head Start Learning Community. DHHS/ACF/ACYF/HSB. 1998. English.
South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency (SPIPA)
S.P.I.P.A. is an intertribal, nonprofit consortium which serves the Chehalis, Nisqually, Shoalwater Bay,
Skokomish and Squaxin Island Tribes to promote and enhance the prosperity of their Tribal
Communities.
The Five Tribes of the SPIPA Consortium
• The lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation border along the Grays Harbor
County line in Lewis County. Chehalis serves a total Indian resident service population of around 3,625,
with 894 enrolled Tribal Members.
• The Nisqually Tribal lands reside in rural Thurston County. As of 2014, the Tribe had a total Indian
resident service population of 8,450, with 772 enrolled Tribal members. The nearly 3,300 acres north
and east of the Nisqually River is under the control of Fort Lewis.
• The Shoalwater Bay Tribe is located on the Washington Coast at the mouth of the Willapa Bay. This
tight-knit community consists of a total Indian resident service population of 1,346, with 365 enrolled
members.
• The Squaxin Island Tribe is located in South Mason County and has an Indian resident service
population of 2,591, with 1,061 enrolled tribal members.
• The Skokomish Tribe has a total Indian resident service population of 2,780, with 716 enrolled
Skokomish members. The reservation is located along lower Hood Canal and Skokomish River.
Vision: Working Together to Promote and Enhance Tribal Communities
GOALS
• Enhanced physical health and well-being of Tribal communities
• Resilient, empowered families
• Development and training of Tribal workforces
• Stronger forum for Tribal review of common issues and problem-solving
• Expanded planning/development supports for the future
• Quality administrative and program support for Consortium Tribe projects
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
http://www.npaihb.org/images/policy_docs/state/Wash/2015/D.%20Teeter_Lindeblad_Beyer_Letter
.pdf
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) conducts health policy and legislative
analysis on health care and budget issues affecting Indian health programs. The Board analyzes the
Indian Health Service budget and other health care financing programs that impact Indian health care
programs. NPAIHB also prepares Congressional testimony for health care financing and other important
health policy issues at the federal and state levels. Click on the respective links to access detailed
information about each aspect.
Programs & Projects Overview
NPAIHB administers a broad range of health programs in its efforts to fulfill its mission: “to assist
Northwest tribes to improve the health status and quality of life of member tribes and Indian people in
their delivery of culturally appropriate and holistic health care.”
Current EpiCenter projects include:
• Native CARS Study (Children Always Ride Safe)
• Western Tribal Diabetes Program
• Toddler Obesity and Tooth Caries Prevention Project
• Improving Data & Enhancing Access/Northwest Tribal Registry Project
• Northwest Tribal Dental Support Center
• Project Red Talon STDs/HIV/AIDS
• Northwest Tribal Immunization Project
• Current Health Promotion and Disease Prevention projects include:
o Northwest Tribal Cancer Control Project
o Northwest Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Project
o Women’s Health Promotion Program
Centennial Accord between the Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in
Washington State and the State of Washington
http://www.goia.wa.gov/government-to-government/data/centennialaccord.htm
State Centennial Accord Plans
As mandated in the Centennial Accord, each state agency shall “establish a procedure by which
the government-to-government policy shall be implemented. This procedure should be called
the “Centennial Accord Plan” and will be developed by each state agency in conjunction with
the tribes. In the development of these plans, the guiding principles and critical elements
identified above in this Section should be utilized. Please feel free to submit attachments.
The key components of the Centennial Accord Plan should include:
1. Programs-List of programs and/or services available to tribes.
2. Funding Distribution-List of funding distribution methods currently available to
tribes.
3. Definitions-Detailed definitions of relevant terms as they apply to agencies
4. Consultation Process-Procedures (including policy development, program
development and implementation of funds distribution).
5. Dispute Resolution Process-Describes dispute resolution processes and outlines
when particular processed may be used.
It is recognized that these Plans will vary among state agencies. However, the basic policy and
guidance included in these Government-to-Government Implementation Guidelines should
govern the development of these Plans and be embraced by both state and tribal officials. Each
state agency Centennial Accord Plan should be completed prior to the Annual State/Tribal
Centennial meeting. These Plans will be included as attachments to this document and reviewed
annually and updated as necessary.