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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Oklahoma City Area

Community Health Representative (CHR)

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Community Health Representative (CHR) Program is an IHS-funded, tribally contracted program of well-trained and medically-guided community-based health workers. The CHR Program was established by Congress in 1968 in response to the expressed needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) governments, organizations, and the IHS, for a healthcare program that would provide an outreach component to meet specific tribal healthcare needs.

Today, the CHR program serves as the largest tribally contracted and compacted program with more than 95% of CHR programs being directly operated by Tribes under P.L. 93-638 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended. There are more than 1,600 CHRs representing over 250 tribes in all 12 IHS Areas. The authority for the CHR program can be found in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Section 107 of P.L. 100-713, dated November 23, 1988. IHS-operated CHR programs

CHRs are trained in the skills of health care provision, disease control, and prevention and help to eliminate health disparities by removing barriers to care in their communities. CHRs are the frontline workforce focusing on improving Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) for underserved populations to decrease health inequities across the country using a community-based approach. CHR activities impact SDOH by increasing:

  • access to care and coverage,
  • social/cultural cohesion, transportation,
  • food access,
  • environmental quality,
  • social justice,
  • housing, and
  • educational training opportunities

For more information regarding the CHR Program aspects, contact Debra Isham, E-mail: Debra.Isham@ihs.gov, Area Community Health Representative Consultant, Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service.

Apache Tribe of Oklahoma
Antoinette Short, CHR Director
P.O. Box 1330
Physical Address: 513 E. Colorado
Anadarko, OK 73005
Phone: (405) 247-9493, ext. 104/or option #2
Toll Free: 866-888-3639

Caddo Nation
Sharla Moore, CHR Director
P.O. Box 487
Binger, OK 73009
Phone: 405-656-2882 or 2344 Ext. 220

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes
Ladonna Romannose, CHR Director
P.O. Box 167
Concho, OK 73022
Phone: 405-295-1759
Toll Free: 1-800-687-0973

Chickasaw Nation - Ada Area Office
Leta Burwell, Executive Officer
Katie Ackerman, Manager
P.O. Box 1548
Ada, OK 74821
Physical Address: 231 Seabrook Road
Ada, OK 74820
Phone: 580-436-7256

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Randy Hammons
One Choctaw Way
Talihina, OK 74751
Phone: 918-567-7000 Ext. 6094
Toll Free: 800-522-6170

Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Sheli Ludi, LPN, CHR Director
Health Services Senior Support Network
2307 S. Gordon Cooper Dr.
Shawnee, OK 74801
Phone: 405-214-5111
Toll Free: 800-880-9880

Comanche Nation
Laura Trusty, CHR Director
P.O. Box 908
Physical Address: 584 NW Bingo Road
Lawton, OK 73502
Phone: 580-492-3758

Delaware Nation
Ambrea Marshall, CHR Coordinator
P.O. Box 825
Physical Address: 31064 US Highway 281
Anadarko, OK 73005
Phone: 405-247-2448

Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Elizabeth Chenoweth, CHR
10135 S. Bluejacket Road
Wyandotte, OK 74370
Phone: 918-666-5220

Fort Sill Apache
Haylee Buckner
43187 US Hwy 281
Apache, OK 73006-8038
Phone: 580-588-2298
Toll Free: 877-826-0726

Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska
Brenda Griffin, RN
3313 Thrasher Road
White Cloud, KS 66094-4028
Phone: 785-595-3285

Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma
Laura Shepherd, Community Health Nurse
Perkins Family Clinic
509 E. Highway 33
Perkins, OK 74059
Phone: 405- 547-2473

Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
Estella Suke, CHR Director
P.O. Box 70
Physical Address: 105365 Hwy 102
McLoud, OK 74851
Phone: 405-964-2081 x-314

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
Monya Atchico, Manager/CHR
2212 Rosita Valley Road
Eagle Pass, TX 78852
Phone: 830-421-5936

Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma
Terry Tartsah, CHR Director
P.O. Box 369
Physical Address: 100 Kiowa Way
Carnegie, OK 73015
Phone: 580-654-2216

Wyandotte Nation
Renee Zumwalt
1 Turtle Drive
Wyandotte, OK  74370
918-678-2282 ext. 259

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
Laurie Shade, CHR Supervisor
P.O. Box 1326
Physical Address: 202 S. Eight Tribes Trail
CHR Office: 2309 W. Newman Rd.
Miami, OK 74355
CHR Phone: 918-541-2172
Phone: 918-542-1445

Modoc Nation
Jessica Mullin, CHR
22 N. Eight Tribes Trail
Miami, OK 74354
918-542-1190

Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Randy Colbert, CHR Director
1800 East Coplin Road
Okemah, OK 74859
Office # 918-623-1925

Osage Nation
Crystal Standingbear, LPN & CHR Director
1221 Grandview
Pawhuska, OK 74056
Phone: 918-287-5370

Otoe-Missouria Tribe
Marcella Harper, CHR Director
P.O. Box 294
Physical Location: 8151 Hwy 177
Red Rock, OK 74651
Phone: 580-723-4466 Ext. 159

Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma
Linda Plott, CHR & Health Director
P.O. Box 110
Physical Location: 13 South HWY 69A
Miami, OK 74354
Phone: 918-540-1536

Pawnee Nation
Lisa Gooday
P.O. Box 470
Physical Location: 400 Agency Road
Pawnee, OK 74058
Phone: 918-762-4641

Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma
Caitlin Schiltz
P.O. Box 1527
Physical Location:118 S. Eight Tribes Trail
Miami, OK 74355
Phone: 918-540-2535 Ext. 22

Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma
Physical address: 20 White Eagle Dr.
Ponca City, OK 74601
Phone: 580-765-2501 Ext. 2226

Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
Alaura Lillie, RN, BSN, CHR Supervisor
Brenda Nozhackum, CHR
P.O. Box 174
11400 158th Road
Mayetta, KS 66509
Phone:785-966-8233

Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska
Summer Goben
R.R. 1 Box 60
Reserve, KS 66434
Phone: 785-742-7308

Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma
Angel Martinez-Thornton, RN
Mailing Address: Route 2 Box 246
Physical Address: 356110 E. 930 Road
Stroud, OK 74079
Phone: 918-968-9531
Toll Free: 800-830-0683

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
Amanda Upshaw
P.O. Box 1498
Physical Address: 12579 NS 2540 CR
Wewoka, OK 74884
Phone: 405- 234-5271
Toll Free: 866-518-2247

Seneca-Cayuga Nation
Michael Kerr, (Acting) CHR Director
Physical Location: 23701 S 655 Rd
Grove, OK 74344
Phone: 918-786-9133

Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma
Mary Starr, CHR Director
P.O. Box 70
Tonkawa, OK 74653
Phone: 580-628-2561 x-122

Wichita & Affiliated Tribes
Fran Harrison, CHR Director
P.O. Box 729
Physical Address: 1¼ miles North of Anadarko
Anadarko, OK 73005
Phone: 405-247-8658