Indian Health Service Awards Tribal Management Grants to Support Tribal Self-Determination

The Indian Health Service has awarded over $600,000 in tribal management grants to five tribes and tribal organizations as part of a competitive program to develop and improve tribal capacity to manage health programs under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

The Tribal Management Grant Program is designed to prepare tribes and tribal organizations for assuming all or part of existing IHS programs, functions, services, and activities, and to further develop and improve their health management capabilities. The program consists of four project types with funding amounts and project periods: feasibility study; planning; evaluation study; and health management structure.

“The IHS recognizes that tribal leaders and members have always been in the best position to understand the unique health care needs of their communities,” said IHS Acting Director Benjamin Smith. “Through the IHS Tribal Management Grant Program, we are proud to help them in meeting the priorities for their communities by providing assistance with building health care management capacity and ensuring the tools are in place for a successful transition of programs and services.”

The following tribes and tribal organizations received funding for the first round of fiscal year 2025:

Grant Recipient	City	State	Amount
Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana	Charenton	LA	$150,000
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians	Peshawbestown	MI	$94,999
Ketchikan Indian Community	Ketchikan	AK	$100,000
Northern Arapaho Tribe	Fort Washakie	WY	$150,000
Puyallup Tribal Health Authority	Tacoma	WA	$150,000

These awards highlight the agency’s commitment to supporting tribal self-determination. The IHS will continue to work with tribes or tribal organizations interested in assuming part or all of existing IHS programs to support the shared goal of providing quality health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives across Indian Country.

The IHS, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states. Follow the agency via social media on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.