DHHS Providing Meaningful Consultation Opportunities for Tribes on Family First Prevention Services Act

 RESOLUTION #18 – 41 

“DHHS PROVIDING MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRIBES ON FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES ACT” 

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants rights secured under Indian Treaties, Executive Orders, and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and constitution of the United States and several states, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise to promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution: 

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) are representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and specific tribal concerns; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI is a regional organization comprised of American Indians/Alaska Natives and tribes in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, and Alaska; and 

WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural resources are primary goals and objectives of the ATNI; now 

WHEREAS, the Family First Prevention Services Act was enacted into law on February 9, 2018, as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 in Division E and provides new federal funding for tribes and states to support prevention services that can help families keep their children safely at home rather than having them removed and placed in foster care; and  

WHEREAS, the new law is complex and requires development of criteria for states and tribes that will determine their ability to receive the prevention services funding starting October 1, 2019; and 

WHEREAS, the law requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to develop tribal specific criteria that will allow for support of cultural services; and 

WHEREAS, the development of tribal criteria is important not just for services to tribal children under tribal jurisdiction, but also for tribal children under state jurisdiction; and 

WHEREAS, tribes are working as much as possible to prepare for the new law’s implementation, but so far DHHS has not provided ample education on the law that takes into consideration unique tribal circumstances and service delivery systems and has not provided ample notice and opportunity for tribes to consult with DHHS on implementation of the law; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby request that DHHS redouble their efforts to provide more effective education on the law and facilitate consultation with tribes that meets tribal needs and is in alignment with the federal-tribal government-to-government relationship; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI requests that the education and consultation efforts be conducted on a regional basis to provide opportunities for all tribes to participate in on site, in-person sessions.