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Tribal Maternal Health Steering Committee Meetings

The steering committee is composed of health care, community health, traditional healers, and other maternal health professionals who work with pregnant women and those of childbearing age in tribal communities across Arizona. Meetings are designed to share data, best practices, and new ideas to support pregnant people and their families. The Steering Committee also informs ITCA’s work on implementation of the Tribal Maternal Health Strategic Plan.

If you would like to participate in steering committee meetings, contact Wendell Honanie, Jr. at wendell.honanie@itcaonline.com.

Nomination Request for the 2025 Operator of the Year

Nomination Request for the 2025 Operator of the Year

Have you noticed a water/wastewater operator working in Indian Country…
• Going above and beyond their assigned job duties?
• Lending support to a co-worker or staff member?
• Providing assistance to another utility?
• Volunteering in the community?
• Going the extra mile in any form?

Here is your chance to acknowledge and celebrate their efforts and hard work. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA) is requesting nominations for the 2025 Operator of the Year Award for personnel of Tribal water/wastewater systems.

Nominations should be submitted by those who have witnessed the great work of the operator being nominated to show appreciation for the quality and integrity of the work done. To be eligible for a nomination: the operator must currently work at a water or wastewater system serving fewer than 5,501 people. The water or wastewater system must be located on Federal Trust Tribal lands (Indian reservations) within the ITCA National Tribal Water Systems Programs service area, which includes USEPA Regions 5 through 10. Nomination of a utility manager may be accepted if the person consistently conducts the day-to-day operations and maintenance tasks of a small rural Tribal water/wastewater system. Nominations that do not meet the requirements listed above may be found ineligible during the pre-screening process.

A committee of volunteer Tribal water/wastewater operators will review the nominations and select the winner of the 2025 Operator of the Year Award. All nominees and the selected winner will be announced and recognized at the Awards Ceremony on September 19, 2025, during the National Tribal Water Utilities Workgroup Meeting.

Nomination Deadline: July 11, 2025

How to Nominate an Operator

Complete the attached Nomination Form and return it to ITCA either by:
Email:  TWSInfo@itcaonline.com
Fax:     (602) 258-4825, or
Mail:    Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.
NATIONAL TRIBAL WATER SYSTEMS PROGRAMS
Attention:  Anisa Flores
2214 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85004

Click Here: 2025 Operator of the Year Nomination Packet

Click Here: USEPA Regional Map

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Voting During a Pandemic Requires Coordinated Effort, Planning

BY MARIA DADGAR NOVEMBER 02, 2020

OPINION. In the state of Arizona, American Indian people have fought a long political battle for the right to vote. It wasn’t until 1924 that the Indian Citizenship Act was passed and even though American Indians became citizens, they were still not eligible voters in Arizona. It took numerous lawsuits by American Indian citizens, Tribal leaders and Tribal Nations in Arizona before voting rights were won in July of 1948. Though the victory in 1948 was a milestone, American Indians are still facing obstacles and barriers getting to the polls and casting their vote.

While history has shown that American Indians in Arizona have experienced levels of disenfranchisement during elections, our tribal communities have also been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribes in Arizona have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and it will take coordinated efforts on many levels to facilitate Native people to vote during the 2020 election. These efforts must be led by tribal and state governments as well as each tribal citizen to ensure everyone – from young people to elders – have an opportunity to exercise their right to vote. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), and Tribal leaders across the state agree that the Native vote is critical during this election.

Maria Dadgar
Maria Dadgar, Executive Director
of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. (ITCA)

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed our lives from the way we interact with our families and coworkers to how our Tribal Nations govern and support their citizens. I’m incredibly proud of the ways our Tribal leaders in Arizona have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and worked to immediately mobilize resources to protect Tribal members, families, elders and employees. We have seen how Tribes in Arizona have worked collectively to respond to the pandemic across the state.

