February 9, 2001
The “Tribal Self-Governance Amendments of 2000,” enacted August 18, 2000 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct of a study “to determine the feasibility of a tribal self-governance demonstration project for appropriate programs, services, functions, and activities (or portions thereof) of the agency.” The Act defines "Agency” to mean any agency of the Department other than the Indian Health Service (which is already operating under a permanent self-governance statute). Below is a revised Questionnaire, following the field testing during January, incorporating comments and suggestions by the members of the Tribal Self-Governance Study Workgroup. This is the recommended version to be used as the basis for collecting information on all 308 programs administered by the Department. Part of the information resource available for building this data base is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
What are the baseline data elements? The baseline elements, to be collected in questionnaires, attached, are the core set of information that needs to be collected for each program, service, function, or activity (or portion thereof) (PSFAs) in the Department.
Why is it needed? This baseline data is information that can be used by: 1) the tribes and non- tribal entities to see what individual or combination of PSFAs are run by the Department and which of those would be feasible to include in a self-governance demonstration; and 2) DHHS to help identify legal and other barriers to the inclusion of particular PSFAs under a demonstration.
Who will collect the information? Taking responsibility for and gathering this information is the first work product requested from the appointed members to the Tribal Self-governance Study Workgroup (TSSW). TSSW members are encouraged to involve additional agency staff, especially for agencies with substantial numbers of PSFAs to review.
Where is the information to be obtained? The information will need to be obtained from both documentary and staff sources, including, but not limited to: the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance; budget justification documents; and program, policy, and budget management staff.
How will the information be used? Information outlined in this document will answer basic factual questions required in the study such as identifying PSFAs that would require statutory changes in order to include them in a demonstration. The information will also help answer key technical questions required by the Act: the effects on programs and beneficiaries of a demonstration project; impediments to and strategies for implementing a demonstration; costs or savings associated with such a demonstration; and methods to assure quality and accountability.