History and Background

It is generally accepted that the CHR program began in 1968, but the CHR program was not a creation of the Indian Health Service.
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Fun Facts

Woody Hanson, Cherokee CHR and Oklahoma area association CHR (OAACHR) President, is a snake handler who provides injury prevention trainings on how to avoid snakebites and other topics
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Anniversary Celebration & Honoring Ceremony of Collaborative Demonstration Project

On 9 July Angel Flight volunteer pilots were honored at the annual summer festival in Browning MT on the Blackfeet reservation. The national CHR Program and Angel Flight (formerly AirLifeLine) partnered over the last year for demonstration projects for ambulatory AI/AN persons needing transportation for medical care to be flown within 1000 miles at no cost to the patient or I H S. Local CHRs provided necessary coordination and communication among patient, family, pilot/AngeFlight, and medical providers at both locations; in addition to tribal administrations, local officials and airport personnel. Two volunteer pilots who have donated so much of their time and resources over the last year to provide air transportation were also honored publicly in opening ceremonies with an honor dance and giveaway at the Festival.

Documentation and training to implement such an initiative by your CHR Program and your local tribal/I H S health facility can be obtained by contacting National CHR Program.

The National CHR Program would like to acknowledge and thank Mary Ellen LaFramboise of the Blackfeet Nation’s CHR Program and Claudia Bannon, volunteer at Angel Flight, for their instrumental roles in making the pilot project a success.