The pandemic brings an added challenge to voting in this election, but we are certain that Tribes are doing all they can to facilitate Tribal members’ participation in the upcoming election. We understand that Tribal governments are taking extra precautions and collaborating with public health experts in planning a safe experience for voting absentee by mail, early in-person voting or in-person on Election Day. During a public health emergency, we need to be guided by health experts and data.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2018 there were more than 309,000 American Indian and Alaska Native eligible voters in Arizona. That is 6% of the state’s population – a percentage that can certainly make a difference in any election. Yet, the turnout among our demographic is one to 10 percentage points lower than the rate of others. Even though we’re facing this new challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must work together to increase Native voter turnout and see ourselves as advocates of change and protectors of Tribal sovereignty.

Despite all of the obstacles, we all still need to vote. In order to vote during the pandemic, make a plan to vote by mail or in-person. Mail in your ballot right away, especially if you live in remote areas of the state. In-person voting is an option – either early or on Election Day – make sure you practice all Tribal and state public health orders. Wear a mask, stay six feet apart and wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer. An important aspect of your voting plan, especially when voting in-person, is to know your polling location.

Every election – whether within our Tribal community, the state or at the national level – our Native vote is consequential. We are the only people in the United States that live as part of “nations within a nation.” We are sovereign people. It was Tribal nations that originally demonstrated the enlightened principles of a democratic government. It was this progressive concept of a free association of independent nations governed under one law that the U.S. Constitution was founded upon.

Voting is empowering. Your vote is your voice in our democracy, and voting is your right. A right fought for by leaders in Arizona including Tribal members Frank Harrison and Harry Austin of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Let’s all do our part to carry on their legacy and vote in this election. Consider safely volunteering to be a poll worker. Check on your relatives and elders and help them request and then mail their ballot or safely vote in-person. It is through civic engagement and working together in a unified effort that we can be the advocates of change and have everyone recognize that in Arizona – the Native vote matters.

If you experience barriers in trying to cast your vote or feel you are being disenfranchised, call the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona’s Native Vote Hotline at 1-877-777-3831 for assistance. You can also contact your tribal government administration to see if your tribe has a resource person for voting information or contact your local voting office.

Maria Dadgar is Executive Director of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona.

Corona Virus 2019 (COVID-19) Resources

Recommendations for People with COVID-19 and COVID-19 Close Contacts
COVID-19 Vaccination Program
Treasury, IRS launch new tool to help non-filers register for Economic Impact Payments
Mental Health Resources and Information for Tribes Working to Transition Some of Their Healthcare Programs to Telebehavioral Health Programs
Tribal Telework Toolkit
Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC)
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Updated March 21, 2022

Recommendations for People with COVID-19 and COVID-19 Close Contacts

Recommendations for COVID-19 Close Contacts

Click to Download

Recommendations for People with COVID-19

Click to Download

Arizona’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program Overview

Arizona's COVID-19 Vaccination Program Overview

Click to Download

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Click to Download

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Click to Download

Prevaccination Checklist for COVID-19 Vaccines

Prevaccination Checklist for COVID-19 Vaccines

Click to Download

ADHS COVID-19 Vaccine Consent Form

ADHS COVID-19 Vaccine Consent Form

Click to Download

Arizona HL7 Specific Rules for Version 2.5.1

Arizona HL7 Specific Rules for Version 2.5.1

Click to Download

Treasury, IRS launch new tool to help non-filers register for Economic Impact Payments

Treasury, IRS launch new tool to help non-filers register for Economic Impact Payments

Click to Download

Mental Health Resources and Information for Tribes Working to Transition Some of Their Healthcare Programs to Telebehavioral Health Programs

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS)

Indian Health Service Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Other Resources

Tribal Telework Toolkit

ITCA COVID-19 Tribal Telework Toolkit

Click to Download

Area Agency on Aging (AAA)

Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC)

Many federal, state, and local agencies have been responding to the Corona Virus 2019 outbreak domestically and internationally. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., Tribal Epidemiology Center has compiled a list of COVID-19 resources to support Tribal Health Departments in the Indian Health Service Phoenix-Tucson Service Areas and these resource links, include:

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

2020 Quechan Senior Games-Save The Date

January Announcement Save the Date.Quechan

Infographics

Funding for this was made possible (in part) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.

