Project Grant H1H7IHS0011

The Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service awarded California Rural Indian Health Board, Inc. $1.333334 million on July 1, 2026, to implement a Community Health Aide Program serving California tribal communities under the Indian Health Service Health Management Development Program (CFDA 93.228).

CRIHB will establish a tribally driven, community-based workforce model that creates accessible pathways for tribal community members to become culturally responsive health care providers for their own communities. The program addresses persistent workforce shortages in medical, behavioral health, and dental services across California's tribal health programs by developing training infrastructure and growing providers from rural communities, building on a foundation laid through two prior tribal assessment and planning grants. The model has demonstrated success in Alaska and the Northwest in expanding access to care and reducing gaps in the health care system.

CRIHB, a nonprofit tribal-governed 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Roseville, California, represents a network of tribal health programs sanctioned by over 70 federally recognized California tribes and serves American Indian and Alaska Native communities statewide. California is home to 109 federally recognized tribes, the largest AIAN population in the United States.

The award runs through June 30, 2029, with place of performance in California. As a Project Grant, the award supports CRIHB's infrastructure development to strengthen tribal sovereignty and culturally grounded, comprehensive health care delivery across the network.