§1665b Memoranda of agreement with the Department of the Interior

Summary

Within 1 year after March 23, 2010, the Secretary (acting through the Service) and the Secretary of the Interior must create or update a written agreement. The agreement must examine the scope of mental illness and harmful behavior among Indians (including child abuse and family violence), list current federal, tribal, state, local, and private services, identify gaps and unmet needs, protect Indians’ right to access and benefit from behavioral health services, set out the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ and the Service’s duties for spotting, preventing, referring, educating about, and treating mental health problems at all levels, make a plan to coordinate behavioral health and substance-abuse programs (including help for people with both problems) and link to non‑Federal services for child abuse and family violence, order officials to work with tribal community behavioral health plans, and require an annual review sent to Congress and to Indian tribes and tribal organizations. The agreement must also make the Service responsible for measuring alcohol and drug problems among Indians (including how many are affected and the costs), assessing current and needed resources for prevention and treatment, and estimating the funding needed for an adequate program. Each new or updated agreement and any changes must be published in the Federal Register, and a copy must be sent at the same time to each Indian tribe, tribal organization, and urban Indian organization.