 

The ITCA Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed and distributed the infographics below to support tribal communities in responding to GHWIC tobacco topics. Tribes are welcome to download, print, and distribute these materials. Please contact ITCA HHS staff if you have any questions about the materials, if you’d like to add your Tribe seal to the infographic, if you want to request development of a infographic related to the GHWIC Strategy Areas, or experience any difficulty in downloading the files.

Tobacco

  • Electronic Smoking Devices

Electronic Smoking Devices

  • Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless Tobacco

  • Pregnancy & Smoking

Pregnancy & Smoking

  • Secondhand Smoke & Children

Secondhand Smoke & Children

  • Diabetes & Smoking

Smoking & Diabetes

  • Heart Disease & Tobacco

Heart Disease & Tobacco

 

28th Biannaul AICOA Conference

ITCA GHWIC Funding Opportunity

Funding for this was made possible (in part) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.

 

Recorded Zoom Meeting

Note: All meeting times are listed in Mountain Standard Time (MST). 

A Cultural Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC) Funding Opportunity

Resources:

Providing Trauma Informed Care Victim Services to American Indians/Alaska Natives – August 28th

Providing Trauma Informed Care Victim Services to American Indians/Alaska NativesClick here for the Training Agenda

Click here for the Training Registration Form

Indian Health Service – Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC)

https://www.ihs.gov/diabetes/about-us/tribal-leaders-diabetes-committee-tldc/

Consumer Alerts

Emergency Preparedness

Food Safety Information

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Things you Need to know

WATCH OUT FOR Spoofing SCAMS!!!

What is a Spoofing Scam?

A Spoofing scam is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally, but also can be used legitimately, for example, to display the toll-free number for a business.

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Medicare Open Enrollment 

 Protect Yourself from Marketing and Enrollment Fraud 

Watch out for people who:

  • Pressure you to join their plan
  • Tell you they represent Medicare and want to offer you a service for free
  • Call you or visit your house without your permission to offer services or equipment
  • Offer free consultations only to people with Medicare and ask for your Medicare number
  • Inform you that you will lose your Medicare benefits unless you sign up for a certain plan.

If you feel you have experienced marketing violations or enrollment fraud:

  • Save all documents or suspicious information (marketing materials, business cards, voicemails)
  • Contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). You can visit www.smpresource.org or call 877-808-2468 to find your local SMP.

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2024 Open Enrollment Medicare coverage  for Part D is from October 15 to December 7.

During this annual enrollment period (AEP) individuals can make changes to various aspects of your coverage.

  • You can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.
  • You can also switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from one Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan to another.
  • And if you didn’t enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, you can do so during the general open enrollment, although a late enrollment penalty may apply.

If you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must meet some basic criteria.

*If you are an American Indian /Alaskan Native and utilize Indian Health Services, You will need to know that Medicare Advantages plans are not accepted by your local IHS facility.

Auto-renewal is available

  • If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan and you don’t want to make changes to your coverage for 2019, you don’t need to do anything during open enrollment, assuming your current plan will still be available in 2019.
  • If your plan is being discontinued and isn’t eligible for renewal, you would have received a non-renewal notice from your carrier prior to open enrollment. If you didn’t, it means you can keep your plan without doing anything during open enrollment.

Benefits and Premium changes for 2024

  • Be aware that your benefits and premium could be changing for 2024. So even if you’re confident that you want to keep your current coverage for the coming year, it’s important to make sure you understand any changes that may apply, and that you’ve double checked to make sure that your current plan is still the best available option. The available plans and what they cover changes from one year to the next, so even if the plan you have now was the best option when you shopped last year, it’s important to verify that again before you lock yourself in for another year.

* Medicare General Enrollment for Part A & Part B  is in January 1 – March 31 of every year 

When considering a Part D plan:

  • Does the plan cover all the medications I take?
  • Does the plan have restrictions on my drugs, such as prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits?
  • How much will I pay for monthly premiums and the annual deductible?
  • How much will I pay at the pharmacy for each drug I take?
  • Is my pharmacy in the plan’s preferred network?
  • Can I fill my prescriptions by mail order?
  • What is the plan’s star rating?

