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

Summary

Within one year after March 23, 2010, the Secretary (through the Service) and the Secretary of the Interior must make or update a written agreement. The agreement must say how they will study and deal with mental illness, self-harm, child abuse, and family violence among Indians. It must list current federal, tribal, State, local, and private behavioral health services and say what is still needed. The agreement must protect Indians’ right to get and use behavioral health services. It must describe what the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Service will do at all levels for spotting problems, preventing them, educating people, referring patients, and giving treatment (including using multidisciplinary teams). The agreement must explain how BIA, the Service, tribes, and non-Federal programs will coordinate, especially for people with both substance abuse and mental health needs and for child abuse and family violence. It must require officials to work with tribal community behavioral health plans and include an annual review that is sent to Congress and to Indian tribes and tribal organizations. The agreement must also make the Service responsible for three specific studies: how big alcohol and substance abuse problems are among Indians in the Service’s area (including numbers and costs), what prevention and treatment resources exist and are needed, and how much money is required to run adequate prevention and treatment programs. Each new or renewed agreement, and any changes to it, must be published in the Federal Register and a copy given at the same time to each Indian tribe, tribal organization, and urban Indian organization.