va office of tribal government relations odmhsas specialty court training september 3, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
VA Office of Tribal Government Relations
ODMHSAS Specialty Court Training
September 3, 2015
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VA Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR)
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Established office in January 2011 In response to President Clinton’s Executive Order 13175
and President Obama’s memorandum on Tribal Consultation dated November 5, 2009
Recognizes unique Government-to-Government relationship with tribes
5 FTEE – Director, Executive Officer, 4 Regional SpecialistsVA’s Tribal Consultation Policy completed on February 2011
First VA consultations occurred in 2012 Most recently in September 2014/November 2014
OTGR Specialists hired August/September 2011 Responsible for managing a portfolio of relationships with
tribal governments within a specific region Service as a resource to tribal governments for VA services
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VA Organization OFFICE OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Robert McDonaldSecretary
Peter VicaireOTGR Specialist
Central / Northeast Region
L. HoMana PawikiOTGR Specialist
Southwest Region
Terry BentleyOTGR SpecialistWestern Region
Vacant OTGR
Executive Officer
Mary CulleyOTGR Specialist
Southern Plains / Southeast Region
Sloan D. GibsonDeputy Secretary
Rob NaborsChief of Staff
Christopher E. O’ConnorInterim Assistant Secretary for Congressional & Legislative Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Stephanie E. Birdwell, DirectorOffice of Tribal Government Relations
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VA Office of Tribal Government Relations
Region 1:Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island-PeterNorth Carolina-Mary
Region 2:Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina - Mary
Region 3:
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, ND, SD, Wisconsin-Peter
Kansas-Mary
Region 4Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas-Mary
Colorado, Utah - HoMana
Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington-Terry
Region 5
Arizona, New Mexico - HoMana
American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans have played a vital role in the U.S. military for over 200 years.
Native Americans serve at a high rate when compared to other races
Approximately 140,828 Veterans, comprising of 0.7% of almost 20 million Veterans – this is important to note because the AI/AN race is less than 1.0% of the population
36.5% of AI/AN Vets use VA health care *• * Source: 2013 American Community Survey
American Indian/Alaska NativeService Members and Veterans
Three times more highly rural than non-Native Veterans
Younger as a cohort than all other Service Members and Veterans
17-24 y/o - 1.6% vs 1.5% * 25-34 y/o – 9.8% vs 6.8% *
More female Veterans serve than Non-Native (11.5% vs 8.0%)*
Income levels and educational levels lower Higher degree of combat service - more service
connected Veterans than other non-Native counterparts
• *Source: 2013 American Community Survey)
Challenges Facing American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans
Transportation issues Language and cultural barriers Building ‘Trust Relationships’ with the Veterans &
the tribal nations servicing them Understanding the ‘Fiduciary and Trust’
relationships between the government and tribal nations – seeing them as Nations and not a minority group
New to VA’ processes, patience in working with Veterans as tribal staff that service them continue to learn about VA
Receiving and posting updated Benefits info Receiving and posting updated health care info
Challenges Facing (Con’t)American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans
Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care & Benefits Through VA Healthcare Facilities & Vet Centers Through Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery
Administration Through Tribal Health Programs Through Indian Health Service Facilities Tribal Consultation on Section 102(c) of Veterans Access, Choice &
Accountability Act of 2014
Goal 2: Promote Economic Sustainability Through utilization of GI Bill benefits for education Connecting them to job training and job opportunities Awareness of federal contract opportunities for Veteran Owned Small
Business Expand knowledge and use of the Native American Direct Loan Program for
home loans on trust lands
Goal 3: Implement VA’s Tribal Consultation Policy
VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATEVA OTGR – 3 MAIN GOALS
OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care OTGR works closely with tribes to implement the VA, Indian Health Service and Tribal Health
Programs Reimbursement Agreements. VA reimburses IHS and THP programs for direct care services provided to eligible American Indians and Alaska Native Veterans. These agreements increase access to care for American Indians and Alaska Native Veterans nationwide, in particular those highly rural Veterans living within Indian Country.
