Partnering With Federally Recognized Tribes
The governmental public health system includes tribal nations and Indian health programs as primary partners with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the State Board of Health, and local health jurisdictions.
The Centennial Accord created a unique government-to-government relationship between many federally recognized tribal governments and the state of Washington. State agencies, including DOH, have responsibilities for their work with federally recognized tribes as outlined in RCW 43.376. To ensure we fulfill these responsibilities, DOH follows a consultation and collaboration procedure, which includes:
- Sending Dear Tribal Leader letters to elected tribal officials when developing and implementing policies, agreements, and programs that directly affect Indian tribes.
- Consulting with tribal nations to promote government-to-government partnerships and ensure effective health services for Indian people.
- Designating the tribal relations director as the liaison to tribal nations.
- Ensuring staff who work with tribal governments and public health partners receive training on tribal history and culture and tribal relationships with federal and state governments.
- Submitting an annual report to the governor for The Centennial Accord meeting.
Dear Tribal Leader Letters
2025
Date | Letter Subject | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
---|---|---|---|
Date January 6 | Letter Subject Collaborative – overdose data to action in states – develop or expand overdose prevention (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date January 6 | Letter Subject Informative – update on WIC's Tribal General Welfare payment waiver request (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
2024
Date | Letter Subject | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
---|---|---|---|
Date December 9 | Letter Subject Consultation – Tribal data sharing agreement (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials
Roundtable 1 presentation (PDF) |
Date September 25 | Letter Subject Collaborative – residential treatment facility psychiatric hospital Tribal attestation fee rulemaking (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date October 18 | Letter Subject Collaborative – WA HEALTH permanent rulemaking process (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date December 31 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Emerging Contaminants in Small and Disadvantaged Communities Grant (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date December 30 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for December 1-15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date December 19 | Letter Subject Collaborative – listening sessions for adult and youth engagement on Tribal data reporting (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date December 19 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) federal accreditation (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date December 18 | Letter Subject Collaborative – federal funding subrecipient questionnaire (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date December 3 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for November 16-30, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date December 2 | Letter Subject Informative – draft language for proposed data sharing for 2026 legislation session (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials Starter Language for the Data Sharing for Public Health Action Act (PDF) |
Date December 2 | Letter Subject Informative – release of 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey data (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date November 25 | Letter Subject Informative – Health Equity Zone for Native communities selection (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date November 25 | Letter Subject Informative – update on Native & Strong Lifeline expansion request (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date November 21 | Letter Subject Collaborative – workgroup on the risk of high potency synthetic opioids to children and youth (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date November 20 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Maternal Health Innovations funding opportunity and seeking interest in joining the review committee (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date November 20 | Letter Subject Informative – agricultural worker immunization outreach (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date November 20 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for November 1-15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date November 15 | Letter Subject Informative – House Bill 1503 implementation: collecting demographic data from health care professionals (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date November 5 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for October 16-31, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date October 22 | Letter Subject Informative – infection prevention certification funding opportunity (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date October 21 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for October 1-15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date October 20 | Letter Subject Informative- georouting calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date October 18 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Foundational Public Health Services (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date October 17 | Letter Subject Informative - state cancer coalition and resource groups (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date October 14 | Letter Subject House Bill 1477 Crisis Response Improvement Strategy Committee request for feedback on final report and recommendations (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date October 4 | Letter Subject Collaborative – request for proposals from the shellfish strategic initiative lead invested through EPA Puget Sound Geographic Program funds (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date October 1 | Letter Subject Informative – awareness of new statewide foodborne illness complaint portal (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date September 18 | Letter Subject Consultation closure – two environmental justice grants (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date September 18 | Letter Subject Informative – DOH pilot project for law enforcement involved injuries, fatal encounters (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date September 18 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for September 1-15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date September 18 | Letter Subject Informative – youth focus group testing content for Healthy Youth Survey 2025 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date August 20 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for August 1-15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date August 15 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rape Prevention and Education program (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date August 15 | Letter Subject Informative – launch of Be Well WA initiative (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date August 13 | Letter Subject Informative – 988 and Tribal Crisis Coordination Protocols (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date July 26 | Letter Subject Collaborative – early child development and family well-being (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date July 26 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) vendor rule listening session and workshop (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date July 24 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program survey request (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date July 15 | Letter Subject Consultation update – environmental justice grants prioritization requested by July 