{"id":155430,"date":"2025-06-24T20:53:32","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T01:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=155430"},"modified":"2025-06-24T20:53:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T01:53:32","slug":"department-of-health-and-human-services-invites-tribes-to-listening-sessions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/06\/24\/department-of-health-and-human-services-invites-tribes-to-listening-sessions\/","title":{"rendered":"Department of Health and Human Services invites tribes to listening sessions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O8qQxLYTyV8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Department of Health and Human Services: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/O8qQxLYTyV8>HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Department of Health and Human Services invites tribes to listening session<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Tuesday, June 24, 2025<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/>Department of Health and Human Services<\/a> (HHS) is inviting tribes to attend a listening session to discuss a reorganization of the agency.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe listening sessions are taking place virtually, on July 16 and July 17. A <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/hhs062425\/\">Dear Tribal Leader Letter<\/a> was sent out on behalf of <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/seckennedy\">HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.<\/a> on Monday.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The Secretary understands the vital importance of the Indian health system to the well-being of tribes across the United States,&#8221; the <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/hhs062425\/\">two-page letter<\/a> from  Darcie L. Johnston, the Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affair at HHS, reads. &#8220;The current restructuring will help to streamline services, consolidate offices, and better address unmet needs in Indian country. Our Department is committed to prioritizing Indian health and the government-to-government relationship under Secretary Kennedy&#8217;s leadership.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nKennedy announced the reorganization on March 27. Although the <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/27\/press-release-department-of-health-and-human-services-to-undergo-dramatic-restructuring\/\">press release<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/27\/fact-sheet-department-of-health-and-human-services-to-undergo-dramatic-restructuring\/\">fact sheet<\/a> did not mention Indian Country or the <a href=https:\/\/www.ihs.gov\/>Indian Health Service<\/a> (IHS), tribes and their advocates have said the changes will <a href=https:\/\/ncuih.org\/2025\/04\/01\/hhs-announces-reorganization-impacting-hrsa-and-samhsa\/>impact crucial programs they depend on<\/a> at other <a href=https:\/\/ncuih.org\/2025\/04\/30\/april-policy-updates-highlights-from-ncuihs-annual-conference-and-hill-day-hhs-reorganization-medicaid-cuts-and-more\/>agencies within HHS<\/a>, such as the elimination of the <a href=https:\/\/minorityhealth.hhs.gov\/center-indigenous-innovation-and-health>Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity<\/a>  at  the Office of Minority Health and the termination of staff from the <a href=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/healthy-tribes\/php\/index.html>Healthy Tribes Program<\/a> at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nTribal organizations, supported by key members of Congress, have called for formal <a href=https:\/\/www.nihb.org\/tribal-nations-have-a-legal-right-to-tribal-consultation-hhs-must-honor-it\/>consultation on the reorganization<\/a>. HHS, however, is stopping short of that mandate for now.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;Tribal Consultation is not optional &#8212; it is a legal mandate grounded in the federal trust responsibility,&#8221; the <a href=https:\/\/www.nihb.org\/tribal-nations-have-a-legal-right-to-tribal-consultation-hhs-must-honor-it\/>National Indian Health Board said<\/a> on May 22.\r\n<P><P>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/27\/press-release-department-of-health-and-human-services-to-undergo-dramatic-restructuring\/departmentofhealthandhumanservices-5\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-129983\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" data-attachment-id=\"129983\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/27\/press-release-department-of-health-and-human-services-to-undergo-dramatic-restructuring\/departmentofhealthandhumanservices-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/27\/departmentofhealthandhumanservices-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1536\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Department of Health and Human Services\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Department of Health and Human Services&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;The headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. Photo by Indianz.Com &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/&quot;&gt;(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/27\/departmentofhealthandhumanservices-1.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/27\/departmentofhealthandhumanservices-1.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/27\/departmentofhealthandhumanservices-1.jpg\" alt=\"Department of Health and Human Services\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-129983\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">The headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. Photo by Indianz.Com <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<P><P>\r\nAccording to the letter, the sessions are taking place from 12-5:30pm Eastern on July 16 and July 17.  