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November 5, 2008
Dear Tribal Leaders and Tribal Colleagues,
As leaders of Federal agencies with interests in Indian Country, we strive to address priorities and issues raised in our consultation sessions and conferences. We are entering a time of transition to a new Administration and activities are under way. During the fiscal year 2007–2008 Tribal Justice, Safety, and Wellness (TJSW) consultation sessions and conferences, you emphasized the need to improve Tribal capacity and infrastructure through Government-to-Government Consultation, Training and Technical Assistance (CTTA) to Tribal communities. As Federal agencies that are committed to developing strategic solutions for Native Americans, we are working to address specific issues of concern while we prepare for the changes ahead.
Since 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Native American Issues Subcommittee (NAIS) in the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ), and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Indian Health Service (IHS), Office of Minority Health (OMH) in the Office of the Secretary; U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Office of Native American Programs (ONAP); the Small Business Administration (SBA), and our newest Federal partner, The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), have worked steadily to respond to your stated needs through a series of CTTA sessions held across the country. Three past sessions have focused on public health and safety, drug awareness, Tribal court systems, detention and treatment facilities, multijurisdictional coordination, behavioral and mental health, youth prevention programs and juvenile delinquency, sexual assault and domestic violence victims, sexual offender registry, and other wellness areas.
The next session will continue to emphasize justice, safety, and wellness issues. We look forward to reporting our progress on past consultation topics and issues raised and providing you with the latest information about our respective transition activities affecting Indian Country. Additionally, it is during this time of the fiscal year that Federal grant-making agencies start the grant solicitations process; therefore, we are responding to Tribal leader requests for access to resources raised as consultation priorities by presenting numerous workshops on available grant opportunities across our agencies that pertain to justice, safety, and wellness issues. We will bring together elected Tribal leaders and key policy decision-makers, Tribal administrators, executive directors, finance and grant administration officers, Tribal planners, grant writers, justice and law enforcement personnel, and Tribal program project coordinators and grantee officers. These individuals will share their expertise and engage participants in dialogue about best practices for Tribal community capacity building.
The upcoming CTTA session will be held in Palm Springs, CA, on December 9, 2008. In addition to the day-long session on consultation priorities, transition, and grants training workshops, the DOJ through its OVW will host a Violence Against Women Task Force Meeting and the Violence Against Women Act Annual Consultation Session. The CTTA and OVW sessions will precede the OJP Office for Victims of Crime 11th National Indian Nations Conference.
Current DOJ/OJP and SAMHSA grantees are eligible for funds to attend and participate in these sessions. Please visit the Tribal Justice and Safety website at www.tribaljusticeandsafety.gov to register for upcoming sessions and find agenda updates and hotel information.
If you have any questions regarding the sessions, please contact the conference toll-free information line at 1–866–581–2292 or at 703–556–4831 (TDY/TDD) or send an e-mail to tribalconference@circlesolutions.com.
We look forward to our continued work with you to build and enhance Tribal justice, safety, public health, safe housing, and economic development in Tribal communities.
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