26th, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date July 15 | Letter Subject Informative - new interim state epidemiologist for policy and practice (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date July 15 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Department of Health 2025 legislative proposal webinars – save the date (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date July 10 | Letter Subject Consultation – environmental justice grant (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date July 3 | Letter Subject Collaborative – 911 mental health crisis call diversion protocols (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date July 3 | Letter Subject Collaborative – adapting breastfeeding guidelines for Tribal communities (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date July 2 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for June 16 to June 30, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date June 28 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan, implementation of the Emerging Contaminants in Small and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date June 28 | Letter Subject Collaborative – request for comment on Drinking Water State Revolving Fund rulemaking to define disadvantaged communities and updates to construction loan guidelines (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date June 28 | Letter Subject Informative – update on Native and Strong Lifeline provision for text and chat services (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date June 27 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Tribal listening sessions for maternal health innovation funding opportunity (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date June 25 | Letter Subject Collaborative – announcement and invitation for 2025 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) revision period (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date June 24 | Letter Subject Consultation – invitation to consultation on two environmental justice grants (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date June 18 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for June 1 to June 15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date June 11 | Letter Subject Consultation closure – DOH Tribal Public Health Emergency and Preparedness allocation (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date June 4 | Letter Subject Collaborative – health analysis on Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date June 4 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for May 1 to May 31, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date May 21 | Letter Subject Informative – update on DOH COVID-19 Testing Kiosk Program (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date May 3 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for April 16 to April 30, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date May 1 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Tribal wellness and resiliency gathering (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date May 1 | Letter Subject Informative – final revision meeting for the 2025 Healthy Youth Survey (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date April 24 | Letter Subject Collaborative – early child development and family well-being (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date April 19 | Letter Subject | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date April 18 | Letter Subject Collaborative – commercial tobacco tribal listening sessions (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date April 18 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for April 1 to April 15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date April 18 | Letter Subject Informative – notice of Health Equity Zone for Native communities submission closing date extension (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date April 18 | Letter Subject Informative – potential agency request legislation for cottage food operations (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date April 18 | Letter Subject Informative – potential agency request legislation for water recreation facilities (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date April 10 | Letter Subject Collaborative – upcoming funding opportunity for school based health centers (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date April 3 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for March 18 to March 31, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date April 1 | Letter Subject Collaborative – adolescent and young adult health updates (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date March 26 | Letter Subject Collaborative – invitation to Tribal briefing on two environmental justice grants (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date March 21 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for March 1 to March 15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date March 20 | Letter Subject Collaborative – new Washinton Administrative Code (WAC) chapter for private detention facilities (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date March 14 | Letter Subject Informative – initiation of the Washington State Child Wellness Survey (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date March 12 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for January 16 to February 29, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date March 8 | Letter Subject Consultation – House Bill 1477 Crisis Response Improvement Strategy Committee 2024 progress report consultation close out (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date March 8 | Letter Subject Informative – "For Our Lives" (formally Tribal Opioid Solutions Media Educational Campaign) resources to tribes to localize campaign (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date March 4 | Letter Subject Collaborative – Health Equity Zone for native communities submission opening (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date February 21 | Letter Subject Collaborative – seeking health care providers for Power of Providers (POP) Advisory Group (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date February 13 | Letter Subject Informative – DOH 988 general population campaign (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date February 12 | Letter Subject Informative – disadvantaged communities rulemaking follow up (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date February 5 | Letter Subject Collaborative – seeking advice on preventive health and health services block grant community investment (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date February 2 | Letter Subject Informative – pollen system surveillance (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date January 31 | Letter Subject Collaborative – tribal state plan for suicide prevention listening session (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date January 23 | Letter Subject Informative – information on agency rulemaking for January 1-15, 2024 (PDF) | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date January 18 | Letter Subject | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date January 12 | Letter Subject Informative – series of four listening sessions for the Healthy Youth Survey revision (PDF) | Meeting Information
|
Additional Materials |
Date January 10 | Letter Subject
Informative – information on agency rulemaking for December 2023 (PDF) |
Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date January 4 | Letter Subject | Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date January 4 | Letter Subject
Collaborative – Maternal and Child Health Block Grant needs assessment request for proposals (PDF) |
Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
Date January 4 | Letter Subject
Collaborative – new communities building resilient youth prevention grant (PDF) |
Meeting Information | Additional Materials |
2023
Contact Us
For more information, call 360-819-7626 or email OTPHR@doh.wa.gov.