Skip to site content

IHS Advisory Committees, Boards, and Workgroups

Several IHS advisory committees, boards, and workgroups exist to provide leadership, advocacy, and guidance to the IHS Director on a variety of policy and program matters. Information about these groups, including member listings, charters, charges, contact information, and more are all accessible from this site.

Name Description
Contract Support Costs Advisory Group (CSCAG)

The purpose of the CSCAG is to serve as a resource for information and advice to the IHS. The CSCAG is also tasked with providing recommendations for a uniform and equitable system of determining, paying, and reconciling Contract Support Costs (CSC) funds for new, expanded, and ongoing Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act contracts and compacts.

CSCAG Charter

Meets: Subject to availability of funding, the CSCAG will hold a minimum of one annual meeting.

Contact: Division of Contract Support Costs Staff

More Information

Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC)

The DSTAC was established in 2005 to provide leadership that advises the IHS Director on the development of Indian health policy that impacts the delivery of health care for Indian Tribes with an emphasis on policies that impact the Direct Service Tribes.

Meets: Quarterly.

Contact: Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes
(301) 443-1104

Members: The DSTAC is comprised of elected/appointed Tribal Leaders from nine IHS Area with Direct Service Tribes.  A complete membership listing is available on the Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes webpage. 

More Information

Director’s Workgroup on Improving Purchased/Referred Care (PRC Workgroup)

The PRC Workgroup provides recommendations to the IHS Director on strategies to improve and reform the Agency's PRC program. The Workgroup reviews input received to improve the PRC program; evaluates the existing formula for distributing PRC funds; and recommends improvements in the way PRC operations are conducted within the IHS and the Indian health system.

Members: Members: The Workgroup consists of two representatives from each of the 12 IHS Areas.  A complete membership listing is available on the Director's Workgroup for Improving PRC webpage.

Meets: 2-3 times per year; meeting announcements are posted on the IHS calendar.

Contact: Alison Sanders, Management & Program Analyst, Office of Resource Access and Partnerships

More Information

Facilities Appropriations Advisory Board (FAAB)

The IHS utilizes the FAAB to ensure that there is input from the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities with programs associated with the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE).

Members:

Alaska:

  • James Roberts, Senior Executive Liaison, Intergovernmental Affairs, ANTHC
  • Jessica Mata-Rukovishnikoff, Primary Care Services Regional Administrator, APIA

Albuquerque:

  • Martin Lopez, Jr., Director of Health Services, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo

Bemidji:

  • Susie Meshigaud, Director of Health Services, Hannahville Potawatomi Indian Community

Billings:

  • Richard Brannan, CEO, Wind River Family and Community Health Care

California:

  • Michael Garcia, Vice Chairman, Southern Indian Health Council Tribe
  • Angie Wilson, Health Board Member of Pit River Tribal Health Program

Great Plains:

  • Janet Alkire, Chairwoman, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
  • Frank Star Comes Out, President, Oglala Sioux Tribe

Nashville:

  • Vacant

Navajo:

  • Dr. Buu Nygren, President, Navajo Nation
  • Sherylene Yazzie, Executive Director, Navajo Department of Health

Oklahoma City:

  • Charles Grim, Secretary, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Phoenix:

  • Ricardo Leonard, Vice President, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community

Portland:

  • Aaron Hines, CEO, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation
  • Alison Ball, Tribal Government Chair, Colville Business Council

Tucson:

  • Carla Johnson, Vice-Chairwoman, Tohono O’odhom Nation
  • Veronica Geronimo, CEO, Tohono O’odhom Nation

Federal Representatives:

  • CDR Martin Smith, Director, OEHE, IHS
  • Steven Raynor, Director, DFPC, IHS
  • CDR Craig Morin, Director OEHE, Bemidji Area, IHS

Meets: Meetings are held 2 times per year.

Contact: Office of Environmental Health & Engineering

More Information

Information Systems Advisory Committee (ISAC)

The ISAC was established to guide the development of a co-owned Indian health information infrastructure and information systems. The goal of the ISAC is to assure the creation of flexible and dynamic information systems that assist in the management and delivery of health care and contribute to the elevation of health status of Indian people. The ISAC will assist in ensuring that information systems are available, accessible, useful, cost effective, and user-friendly for local-level providers, while continuing to create standardized aggregate data that supports advocacy for the Indian health programs at the national level. Learn more about the ISAC Charter.

Members: Members: A complete listing is available on the ISAC webpage.

Meets: At least twice annually either in person, by telephone, or through video-conference.

Contact: Information Systems Advisory Committee

More Information

National Tribal Advisory Committee on Behavioral Health (NTAC)

The National Tribal Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Behavioral Health acts as an advisory body to the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) and to the IHS Director, with the aim of providing guidance and recommendations on programmatic issues that affect the delivery of behavioral health care for American Indian and Alaska Natives.

Members: The NTAC consists of one primary and one alternate from each of the 12 IHS Areas.

