September 14, 2026: IHS Updates for Tribes and Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations
The bi-weekly update provides up-to-date information on recent events, meetings, conferences, upcoming deadlines, and recognition of the work being done across the Indian Health Service, other federal agencies, and Indian Country. For more information or questions, please email IHSPublicAffairsStaff@ihs.gov.
IHS Director Mark Cruz Featured in the Leadership Spotlight of HHS Secretary’s Newsletter
IHS Director Mark Cruz was featured in the Leadership Spotlight of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s weekly newsletter on September 8, sharing his vision for the agency, his personal connection to the Indian health system, and his priorities for strengthening health care across Indian Country. Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, reflected on growing up in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he received dental care through his Tribe’s health clinic. He recalled watching the clinic evolve from a small facility into a modern health center, an experience that shaped his perspective on the progress of the Indian health system and the opportunities ahead.
“The growth and improvement of access to quality health care in Indian Country is an undertold story,” Cruz said. He emphasized his goals of highlighting the successes of Tribal self-determination and self-governance while strengthening and modernizing IHS direct care services.
Cruz highlighted the important role of the IHS workforce in improving health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native people. He said he wants IHS services to make a lasting difference for future generations and employees to take pride in both their workplaces and the critical services they provide. The spotlight also highlights Cruz’s role as the HHS senior advisor on Tribal programs and his focus on addressing chronic disease and other health challenges affecting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
IHS Director Mark Cruz and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
25-Year Commemoration of September 11
Twenty-five years ago, our nation was forever changed. On September 11, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives taken in 2001, and honor the first responders who ran toward danger to save others. In the days and weeks that followed, HHS joined the response, including the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and personnel from the National Disaster Medical System and the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile, which would later become important parts of HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. We honor all who served, all who sacrificed, and all who still carry the wounds of that day. We will never forget.
IHS and HHS Celebrate Labor Day
Labor Day honors the contributions, achievements, and dedication of American workers. At IHS, it also provides an opportunity to recognize the employees whose commitment to public service helps advance the agency’s mission each day. Across the Indian health system, IHS staff work to improve the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native people, strengthen services, and support healthier Tribal communities.
In his Labor Day message, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., thanked employees for their service and emphasized the important role HHS staff play in improving the health of millions of Americans and creating opportunities for future generations to live healthier lives.
Thank you to all IHS employees for your dedication, professionalism, and continued service to the people and communities we serve. We wish you and your families a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.
National Indian Health Outreach and Education Cooperative Agreement Now Available
The IHS is now accepting applications for the National Indian Health Outreach and Education (NIHOE) cooperative agreement, a competitive program that is administered by the Office of Tribal and Urban Affairs. This cooperative agreement is intended to foster outreach that broadcasts information and provides technical assistance that increases health education to all American Indian and Alaska Native people. The purpose is to further the IHS mission and goals related to providing quality health care to Tribal communities through outreach and education with a focus on promoting awareness, visibility, training, and technical assistance. Applications are due by November 2, and the earliest anticipated start date is January 1, 2027. For more information about the NIHOE cooperative agreement, please contact Kenneth Coriz.
IHS Leadership Sets Strategic Priorities for Fiscal Year 2027
Earlier this month, IHS leadership gathered in Dallas for a three-day strategic leadership retreat focused on establishing a shared vision, strengthening the agency’s operating model and translating priorities into action. Leaders reviewed the current state of IHS, discussed the four-center model and organizational realignment, and identified measures of success for fiscal year 2027, including systemwide key performance indicators. Working sessions focused on establishing center goals and measures, identifying opportunities to standardize processes and share resources, reducing duplicative or low-value work, and clarifying authority and accountability across the agency.
The retreat concluded with a review of fiscal year 2027 priorities and development of a 30-60-90-day action plan outlining specific actions, responsibilities, deliverables, and deadlines to move the agency’s priorities forward.
IHS Director Mark Cruz, center, with IHS staff at the Strategic Leadership Retreat in Dallas
Contract Support Cost Advisory Group Advances Policy Updates
On September 3–4, the IHS Contract Support Cost Advisory Group (CSCAG) met in Washington, D.C., to advance updates to Indian Health Manual policy related to implementation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision, “Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe.” The CSCAG brings together federal and Tribal representatives to collaborate on contract support cost policy and is co-chaired by Rena Macy, director of the IHS Office of Indian Self-Determination and Self-Governance, and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Martin Harvier.
The meeting was the first in a series planned over the next year to develop and update policy, templates, and best practices related to pre-award and startup costs, direct contract support costs, and indirect contract support costs. Through this collaborative process, federal and Tribal representatives will work to develop clear, practical guidance to support consistent implementation of the Supreme Court decision. The CSCAG will meet again October 27–28 in Sacramento, California.
IHS Announces Winners of Dental Professional of the Year Awards
The Division of Oral Health and National Oral Health Council are pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s IHS Dental Professional of the Year Awards. These outstanding professionals were nominated by their peers and selected based on their exceptional service, hard work, dedication, and contributions to improving the oral health of American Indians and Alaska Natives within their communities. Please join us in congratulating the award recipients and thanking them for their exceptional work and commitment to the IHS mission!
