MDHHS office dedicated to supporting tribal partnerships helps tribal citizens access services and resources

Office of Tribal Government Services & Policy expands to support Michigan tribes

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) continues to build relationships with federally recognized tribes in Michigan to advocate for their needs and assist their citizens through its Office of Tribal Government Services & Policy.

"MDHHS is dedicated to recognizing and honoring the sovereignty of tribal governments in Michigan, providing a clear path to accessing resources and continuing to strengthen our government-to-government relationships," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. "We are proud of the important work done by the Office of Tribal Government Services & Policy."

There are 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan - each a sovereign government with its own governing structure, culture, traditions, laws, regulations and policies. State government shares a responsibility with tribes to provide for and protect the health, safety and welfare of shared citizens.

The Office of Tribal Government Services & Policy is dedicated to working with tribal governments, their citizens and other Native American residents to address specific issues and ensure equity in the services MDHHS provides to all Native Americans in Michigan.

Key accomplishments of Office of Tribal Government Services & Policy include:

• Planned and executed a successful Tribal Health Care Workforce Summit designed to attract, retain and strengthen the health care workforce for tribal health centers and programs. It was attended by all 12 tribes and nearly all of Michigan's colleges and universities as well as certain health professional associations.
• Worked with the Community Engagement Unit in the MDHHS Division of Environmental Health to develop a protocol to notify and work with tribal governments when environmental hazards occur.
• Consulted with tribal staff to develop a Medicaid reimbursement initiative for doula services and a community health worker reimbursement initiative to reduce barriers and provide reimbursement for tribal health programs.
• Met with tribal leaders and frontline staff to share information and seek feedback from tribes about how the state should spend its opioid settlement dollars. Tribal Government Services & Policy staff will manage the release of FY 2025 opioid settlement funds to tribes.
• Worked with multiple MDHHS divisions and program offices to help them engage in successful consultations with tribal governments.
• Developed annual employee trainings to help employees better understand the unique working relationship with tribal governments.

New initiatives:

• Resume a workgroup with tribal governments to collaboratively build a waiver application for permission to provide Medicaid reimbursement for certain traditional Native American healing practices. This follows Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services approval of four state's applications.
• Begin a workgroup to help ensure compliance with federal requirements on how to count or exclude cultural or other tribal incomes in the determination of eligibility and calculation of benefits provided by MDHHS.
• Serve on and support the Michigan Attorney General's Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force and provide comprehensive information and resources to victims and families at their request.

"The expansion of this office affirms our commitment to supporting strong and effective tribal relations in Michigan and the added staff will help us better serve tribal partners in the state," said Lorna Elliott-Egan, director of the Office of Tribal Government Services & Policy. "Collaboration helps us work together. Working to expand our consultation efforts to make sure tribes are true partners in what we do has been a priority for the department during Director Hertel's administration."

In addition to Elliott-Egan, three employees make up the office who are all either an enrolled citizen or a descendant of one of Michigan's 12 tribal governments. Each brings a deep understanding of tribal history and their own lived experiences and those of their ancestors and indigenous people. This deep level of understanding helps the department identify and address the health and social inequities that Native Americans continue to experience today.

The office is comprised of:

Mary Calcatera, Technician

Mary Calcatera is an enrolled citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians with a degree in education from Michigan State University. Calcatera assists in tribal consultations, project planning and archival and research efforts. Calcatera's technical expertise ensures the smooth development, design and management of the unit's website and project planning to streamline operations and enhance workflow coordination.

Chrystina (Tina) Lightfoot, Analyst and Advocate

Tina Lightfoot (Zhaawin Noden n'dizhnikaaz, Ma'iingan n'dodemishinaabe kwe n'daaw) is a descendant of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and holds a bachelor's degree in sociology/criminal justice from Central Michigan University. She lives and works in her tribal community in Mt. Pleasant. Lightfoot serves as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) policy analyst and advocate, acting as a liaison between the office, tribal programs and advocacy groups supporting MMIP victims and families.

Isabelle Welsh, Departmental Specialist

Isabelle Welsh is an enrolled member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and affiliated with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She lives and works in her tribal community in Baraga. Welsh has a degree in social work from Northern Michigan University. She began her career at MDHHS in 2017 as a Native American outreach worker and began working within Tribal Government Services & Policy as an analyst in December 2022 when the new office was opened. She is currently the office's specialist focused on food sovereignty and security initiatives services and elder services.

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