Cherokee nation chap TPI aims to improve access to behavioral health services across the reservation through partnership with oklahoma state university to train behavioral health aides. - cherokee…

The Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service awarded Cherokee Nation $500,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Indian Health Service Health Management Development Program (CFDA 93.228) to develop and deploy behavioral health aides across the Cherokee Nation's 14-county reservation in northeast Oklahoma.

Cherokee Nation Health Services will establish a tribally affiliated behavioral health aide training program through partnership with Oklahoma State University, building workforce infrastructure in year one, deploying behavioral health aides at two pilot sites in year two, and evaluating outcomes with expansion planning in year three. The behavioral health aides, recruited primarily from Cherokee communities, will deliver culturally responsive services under structured clinical supervision to address significant workforce shortages, long wait times, and access barriers including transportation limitations, cost, and lack of culturally aligned services across the predominantly rural population served. The project integrates workforce development, service delivery, and continuous quality improvement, with Cherokee Nation establishing credentialing, supervision, electronic health record, and billing systems to sustain behavioral health aide services while pursuing Medicaid reimbursement pathways. Evaluation will employ a mixed-methods framework to measure improvements in access, service utilization, patient satisfaction, workforce capacity, and financial sustainability.

The period of performance runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. Place of performance is Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Cherokee nation chap TPI aims to improve access to behavioral health services across the reservation through partnership with oklahoma state university to train behavioral health aides. - cherokee nation health services (cnhs) proposes to implement the community health aide program (chap) through the development and deployment of behavioral health aides (bhas) to improve access to behavioral health care across our 14-county reservation in northeast oklahoma. Serving a predominantly rural population, cnhs faces significant behavioral health workforce shortages, long wait times, and persistent barriers to care, including transportation limitations, cost, and lack of culturally aligned services. Current provider-to-patient ratios and service gaps underscore the urgent need for scalable, community-based solutions. This project will establish a sustainable, community-rooted BHA workforce trained through a new partnership with oklahoma state university, launching the first tribally affiliated BHA training program in the state. Over the three-years, cnhs will implement a phased approach: building infrastructure and service models in year 1, deploying bhas at two pilot sites in year 2, and evaluating outcomes with expansion planning in year 3. Bhas will be recruited primarily from cherokee communities and will provide culturally responsive services under structured clinical supervision, improving trust and engagement while reducing access barriers. The project integrates workforce development, service delivery, and continuous quality improvement. Cnhs will develop the necessary credentialing, supervision, electronic health record, and billing systems to sustain BHA services, while pursuing medicaid reimbursement pathways, and leveraging tribal and federal funding. Evaluation will use a mixed-methods framework to measure improvements in access, service utilization, patient satisfaction, workforce capacity, and financial sustainability. By the end of the project period, cnhs will establish bhas as permanent positions, with demonstrated improvements in behavioral health access and a scalable model for expansion. This initiative advances tribal self-determination by strengthening a culturally grounded workforce and creating a replicable framework for other tribal health systems seeking to address behavioral health disparities.