The Southern Plains Tribal Health Board (SPTHB) is a non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Health Board was established in 1972 to provide a unified voice on tribal public health needs and policy for the 43 federally recognized tribes located in the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Board membership includes representatives from the 12 service units in the Indian Health Service (IHS) Oklahoma Area.
The Southern Plains Tribal Health Board is dedicated to serving the tribal nations of the Southern Plains by improving health outcomes for American Indians through partnerships, advocacy, education, and training.
Promoting healthy communities, serving and strengthening all tribal nations.
We lead with others in mind. We value everyone’s contributions and regularly seek out opinions. We intentionally cultivate trust and collaboration. We set positive examples and invest in others so that they can follow the roles of leadership.
We stay accountable to our tribal nations by making sure our actions mirror our mission, vision, and values. We listen, learn, act, and repeat to strengthen our role within our tribal nations.
We treat others as we expect to be treated. We embrace each individual’s unique talents and respect diverse life and work styles. We operate in a spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and inclusiveness.
We anticipate change and acknowledge forward-thinking solutions to overcome problems. We believe in the power of great ideas and that these ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, at anytime.
We act promptly, enthusiastically, and professionally so people are WOW-ed by their interactions with us. We work with enthusiasm and are driven to surpass what has already been achieved. We use data and feedback to guide our course.
We do the right thing. We conduct our business in accordance with the highest standards of professional behavior and ethics. We are transparent, honest, and ethical in all our interactions with employees, supporters, partners, vendors, and the public.
The SPTHB serves as a liaison between the National Indian Health Board, (which works closely with Congress and the Senate on Indian Health Policy for Indian Country) and the 43 federally recognized tribes in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Our role is to improve tribal public health outcomes for American Indians through partnerships, advocacy, education, and data, as well as training.
The Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) program enhances epidemiologic and public health support to AI/AN people and communities by performing the following seven core functions:
The TECs have worked for more than 30 years to identify and address health risks, support disease prevention and control, and collaborate on common priorities while tailoring public health services to meet regional and local needs. Funded in part by the Indian Health Service, TECs manage public health information systems, investigate diseases of concern, manage disease prevention and control programs, and respond to public health emergencies.
OKTEC serves the tribes providing education, resources, survey assistance, tools, trainings, provision of technical assistance, and support across multiple prevention programs. SPTHB/OKTEC’s projects are unique—they are all engaging in the following key strategies to contribute to overall health for AI/AN people throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, and parts of Texas:
– Strengthen public health capacity and infrastructure;
– Implement activities to improve the effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention;
– Collaborate with Tribal and other partners to achieve collective action; and
– Engage in sustainability activities.
Tribal health boards were created to advocate for Tribal Nations across the United States and their needs related to tribal health and tribal public health. The Snyder Act of 1921 (25 USC 13) and the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act [enacted in 2010, as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148)] provide specific legislative authority for Congress to appropriate funds specifically for the health care of Indian people.
In addition, numerous other laws, court cases, and Executive Orders reaffirm the unique relationship between tribal governments and the federal government. Therefore, numerous Tribal Health Boards were created to advocate for Tribal Nations across the Unites States and their needs related to tribal health and tribal public health.
We address tribal public health at its core through a multi component system, striving to improve public health issues through three key strategies: PARTNERSHIPS, ADVOCACY, and TRAINING & EDUCATION. We are honored to foster and support all three strategies which come together to provide guidance and resources to our member tribes within Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Working closely with our tribal, state, federal, and local partners to help the greater good in American Indian health, advocacy, data collection, and technical assistance.
Servicing as the advocacy piece, our position enables us to give and receive information to change and improve American Indian health policy.
Helping to build capacity within tribes to address a variety of public health issues.
No, the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board is a 501c 3 non-profit organization independent of Indian Health Services (IHS)
The Tribal Public Health Conference will be April 7–9, 2026 at the OKC Convention Center in Oklahoma City, OK. The SPTHB Training Summit is hosted annually in August (more info TBA).
The SPTHB was established in 1972.
Contact our support team via email at info@spthb.org.
We provide excellent compensation and benefits, a work-life balance focused schedule, and a diverse and innovative work environment. Come grow with us!
Learn more about the leaders, advisors, evaluators, and advocates who maintain an unwavering focus on improving health outcomes for tribal nations and communities in KS, OK, and TX.
We provide public health services in epidemiology, data management, data analysis, training, health promotion/disease prevention, and research through outreach and creative partnerships.