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Public Benefit Outreach Flyer

Tribal Dental Therapy Forum

On May 16, 2018, Governor Ducey signed HB 2235 into law that establishes dental therapy in Arizona and outlines requirements and permissions for dental therapists. Specific provisions in the law allow implementation of dental therapy in the Indian Health Service, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health Programs as soon as it is effective later this year in August 2018.

We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center
Wassaja Foyer 114
10438 North Fort McDowell Road
Scottsdale/Fountain Hills, AZ 85264

Memorandum and Agenda

Tribal Dental Therapy Forum: Implementing the New Arizona Dental Therapy Law
AGENDA

HB2235 – Chaptered Version

Background and Overview of the Forum
ALIDA MONTIEL

Dental Therapy Law in Arizona
KRISTEN BOILINI

Dental Therapy Authorization Comparison by State
KRISTEN BOILINI

Panel – Vison for Incorporating Dental Therapy in ITU Dental Programs
DR. JOHN MOLINA

Panel – Vision for Incorporating Dental Therapists Into Your Program
DAN HUBER DMD

Keynote – Utilizing Dental Therapy to Improve Outcomes & Efficiencies/Guidance on Training Programs
DR. TODD HARTSFIELD

Panel – Dental Therapists as Part of the Dental Workforce Model
DR. TOM BORNSTEIN

Panel – Working With A DHAT
SAVANNAH BONORDEN

Steps to Achieve Medicaid Reimbursement
CHRISTOPHER VINYARD

Indian Health Service CHAP Expansion Update
DR. CHRISTOPHER HALLIDAY

National Indian Health Board 2018 Tribal Oral Health Assessment Results
BRETT WEBER

Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program
DR. MARY WILLIARD

SIPI – Developing a Dental Therapy Training Program
VALERIE MONTOYA

Dental Therapy Rulemaking in AZ
WILL HUMBLE

Dental therapists linked to improved dental outcomes for Alaska Native communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta

REPORT: TRIBAL DENTAL THERAPY FORUM – Implementing the New Arizona Dental Therapy Law (August 1-2, 2018)
KEVIN WHITNEY RUSSELL

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Flyer: “Community of Practice Schedule”

Join a community of tribal educators and health advocates that shares strengths and expertise of supporting Native youth through monthly virtual meetings.

Community of Practice_2019 Schedule

Upcoming Training

Online Training

ITCA/ICIN Opioid Training Program

IMG_0365

ICIN Resources

ICIN Resources

Resources listed here are for Tribal Law Enforcement and Tribal Communities for information and reporting purposes:

ICIN Links

State of Arizona Links:

Law Enforcement:

Certification:

Intelligence and Criminal Justice:

Federal Links:

Law Enforcement Organizations:

Title III & VI Monitoring

FY 2024 ITCA-AAA Title III & VI Monitoring Schedule

FY24 TIII & TVI Monitoring Schedule

FY 2022 Monitoring Schedule:

FY22 Title III & Title VI Monitoring Schedule

FY 2020 Monitoring Schedule:

FY2020 Title III ITCA-AAA Monitoring Schedule

FY 2019 Monitoring Schedule:

FY2019 ITCA-AAA Monitoring Schedule Rev. 2.28.19

FY 2018 Monitoring Schedule:

Rev. 5.18.18_FY2018 ITCA-AAA Monitoring Schedule 

FY2018 Monitoring Checklist for Admin, C1 & C2 Services

FY 2017 Monitoring Schedule:

FY2017 ITCA-AAA Monitoring Schedule

FY2017 Monitoring Checklist 12.6.16

Technical Assistance to Tribal Communities

The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) Tribal Water System Program is dedicated to providing technical assistance to tribes in order to develop technical, managerial, and financial capacity (TMF), as well as water & wastewater utility sustainability through education, access to resources, training, and technical assistance. The program partners with federal agencies and other organizations to ensure these services are available to Tribal Water Utility operators and managers.