NTAC Charter

Leadership:

  • Tribal Co-Chair (Temporary): April Kyle, President and CEO, Southcentral Foundation (Alaska Area Representative)
  • Federal Co-Chair: Glorinda Segay (IHS Division of Behavioral Health)

National Tribal Advisory Committee on Behavioral Health Roster

Meets: Subject to availability of funding, there is at least one in-person meeting annually. Virtual meetings convene once per quarter.

Contact: IHS Division of Behavioral Health - Glorinda Segay, DBH
(301) 443-2038

More Information

National Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup

The Budget Formulation Workgroup is selected annually to complete and carry out the work of the larger budget team. The workgroup prepares the final set of tribal budget recommendations with an accompanying testimony on the results of the national budget work session and presents to the IHS Director as well as to the HHS senior officials at the annual HHS Tribal Consultation meeting. The workgroup also conducts an evaluation meeting of the recently completed budget process to improve the process and to develop the schedule for the next budget cycle.

Members: The workgroup consists of two Tribal representatives from each of the 12 IHS Areas as identified at the Area work sessions. Additional representatives from Indian organization(s) will participate in the workgroup at the discretion of the IHS Director.

Leadership:

  • Tribal Co-Chair: Victor Joseph, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Alaska Representative
  • Tribal Co-Chair: Stephen Kutz (Cowlitz), Health Clinic Director, Suquamish Tribe

Alaska:

  • Victor Joseph, Tanana Chiefs Conference
  • Alberta Unok, President/CEO, Alaska Native Health Board

Albuquerque:

  • Lane Oka/Jicarilla Apache Nation
  • Birdena Sanchez/Pueblo of Zuni

Bemidji:

  • Debra Danforth, RN, BSN Oneida Comprehensive Health Division Director Operations, Oneida Nation
  • Mr. Robin Carufel, Assistant Health Director, Sokaogon Chipp wa Community

Billings:

  • Levi Black Eagle, Secretary, Crow Tribe
  • Len TwoTeeth, Vice Chairman, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

California:

  • Michael Garcia, Vice Chairman, Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
  • Chris Devers, Tribal Representative

Great Plains:

  • Peter Lengkeek, Chairman, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe
  • Ryman LeBeau, Chairman, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Nashville:

  • Dee Sabattus, Passamaquoddy Indian Township
  • Steven Tupponce, Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe

Navajo:

  • Dr, Buu Nygren, President, The Navajo Nation
  • Germaine Simonson, Vice Chairperson, Navajo Nation Council Health, Education and Human Services Committee

Oklahoma City:

  • President Deborah Dotson, Delaware Nation
  • Vice President Tasha Mousseau, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes

Phoenix:

  • Jerome Kasey III, Vice Chairman, White Mountain Apache Tribe
  • Catherine Williams-Tuni, Chairwoman, Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe

Portland:

  • Stephen Kutz (Cowlitz), Health Clinic Director, Suquamish Tribe,
  • Aaron Hines, NPAIHB Delegate

Tucson:

  • Carla Johnson, Vice-Chairwoman, Tohono O’odham Nation
  • Councilwoman Herminia Frias, Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council Member and Health Oversight Co-Chair 

Meets: 2-3 times year.

Contact: Office of Finance and Accounting – Division of Budget Formulation

More Information

Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC)

The TLDC was established in 1998 and makes recommendations to the IHS Director on broad-based policy and advocacy priorities for diabetes and related chronic conditions, as well as recommends a process for the distribution of Special Diabetes Programs for Indians funds.

Members: A complete membership listing is available on the TLDC Members webpage

Meets: Quarterly.

Contact: Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention
(505) 248-4182

More Information

Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC)

The TSGAC Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  provides a forum for Tribal and Federal officials to discuss issues related to Tribal administration of Federal programs and services, exchange ideas, and develop solutions intended to improve Self-Governance and enhance the Tribal-Federal partnership. The TSGAC advises the IHS Director on activities and issues related to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and the implementation of the Tribal Self-Governance Program at the IHS. The TSGAC represents Self-Governance Tribes by acting on their behalf to clarify issues that affect all compacting tribes specific to issues affecting the delivery of health care of American Indian and Alaska Natives.

Members:

Alaska:
Ileen Sylvester, Primary
James Roberts, Alternate
Albuquerque:
Gary Lujan, Primary
E. Michael Silvas, Alternate
Bemidji:
Jennifer Webster, Primary
Alternate Vacant
Billings:
Lenore Myers-Nault, Primary
Mike Dolson, Alternate
California:
Ryan Jackson, Primary
Robert Smith, Alternate
Great Plains:
Lonna Street, Primary
Jerilyn Church, Alternate
Nashville:
Beverly Cook, Primary
Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, Alternate
Navajo:
Buu Nygren, Primary
Kim Russell, Alternate
Oklahoma City:
John Barrett, Jr., Primary
Lana Butler, Alternate
Chris Anoatubby, Primary
Gary Batton, Alternate
Phoenix:
Angie Wilson, Primary
Delia Carlyle, Alternate
Portland:
W. Ron Allen, Primary
Cheryl Sanders, Alternate
Tucson:
Daniel Preston III, Primary
Anthony J. Francisco, Jr., Alternate

Meets: 4 times per year.

Contact: Office of Tribal Self-Governance

More Information