[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45124-45125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16936]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Regional Tribal Consultations

    In 2001, a draft Tribal Consultation Policy was published with 
other Department of Health and Human Services tribal consultation 
policies. CDC is now seeking further tribal guidance on the proposed 
CDC policy and its implementation through regional tribal consultations 
and national meetings. We are inviting elected Tribal leaders, 
Executive Directors of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) 
organizations, Health Directors of AI/AN Programs, and AI/AN community 
members to attend scheduled Consultation meetings. The intent of this 
consultation process is to establish a mutually acceptable and more 
effective process of communication between CDC and AI/AN governments 
and communities. The goal is to establish protocol and to identify 
public health problems and priorities so that the needs of AI/AN 
populations are better incorporated into CDC plans and programs.
SUMMARY: CDC has scheduled a series of Regional Tribal Consultations to 
occur throughout the United States during the time frame of June 
through early October 2002. The CDC Regional Tribal Consultations will 
be geographically linked to the Indian Health Service areas as follows: 
Aberdeen Area (9/02), Alaska Area (8/23/02), Albuquerque Area (8/02), 
Bemidji Area (8/02-9/02), Billings Area (8/14/02), California Area (7/
19/02), Nashville Area (6/12/02), Navajo Area (8/02), Oklahoma Area (7/
9/02), Phoenix & Tucson Areas (7/17/02), and Portland Area (6/21/02). 
In addition, open forums & national tribal consultations will be 
scheduled at the following national meetings of AI/AN organizations 
during late summer and early fall of 2002: the Association of American 
Indian Physicians (AAIP), the National Alaska Native American Indian 
Nurses Association (NANAINA), the National Council on Urban Indian 
Health (NCUIH), the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), the Indian 
Health Leadership Council, the Self Government Advisory Committee, and 
the National Congress of American Indians.
    Background: The CDC is committed to improving the public health of 
AI/AN communities, and recognizes both the unique relationship it has 
with its AI/AN constituents and the cultural diversity of that 
constituency. To formally guide its efforts to develop and implement a 
tribal consultation, CDC has established an agency-wide Tribal 
Consultation Working Group (TCWG), members of which are native and non-
native representatives from each of the Centers, Institute, and Offices 
that compromise CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry (ATSDR). In addition to the TCWG, CDC has established two 
full-time professional staff positions within the Office of the 
Director to help plan and coordinate CDC programs for AI/AN 
communities: (1) The CDC Senior Tribal Liaison for Policy and 
Evaluation and (2) the CDC Senior Tribal Liaison for Science and Public 
health. Located in Atlanta, GA and Albuquerque, NM, respectively, these 
CDC staff members report directly to the Associate Director for 
Minority Health and serve as CDC points-of-contact for programs/issues 
relevant to issues of AI/AN public health.
    The Agency's commitment to AI/AN public health is further 
demonstrated by the active engagement of more of its professional staff 
in broader, more systematic efforts to partner with AI/AN communities 
across the United States. Prominent among these efforts is the 
placement of CDC staff in situations that enhance tribal access to CDC 
personnel and resources (e.g., at least 12 CDC professionals field-
assigned to work exclusively on AIAN issues in Indian Country). CDC is 
also expanding its partnerships with the Indian Health Service (IHS) 
through multiple intra-agency agreements, collaborative projects, and 
the establishment of the IHS-CDC-ATSDR Senior Policy Group. A priority 
for IHS-CDC partnerships is the expansion of the Tribal Epidemiology 
Centers Program. Overall, CDC and its partners (tribal governments and 
communities, state health departments, academic institutions, and other 
federal organizations) are addressing multiple health issues that 
affect AI/AN communities including, but not limited to, diabetes, 
injuries, tobacco use, cardiovascular health, cancer, maternal-child 
health, and infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, other sexually 
transmitted diseases, hepatitis, antibiotic-resistant bacterial 
infections, and hantavirus.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To express interest in attending and/
or participating in the regional or national consultations and to 
obtain additional information, contact:

Captain Pelagie ``Mike'' Snesrud, RN, Senior CDC Tribal Liaison for 
Policy and Evaluation, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, MS-D39, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 
30329, Phone: 404-639-0432; Fax: 404-639-2195, Email: [email protected].
or
Captain Ralph T. Bryan, M.D., Senior CDC Tribal Liaison for Science and 
Public Health, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, c/o IHS National Epidemiology Program, 5300 Homestead Rd. 
NE., Albuquerque, NM 87110, Phone: 505-248-4226; Fax: 505-248-4393, e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The mission of the CDC is to promote health 
and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury and 
disability. CDC accomplishes its mission by working with partners 
throughout the United States and the world to monitor health, detect 
and investigate health problems, conduct applied research to enhance 
prevention, develop and advocate sound public health policies, 
implement prevention strategies, promote healthy behaviors, foster safe 
and healthful environments, and provide leadership and training. CDC's 
priorities are: Strengthen science for public health action, 
Collaborate with health care partners for prevention, Promote healthy 
living at all stages of life, and Work with partners to improve global 
health.
    The CDC will honor the sovereignty of American Indian/Alaska Native 
Governments, respect the inherent rights of self-governance and commit 
to work on a government-to-government basis. The CDC will confer with 
Tribal Governments, Alaska Native Organizations and AIAN communities, 
before taking actions and/or making decisions that affect them. 
Consultation will include all AI/AN governments and organizations.

[[Page 45125]]

    As does the Department of Health and Human Services, CDC considers 
consultation to be ``an enhanced form of communication which emphasizes 
trust, respect and shared responsibility. It is an open and free 
exchange of information and opinion among parties which leads to mutual 
understanding and comprehension. Consultation is integral to a 
deliberative process which results in effective collaboration and 
informed decision-making.''
    Once all Regional Tribal Consultations National meetings are 
completed, a draft implementation document will be prepared and 
submitted to the National Indian Health Board, the National Congress of 
American Indians, and tribal governments for review and final comments. 
Thereafter, the finalized document will be published in the Federal 
Register, posted on appropriate federal and AI/AN websites, and made 
available to AI/AN governments and organizations.
    The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been 
delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to 
announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, 
for both the CDC and the ATSDR.

    Dated: July 1, 2002.
John C. Burckhardt,
Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, CDC.
[FR Doc. 02-16936 Filed 7-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P