Arizona Republic Profiles the State Health Department’s Native American Liaison

The Arizona Republic on July 31 profiled Michael Allison, the Native American liaison for the Arizona Department of Health Services. Allison coordinates health efforts among the state's three Indian Health Service delivery areas, 21 tribes and three urban Indian health programs. Health Department Director Cathy Eden said that the tribes have been seeking a liaison for nearly 20 years. As the liasion, Allison is able to "teach [the department] what the tribes need" and "explain to the tribes what [it is] capable of doing," Eden said. Allison said, "The government is really a maze. Native Americans are happy to find someone who grew up with them. It shows the state is trying to respond to their needs." According to Allison, most tribes will eventually "take over control" of their own health programs from IHS, but for that to happen, tribes must first develop their own resources, jobs and programs addressing alcohol and substance abuse, as well as fill leadership positions with community members. "The challenge for tribes is they have, through history, lost control of their own destiny. In the health field, it's the same thing," Allison said, adding, "If the tribes had full resources, I don't think the [health care disparity] statistics would be the same. They would be doing something about it" (Nichols, Arizona Republic, 7/31).