An agenda has not yet been released.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nTribes can register for one or both of the sessions at <a href=https:\/\/www.zoomgov.com\/meeting\/register\/6JeZupMwTjmpR3ly2Qz9wA>zoomgov.com\/meeting\/register\/6JeZupMwTjmpR3ly2Qz9wA<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nWritten comments  are also being accepted through July 18, 2025, according to the letter.  They can be sent via email at  TribalAffairs@hhs.gov with the subject line of &#8220;Tribal Listening Session on the HHS Reorganization.\r\n<p><\/P>\r\nComments can be sent by mail to:\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nDarcie L. Johnston, Principal Deputy Director<BR>\r\nDept. of Health &#038; Human Services<BR>\r\nOffice of the Secretary, IEA<BR>\r\n200 Independence Ave. SW<BR>\r\nMail Stop: 620E.11<BR>\r\nWashington, DC 20201\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSeparately, the IHS has scheduled a series of tribal consultations and urban Indian confer sessions to discuss a proposed realignment of the agency. A <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/dtll_duioll_06132025\/>Dear Tribal Leader Letter dated June 13<\/a> indicates an expansive and broad initiative centered on delivery of patient care, enterprise and operational management and  self-determination.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;As we look at the future of the Agency over the next 70 years, we must examine what works well and identify where and how the IHS must improve,&#8221; the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/dtll_duioll_06132025\/>three-page letter<\/a> from Benjamin Smith, the acting director of the IHS, reads. &#8220;We must be bold in examining ourselves to\r\ntransform to a more patient-centered, self-governance-driven, operationally efficient, and fiscally sustainable health care system.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nFour in-person sessions are taking place next month. The schedule follows:\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<strong>Tribal Consultation \u2013 Seattle, Washington<\/strong><BR>\r\nDate: Tuesday, July 8, 2025<BR>\r\nTime: 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM PDT<BR>\r\nRegistration Link: <a href=https:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/r\/WWX62MH>surveymonkey.com\/r\/WWX62MH<\/a><BR>\r\nAddress: Seattle Airport Marriott<BR>\r\n3201 South 176th Street<BR>\r\nSeattle, Washington 98188\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<strong>Tribal Consultation \u2013 Phoenix, Arizona<\/strong><BR>\r\nDate: Thursday, July 10, 2025<BR>\r\nTime: 10:00 AM \u2013 2:00 PM MST<BR>\r\nRegistration Link: <a href=https:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/r\/J8TZHRR>surveymonkey.com\/r\/J8TZHRR<\/a><BR>\r\nAddress: Marriott Phoenix Chandler<BR>\r\n1600 South Price Road<BR>\r\nChandler, Arizona 85286\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<strong>Tribal Consultation \u2013 Minneapolis, Minnesota<\/strong><BR>\r\nDate: Tuesday, July 15, 2025<BR>\r\nTime: 10:00 AM \u2013 2:00 PM CST<BR>\r\nRegistration Link: <a href=https:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/r\/J836SMF>surveymonkey.com\/r\/J836SMF<\/a><BR>\r\nAddress: Hyatt Regency Bloomington \u2013 Minneapolis<BR>\r\n3200 East 81st Street<BR>\r\nBloomington, MN 55425\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<strong>Tribal Consultation \u2013 Washington, District of Columbia<\/strong><BR>\r\nDate: Wednesday, July 23, 2025<BR>\r\nTime: 10:00 AM \u2013 2:00 PM EST<BR>\r\nRegistration Link: <a href=https:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/r\/J86FNWS>surveymonkey.com\/r\/J86FNWS<\/a><BR>\r\nAddress: Hubert H. Humphrey Building \u2013 Hall of Tribal Nations<BR>\r\n200 Independence Ave SW<BR>\r\nWashington, DC 20201\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe confer with urban Indian organization is taking place virtually. Only one session has been scheduled:\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<strong>Urban Confer \u2013 Virtual<\/strong><BR>\r\nDate: Monday, July 28, 2025<BR>\r\nTime: 1:00 PM \u2013 3:00 PM EST<BR>\r\nRegistration Link: <a href=https:\/\/ihs-gov.zoomgov.com\/meeting\/register\/q6joL7ncQgS1z5tf0xl9vw>ihs-gov.zoomgov.com\/meeting\/register\/q6joL7ncQgS1z5tf0xl9vw<\/a>\r\n<P><\/P>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Department of Health and Human Services is inviting tribes to attend a listening session &#8212; but not a consultation &#8212; to discuss a reorganization of the agency.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":129983,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,20,1,14],"tags":[3162,373,157,6549,121,248,210,138,367,368,5032,6],"class_list":["post-155430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-indian-trust","category-national","category-politics","tag-benjamin-smith","tag-cdc","tag-consultation","tag-darcie-johnson","tag-employment","tag-hhs","tag-ihs","tag-meetings","tag-ncuih","tag-nihb","tag-robert-kennedy","tag-urban-indians","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/27\/departmentofhealthandhumanservices-1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-EqW","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155430","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155430"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":155478,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155430\/revisions\/155478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}