- Senior Dental Hygienist of the Year: Jerelyn Koosmann, Bad River Band of Lake Chippewa; Ashland, Wisc.
- Junior Dental Hygienist of the Year: Katlynn Marchant, Fort Hall Service Unit; Fort Hall, Idaho.
- Senior Dental Assistant of the Year: Tina Webster, El Reno Indian Health Center; El Reno, Okla.
- Junior Dental Assistant of the Year: Sarah Foster, Clinton Indian Health Center; Clinton, Okla.
- Senior Dental Health Aide Therapist of the Year: Savannah Bonorden, Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital; Sitka, Alaska.
- Junior Dental Health Aide Therapist of the Year: Kaela Hoyt, Juneau Dental Clinic; Juneau, Alaska.
- Specialist Dentist of the Year: Dr. Emily Ikahihifo, Northern Navajo Medical Center; Shiprock, N.M.
- Senior Dentist of the Year: Dr. Joe Nieto, Yakima Health Center; Toppenish, Wash.
- Mid-Career Dentist of the Year: Dr. Rosanna Flores, Albuquerque Indian Dental Clinic; Albuquerque, N.M.
- Junior Dentist of the Year: Dr. Girish Shelke, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Durant, Okla.
IHS Observes Suicide Prevention Week and Day
Last week was Suicide Prevention Week, with World Suicide Prevention Day being recognized on September 10. Suicide IS preventable, and suicide prevention starts with all of us. Together, we can create communities where people feel seen, supported, and connected. Whether you or someone you know are facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, caring counselors are here for you. Call, text, or chat with 988.
The IHS has also partnered with Crisis Text Line to share resources to support patients and providers during times of crisis. Crisis Text Line is free, confidential, and available 24/7 to offer support. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis or mental health stressors, counselors are available by texting NATIVE to 741741.
IHS Blog Highlights Actions to Help Prevent Overdose
In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, IHS highlighted actions individuals and communities can take to help prevent overdose and support recovery. In a new IHS blog, Capt. Cynthia Gunderson, chair of the IHS National Committee on Heroin, Opioids, and Pain Efforts (HOPE), discusses the importance of expanding access to naloxone, promoting safe medication storage, connecting people with treatment, and creating supportive environments for those in recovery.
Everyone can play a role in preventing overdose and helping build healthier communities. To learn more, visit the IHS blog.
IHS Joins Native America Calling Show on Heat-Related Illnesses, Treatment, and Prevention
Summer may be winding down, but dangerous heat continues across parts of the country. On Wednesday, Gallup Indian Medical Center Emergency Department Director Dr. Paul Charlton joined Native America Calling, a live call-in program covering issues specific to Native communities, to discuss how extreme heat can affect our health, including risks, treatment, and prevention.
Office of Quality Highlights Updated Joint Commission Survey Resources
On September 8, the IHS Office of Quality (OQ) hosted its bi-weekly Tracers Office Hours, bringing together 55 participants from across IHS to review updates to the Joint Commission Survey Process Guide and a new Survey Tool Guide for hospitals and critical access hospitals. The revised Survey Process Guide replaces the previous Survey Activity Guide and brings Joint Commission standards, regulatory requirements, and survey procedures into a streamlined resource. The guide also incorporates National Performance Goals, reduces redundancy, and provides organizations with a practical resource to support ongoing compliance and survey readiness.
OQ encourages hospital and critical access hospital teams to review the updated resources as they prepare for upcoming survey cycles. The Survey Process Guide and related resources are available on the Joint Commission website.
Patient Safety Program and VHA Offer Training Opportunities for IHS Staff
The IHS Patient Safety Program has partnered with the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Patient Safety to enhance training opportunities for agency staff. Through this collaboration, IHS personnel have access to a range of VHA-administered training modules designed to strengthen patient safety practices across the system. Upcoming virtual training opportunities include:
- “Root Cause Analysis” on November 17 | 6.5 hours | Register by November 10
- “Proactive Risk Assessment” on December 8 | 6.5 hours | Register by December 1
- “Foundations for Patient Safety Officers” on February 2-25 | 32 hours | Register by January 26
These training courses are an excellent opportunity for professional development and to promote a culture of safety across IHS. For more information and to register, click here.
Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence Webinar Series
The Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence Tele-Education Program is hosting the following webinar for health care providers:
- Telehealth Webinar Series: "Suicide Risk Assessment for EMS” on September 22 at 12:00 p.m. ET | Register here
- Behavioral Health Integration Webinar Series: "Cultivating a Positive Clinic Culture in Integrated Care Environments” on September 24 at 12:00 p.m. ET | Register here
- Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Webinar Series: "Beyond Baby Blues: Understanding Perinatal PTSD” on September 24 at 2:00 p.m. ET | Register here
- Program Sustainability Webinar Series: "Advocating for Funding/Donations” on September 28 at 12:00 p.m. ET | Register here
- Telehealth Webinar Series: "Risk Assessment and Safety Planning for People at Risk of Harm to Self and/or Others” on September 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET | Register here
- Telehealth Webinar Series: "Crises in Caregiving: Helping Families Cope” on October 6 at 12:00 p.m. ET | Register here
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