HHS Announces $700,000 for Tribal Self-Governance Cooperative Agreements
The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services(HHS), has announced the funding opportunity for federally recognized Tribes to apply for Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP) Planning Cooperative Agreements ($500,000) and TSGP Negotiation Cooperative Agreements ($200,000). These grants are available to interested Tribes participating in the TSGP as authorized by Title V of the Tribal Self-Governance Amendments of 2000 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended.
“We are pleased to be able to offer Tribes all available options of providing health care and services to their people,” stated HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. “We believe that all American communities should control their own destiny to the greatest extent possible.”
The Planning Cooperative Agreement provides resources for gathering information to determine the current types and amounts of programs, services, functions, and activities (PSFAs), and funding available at the Service Unit, Area, and Headquarters levels and to identify programmatic alternatives that will better meet the health care needs of Tribal members.
The purpose of the TSGP Negotiation Cooperative Agreement is to provide Tribes with funds to cover expenses for negotiating with the IHS. It assists eligible Indian Tribes to prepare for Compacts and Funding Agreements with an effective date of October 1, 2005, or January 1, 2006. These activities include, but are not limited to, analysis of the IHS budget to determine what PSFA's will be negotiated; development of the terms and conditions to be set forth in a Compact and Funding Agreement; consultant costs; communication costs; and identification of Tribal shares.
“These two grants will allow additional Tribes to assume added control of IHS PSFAs to best meet the health needs of their tribal members and communities,” stated Dr. Charles W. Grim, IHS Director. “The commitment of the Secretary to consult with Tribes fosters greater understanding and promotion of Self-Determination and Self-Governance. To date, over 50% of federally recognized Tribes have compacted for the provision of health care and other services.”
The amount identified for 2004 for both grants is for approximately ten Tribes beginning in either fiscal or calendar year 2005. The TSGP planning and negotiation cooperative grant announcements have been published in the Federal Register. The application deadline for both of these TSGP grants is August 2, 2004.
NOTICE TO EDITORS: For additional information on this subject, please contact the IHS Public Affairs Office at 301-443-3593. Additional information about the IHS is available at http://www.ihs.gov and http://info.ihs.gov.
