Executive Summary

In 1972, Tribal leaders came together to create the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) to
advocate for all federally recognized Tribes to ensure the federal government upholds its trust
responsibility to deliver health and public health services to the Tribes. Since then, NIHB has
worked to protect and improve health and reduce health disparities for American Indian and
Alaska Native (AI/AN) people through congressional and administrative advocacy, policy
research and analysis, training and technical assistance, convening and facilitation support, and
outreach and real-time communications.

In partnership and through support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)1, NIHB conducted the second comprehensive scan, known as the Public Health in Indian
Country Capacity Scan (PHICCS), to better understand the current capacity of Tribal public
health. The results of this project are in this 2023 PHICCS Report. This report serves as a
valuable tool for Indian Country to assess better the needs and strengths of Tribal public health
systems.