Jerilyn Church, GPTCHB CEO, applauded the Bush Foundation for their willingness to invest in capacity building for Tribes under their Native Nations Building philanthropy program. “I was surprised to learn that no such template existed when we made our decision to exercise our rights under ISDEAA. Many of our Tribes don’t have access to the kind of expertise you need to understand the complicated ISDEAA process and build a sustainable health delivery system. Providing a proven model with options will allow more Tribes to explore their Self Governance and Self Determination rights, bringing them closer to achieving better health care delivery and outcomes for their communities. This has been our dream for our people for years”
Inspired by the success of Self Governance in Alaska and other IHS Service Areas, GPTCHB agreed to pursue Title V authority on behalf of Cheyenne River, Oglala, and Rosebud Sioux Tribes last April and submitted its letter of intent to the Indian Health Service to develop a tribal system of care as it assumes management of the Rapid City Service Unit (Sioux San) and the construction contract for the new health facility funded by Congress.. Tribal representatives to the Unified Health Board and appointed community members who are users of the Sioux San comprise the new Mni Luzahan Wicozani Advisory Committee which guides GPTCHB in its planning and development of the new health system and facility.
Additionally, GPTCHB will continue activities to pursue tribal management of Great Plains Area Indian Health Service area office functions on behalf of Great Plains Tribes that have authorized GPTCHB to negotiate the assumption of these functions on their behalf. “Self-Governance exploration and planning in the Great Plains is motivated by recent direct service failures of the IHS, but is largely inspired by the success of Self Governance in Alaska, and other areas” states Ryman LeBeau, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council Representative and Chair of the Mni Luzahan Advisory Committee. The GPTCHB also will be working closely with other tribes in the Great Plains Area that have successfully assumed outpatient clinics from IHS and with the Winnebago.
Article originally published at Native Sun News.