Children’s Behavioral Health: Promising Practices in Tribal Communities

Children’s Behavioral Health:

Promising Practices in Tribal 

Communities

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA), and the Indian Health Service 

(IHS), with the Center for Faith-based and 

Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, are planning a 2-part

webinar series focusing on the behavioral health of children in Tribal communities. 

The objectives for this two-part series include the following:

• Highlighting promising practices and outcomes of behavioral health prevention and services 

developed and implemented by and for children, youth, and families in Tribal communities

• Sharing information about Federal programs and resources to support the behavioral health 

and well-being of children, youth, and families in Tribal communities

• Creating a forum to discuss and learn about opportunities to strengthen the integration of 

relevant behavioral health services in human services and health care programs in Tribal 

communities

• Providing the opportunity for participants to ask questions and share information about 

what they are observing in their communities and where they see gaps and opportunities 

for resources and partnerships to support children, youth, and families

Part 1: Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 12:00pm (EST) – 2:30pm (EST) Focus on

Early Childhood and School-Based programs

Part 2: Friday, May 12, 2023, from 12:00pm (EST) – 2:30pm (EST) Focus on Whole

Family and Workforce programs

Intended audience includes behavioral health program and school staff, federal grantees, and the 

public. Presenters will include Federal leaders, Federal grantees, community-based programs, and 

national organizations.

Sign up here to register to join the webinar! If you cannot attend, the training will be recorded.
Children’s Behavioral Health: Promising Practices in Tribal Communities

Speakers & Facilitators

Lauren Behsudi is a senior advisor in the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary of 

the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services. In this role, Lauren leads cross-cutting priorities to improve behavioral 

health outcomes for children, youth, and families.

Misty L. Boyd, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and serves as the Young Child Wellness 

Expert for the Chickasaw Nation Division of Research and Public Health. She has 

experience working in traditional outpatient clinical settings as well as both rural and 

urban schools.

Ryan T. Chee was born and raised on the Navajo Nation in the small community of 

Leupp, Arizona. His clans are of the Red House People (Kinlichii’nii’) born for Yuccastrung-out-in-a-line clan (Hashk’aahadzohi). Ryan is an alumnus of ASU ’08, with an

undergraduate degree in Special Education/Learning Disabilities. He is the Principal of 

Leupp Elementary School.

Capt. Carmen Clelland, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, is the 

chief of staff for the Indian Health Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services. The IHS is the principal federal health care advocate and 

provider of health care services for American Indians and Alaska Natives. As chief of 

staff, Clelland oversees the coordination of key agency activities and supports the 

Office of the Director in a broad range of duties related to the development and 

implementation of IHS initiatives and priorities.

.
Children’s Behavioral Health: Promising Practices in Tribal Communities

January Contreras is the Assistant Secretary at the Administration for Children and 

Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As the Assistant 

Secretary, Contreras leads with a focus on effectively and equitably delivering on the 

agency’s vital mission to promote the economic and social well-being of children, 

families, and communities across the nation.

Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon is a clinical community psychologist currently serving as the 

Assistant Secretary for the Substance Use and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). 

Through her 20-year career in the behavioral health field, Assistant Secretary DelphinRittmon has extensive experience in the design, evaluation, and administration of mental 

health, substance use, and prevention services and has received several awards for 

advancing policy in these areas.

Shamika Dokes-Brown is the Program Manager of the Strong Families Tribal Home 

Visiting Program at the Native American Health Center. For over 20 years, Shamika has 

remained committed to making a difference in women’s Health and family wellness. She is 

a certified Family Planning Health Worker, Lactation, and Childbirth Educator.

CDR Angela Fallon, an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation and a 

descendant of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck, Montana, serves as the 

Deputy Director of the Office of Clinical and Preventative Services (OCPS) for the Indian 

Health Service (IHS).

Jaclyn Haight resides on Bainbridge Island, Washington near the Port Gamble 

Reservation in Kingston, Washington. She is currently the Director of the Early 

Childhood Education Program for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. Jaclyn has thirtyseven years’ experience in the Early Childhood field and oversight responsibility for 

the mental health and disability services for the program. Her interest in working 

with young children began as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois in 

Champaign/Urbana where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Children’s Behavioral Health: Promising Practices in Tribal Communities

CAPT Karen (Kari) Hearod is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and directs 

SAMHSA’s Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy (OTAP). Her office acts as SAMHSA’s 

primary point of contact for Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, federal 

departments and agencies, and other governments and organizations on behavioral 

health issues facing American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN).

Hope MacDonald Lone Tree serves as the deputy commissioner at the Administration 

for Native Americans managing a nation-wide discretionary grant program. Previously, 

Ms. MacDonald Lone Tree served her people through the Office of the Speaker, 24th 

Navajo Nation Council on special projects and initiatives that included public safety, 

public health, and veterans.

Andrea Palm is the Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS). As Deputy Secretary, she is the Chief Operating Officer and is 

responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Department.

Palm most recently served as Secretary-designee of the Department of Health 

Services (DHS), overseeing one of the largest state agencies in Wisconsin as a 

member of Governor Tony Evers' cabinet.

Previously, Palm held a number of policy and operational roles in the Obama-Biden Administration at HHS. 

During her eight-year tenure, she worked on a variety of Administration priorities, including the Affordable 

Care Act, as well as providing leadership for the Department's work to combat the opioid epidemic.

Bobbi Jo Peltier, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa 

Indians is the Public Health Advisor-Behavioral Health Community Health Aide 

Program (CHAP) Lead of the Indian Health Service.
Children’s Behavioral Health: Promising Practices in Tribal Communities

Glorinda Segay is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and received her Doctor of 

Behavioral Health from Arizona State University. Dr. Segay began her career at the IHS 

in 2020 as the Director for the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH). She also served as 

the Division Director for Navajo Nation Department of Health.

CAPT (retired) Tina Tah, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is the Public Health 

Nurse Consultant in the Division of Nursing Services at the Indian Health Service 

headquarters. Ms. Tah serves as the principal advisor concerning Public Health Nursing 

and program liaison to provide direction and advocacy for the broad range of public health 

nursing services.

Rev. Clarance Yarholar is the pastor with Springfield United Methodist Church in the Oklahoma Indian 

Missionary Conference and a tribal member of Thlopthlocco Tribal Town and the Mvskoke Nation of 

Oklahoma. Starting in 2013, Clarence received his license to preach. In 2021, Clarence was officially 

ordained by the Bishop of South Central Jurisdiction. He currently serves on the “Board of Ordained 

Ministry” (BOM) in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.

Sarah Walters joined HOSA-Future Health Professionals in August 2022, but her 

involvement in HOSA-FHP extends back to her time as a health science student and 

HOSA-FHP member. She has served as a state and national officer, conference staff 

member, active alumni and as a member of the HOSA Inc.