Want to Learn more? CLICK HERE

Tribal Early Childhood Workgroup Meeting

When: September 11, 2019
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location/Host: ITCA – Conference Room 1

TCC Agenda
SOR Websites
DCS Central Registry Clearance Form
Quality First Professional Development
2013 Roundtable Agenda
2013 Conference Agenda

Tribal Child Protective Services Academy

When: May 9, 2016 – May 13, 2016

The purpose of the Tribal Child Protective Services Training Academy is to meet the ongoing training needs of tribal workers for core training in the identification, intervention and treatment of child abuse and neglect that is consistent with tribal strengths, resources, priorities, and consistent with Indian child welfare practice. The academy is limited to 25 participants. Priority will be given to new Tribal CPS workers.

Tribal Social Services Workgroup Meetings

When: February 1, 2017
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: ITCA – Conference Room 1

Conference Call Information:
Phone Number: 800-832-0736
Room Number: 7305248

Tribal Social Services Working Group Meeting Agenda
Tribal Social Services Working Group Meeting Presentation
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Seminar Registration Form
Native American Veterans Income Tax Settlement Fund

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Title III – Recorded Webinars

Caregiver Webinars:

New Caregiver Reporting Forms Webinar 10/30/17

pp reporting forms 10.28.17 (Handout)

Recent Webinars:

FY 2016 Closeout Discussion (June 22, 2016) 

DAARS Recorded Tutorials: 

Title III Congregate Meals – 9.29.15

DAARS Tutorial – Adding New Authorization Period 11.09.15 

DAARS Tutorial Annual Reassessment 11.04.15 

Recorded Webinars: 

Q&A DAARS Session (Recorded Webinar) – 9/30/2015

FY2016 Title III Program Manager’s Meeting – 10/6/2015
FY 2016 Title III Service Reporting PPT_10.6.15 (Handout)

Title VI Manual & Forms

Eligibility Requirements for Title VI Funds

  • American Indian/Alaska Natives
  • Funds are to be used for elders (Tribe determines age of elders)
  • The spouse of an eligible individual
  • Volunteers who assist during mealtimes
  • Persons with a disability who reside with eligible individuals

Administration on Aging Title VI Resource Manual

Title VI Annual Program Performance Report (PPR)

Title VI Quarterly Program Performance Report (PPR) for ITCA Consortium Tribes Only

Helpful Websites

Contact

Laurai Atcitty, AAA Director
Laurai.Atcitty@itcaonline.com

Mary Weston, AAA Program Manager
Mary.Weston@itcaonline.com

Jackie Edwards, Family Caregiver Support Program Coordinator
Jackie.Edwards@itcaonline.com

Nanette Taho, AAA Program Manager
Nanette.Taho@itcaonline.com

Roxanne Thomas, AAA Program Specialist II
Roxanne.Thomas@itcaonline.com

Flor Olivas, AAA Tribal Ombudsman Specialist II
Flor.Olivas@itcaonline.com

Local Air Quality News

 

Navajo Nation Witnesses Changing Landscape: Growing Sand Dunes

 

U.S. requires Arizona and New Mexico plant owners to reduce emissions at Four Corners Power Plant on Navajo Nation

 

Revised Air Pollution Plan for an Arizona Coal-Fired Plant Spurs Debate

 

‘Polluted Parks’ Analysis Finds Southwestern National Parks Among Worst in Air Quality

 

Report: Valley’s air quality suffers, drought blamed

 

Valley Fever: What In The Haboob Am I Talking About?

 

American Lung Association State of the Air 2015 – Arizona

 

EPA awards $1.2 million brownfields grants to three Arizona communities

 

Phoenix Ranks 11th on EPA’s Energy Star Top Cities List

National Air Quality News

 

FACT SHEET: White House Launches American Business Act on Climate Pledge

 

The Administration Takes a Big Step in Addressing Climate-Damaging HFCs

 

In Perspective: the Supreme Court’s Mercury and Air Toxics Rule Decision

 

EPA: Launching a New Era of State, Tribal, Local and International Partnerships

 

EPA announces availability of $1 million for tribes to upgrade diesel engines