Community Health Aide Program: Tribal Assessment Planning

The Indian Health Service (IHS), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced a forecast for the 2025 funding cycle under the Community Health Aide Program (CHAP): Tribal Assessment & Planning initiative. The IHS plays a pivotal role in delivering healthcare services to American Indian and Alaska Native populations and is authorized to support community-led health programs that meet culturally relevant and region-specific needs. This particular opportunity is part of a broader effort to expand the reach and impact of the CHAP, which aims to equip Tribal and Tribal Organization (T/TO) communities with the resources and structure needed to assess and plan localized health aide programs. The purpose of the Tribal Assessment & Planning program is to provide funding to federally recognized Indian Tribes and qualifying Tribal Organizations so they can evaluate the feasibility of establishing a Community Health Aide Program tailored to their unique community needs. The program supports comprehensive assessment and planning activities and encourages regional flexibility in how such programs are conceived and implemented. This includes evaluating workforce needs, healthcare delivery gaps, logistical capacities, and the cultural context in which the aide programs would operate. Funding is expected to total $1,500,000 for the 2025 cycle, with an estimated four awards ranging from a minimum of $250,000 to a maximum of $500,000 each. No cost sharing or matching funds are required. While specific spending guidance has not been finalized, awardees will likely be expected to use funds for planning activities that support feasibility assessments, community engagement, and organizational readiness for implementing CHAP models. Importantly, this opportunity is not intended to fund direct service provision or concurrent implementation projects under the same program stream. Eligibility is limited to Federally recognized Indian Tribes as defined under 25 U.S.C. 1603(14) and to Tribal Organizations as outlined in 25 U.S.C. 1603(26) and 25 U.S.C. 5304(l). Eligible organizations must be able to demonstrate governance authority or sanctioned community representation and must include letters of support or formal Tribal Resolutions from the communities they intend to serve. Projects proposing to serve multiple Tribes must secure written approvals from each. Individuals, sole proprietors, foreign entities, and Tribes restricted under the Alaska Moratorium are ineligible to apply. Additionally, entities already awarded a CHAP grant under this program are not eligible to receive funding for the same purpose while the initial award remains active. As of the latest forecast (Version 3), the application package has not yet been posted and key dates such as the opening and submission deadlines are still pending finalization. The estimated post date for the full funding announcement is May 1, 2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for updates. The opportunity does not offer a rolling deadline but is expected to be recurring. The next estimated submission cycle, following this one, will likely occur in May 2026. For inquiries, applicants should contact the Indian Health Service Division of Grants Management by phone at 301-443-5204. No specific contact email is provided in the current forecast. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to begin early planning and internal coordination to ensure alignment with program goals and eligibility criteria once the formal notice becomes available.