Feasibility Study to Transition the Carnegie IHS Clinic to Tribal Management - The Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma urgently requests $70,000 in Tribal Management Grant (TMG) funding for a 12-month feasibility study. The Indian Health Service (IHS) facility in Carnegie, Oklahoma, currently operates under a third-party lease agreement and faces longstanding challenges related to structural upkeep, space limitations, and constrained service offerings. These barriers inhibit comprehensive and culturally responsive care for the Kiowa people, making the need for this study immediate and crucial. This project will be administered by the Executive Director of the Kiowa Tribe’s Health and Human Services Department and supported by internal staff and external technical consultants as needed. The study will analyze four core areas: (1) health needs and service delivery gaps; (2) management capacity and organizational readiness; (3) financial projections and resource requirements; and (4) a decision report to the Kiowa Tribal leadership with recommendations on whether the program assumption is warranted. The study's outcomes will inform a governance-level decision regarding the Tribal assumption of health services. The aim is to strengthen local healthcare sovereignty, expand access, and align service delivery with the community’s health priorities and cultural values. We believe that this project has the potential to improve the health and well-being of the Kiowa people significantly, and we are excited about the positive changes it can bring.
