Tribal Consultations and Listening Sessions

We help Tribes improve access to health care throughout Indian Country. We engage with Tribes, Tribal organizations and people interested in finding funding to support Tribal communities, including through Tribal Consultations and listening sessions.

Tribal Consultations

What is a Tribal Consultation?

A Tribal Consultation is a dialogue between Federal and Tribal governments. The goal of the consultation is to advance the government-to-government relationship between HRSA and Indian Tribes. 

What happens during a Tribal Consultation?

We get the chance to engage with Tribal governments. Together, we promote the government-to-government relationship between HRSA and Tribal Nations and address health care challenges in Indian Country. 

Read the HRSA Tribal Consultation Policy (PDF - 130 KB)

Who can participate in a Tribal Consultation? 

Elected Tribal officials or their authorized representatives and HRSA leadership or their designee(s) can participate in a Tribal Consultation.

How can a Tribal Consultation help Tribes?

Some health care priorities addressed in past Tribal Consultations are:

• Challenges related to physician recruitment, retention, and provider burnout in Indian Country (PDF - 31 KB)
• Concerns related to using Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments (PDF - 75 KB)
• The Health Center Program’s Uniform Data System and the scoring of Health Professional Shortage Areas (PDF - 74 KB)

When do Tribal Consultations take place? 

HRSA holds annual Tribal Consultations and at Tribes’ request. Tribal Consultations can be in person and virtual.

How do I join a Tribal Consultation?

We will inform you about an upcoming Tribal Consultation through a Dear Tribal Leader Letter. This letter will include registration information. 

What if I miss a Tribal Consultation? 

We will publish summary information about what went on during the Tribal Consultation after it happens. 

Listening sessions

What are listening sessions? How are they different from Tribal Consultations?

Listening sessions are a chance for us to seek feedback on our programs. We share information with Tribes and Tribal-serving organizations. 

Examples of past listening sessions include:

• What unique barriers do organizations serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities face in trying to join the Health Center Program? (PDF - 96 KB)
• How can we use telehealth in public health to increase access to and improve pediatric behavioral health care? (PDF - 78 KB)
• How can we improve physician retention in Tribal areas after completion of training? (PDF - 195 KB)

Who can participate in a listening session?

Tribal representatives and organizations working to improve health outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives can join a listening session.

How do I join a listening session?

We will send out emails and newsletter announcements about upcoming listening sessions. We will share how to register in these announcements.

Sign up for eNews and the HRSA Tribal Affairs newsletter.

Contact us

Email the Tribal Affairs team about Tribal Consultations at TribalConsultation@hrsa.gov.