(VHA) VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (VHA) (VBA) VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION (VBA) (VHA) VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (VHA) (NCA) NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION (NCA) with STATE VETERANS DEPARTMENTS L. HOMANA PAWIKI VA Office of Tribal Government Relations (Pacific and Continental Districts) November 14, 2017

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs “ . . . . to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” Abraham Lincoln Established in 1930 Elevated to Cabinet level in 1989 Federal Government’s 2nd largest Department Department of Defense is the largest Department

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs THREE ADMINISTRATIONS Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA)

http://www.va.gov/tribalgovernment/ Mary Culley Clay Ward Terry Bentley Terry.Bentley@va.gov 541-440-1271 Mary Culley Mary.Culley@va.gov 405-456-3876 Clay Ward David.Ward@va.gov 202-461-7445 Homana Pawiki LoRae.Pawiki@va.gov 928-445-4860 x5306 Peter Vicaire Peter.Vicaire@va.gov 651-405-5676 http://www.va.gov/tribalgovernment/

VA Office of Tribal Government Relations

Government to Government Relationship VETERAN American Indian Alaska Native Tribal Governments VA Office of Tribal Government Relations State Veterans Departments National Cemetery Administration Veteran Health Administration Veterans Benefits Administration BEING VETERAN CENTRIC

VA Office of Tribal Government Relations OTGR Specialists Work with VA colleagues to expand relationships with tribal governments supporting priorities tribal leaders have for meeting the needs of tribal Veterans Promote Veteran-Centric message and action to Indian Country OTGR Goals Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care and Benefits Promote Economic Sustainability Implement Tribal Consultation Policy

Today’s Presentation VA Overview VHA Health Benefits Enrollment & Eligibility VHA Choice = CARE VBA Benefits VHA Tribal HUD-VASH Program