Listed below are the current agreements and reimbursement amounts:
83 IHS agreements at 108 IHS sites
80 Tribal Health Program (THP)
49 THPs In Progress $24.2 Million Reimbursed (from FY12 to June 2015-FY15)
Tribal Consultation Dec 30, 2015-Jan 14-2015, Section 102 (c), Veterans Choice and Accountability Act of 2014
OTGR Conducts Veterans Training Summits within Indian Country to promote VA services and benefits
21 nationwide (2012 to 2015)
2,536 participants
VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATEConnecting Tribes to Goals
OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care OTGR works closely with tribes to implement the VA, Indian Health Service and Tribal Health Programs
Reimbursement Agreements. VA reimburses IHS and THP programs for direct care services provided to eligible American Indians and Alaska Native Veterans. These agreements increase access to care for American Indians and Alaska Native Veterans nationwide, in particular those highly rural Veterans living within Indian Country.
Listed below are the current local agreements and reimbursement amounts:
Thirteen (13) Indian Health Service agreements
Nine (9) Tribal Health Program (THP)
Four (4) THPs In Progress $3.5 Million Reimbursed (from FY12 to June 2015 FY15)
OTGR Conducts Veterans Training Summits within Indian Country to promote VA services and benefits
Conducted two (2) Native American specific Homeless Stand Downs
227 Total Participants 40 Total Native American female Veterans 21 Total widows
3 Veterans Training Summits locally (2012 to 2015)
369 Total participants for both summits
VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATEConnecting Tribes to Goals
(Southern Plains Region)
OTGR Goal 2: Promote Economic Sustainability
Expand Knowledge and Use of Native American Direct Loan (NADL) Program
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) product
86 Tribal Governments signed NADL MOU1 Tribal Governments in process to sign NADL MOU
HUD-VASH ProgramJan 30, 2015-announced expansion of HUD-VASH Housing Vouchers directly to Native American communities$4 million will be invested specifically to support NA Veterans HUD’ Tribal Consultation with Tribal Nations ended Feb 25th [email protected]
Connecting Tribes to Goals
OTGR Goal 2: Promote Economic SustainabilityExpand Knowledge and Use of Native American Direct Loan (NADL)
ProgramVeterans Benefits Administration (VBA) product
2 Oklahoma Tribal Governments have a signed NADL MOU
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Ponca Nation
- Kansas Tribal Government has signed a NADL MOU
- Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
1 Oklahoma Tribal Government in process to sign NADL MOU
- Seminole Nation
Expand Knowledge and Use of National Cemetery Administration’ Tribal Cemetery Grant
1 Oklahoma Tribal Government received Cemetery Grant 2014
- Seminole Nation – Dedication Ceremony was November 2014
1 Oklahoma Tribal Government pending grant approval
- Ponca Nation – pending architectural review and approval to move forward with grant
Connecting Tribes to Goals (Southern Plains Region)
- Establishing relationships with tribal staff - Attend their tribal health fairs, mental health summits- Invite tribal healthcare staff to your summits- Teach tribal staff your processes and how to
manipulate your systems to better serve the NA Veteran population
- Invite a Tribal mental health representative to be a guest speaker at your events – allow them the opportunity to teach your staff true cultural competence
- Expand your knowledge of their programs
Establishing “Trust” Relationships with NA Veteran Populations
- Be patient – when working with both staff & Veterans – learning new government programs they have never encountered before is not easy
- Be cognizant of the small facial cues- If I nod “yes” while you are speaking does not
necessarily mean I understand you- Ask them if they understand before continuing - Native American people are generally quiet – so ask to
make sure they understand- Never expect big crowds the first time you have a tribal
event
- Understand “Historical Trauma”
Establishing “Trust” Relationships with NA Veteran Populations
Department of Veterans AffairsOffice of Tribal Government [email protected]
405-456-3876
www.va.gov/tribalgovernment - Main website
[email protected] – VA-IHS-THP Reimbursement Agreements
[email protected] – email for tribal leaders to submit inquiries directly to VA
Office of Tribal Government Relations Office of the Director
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