Arizona Department of Economic Security
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Office of Tribal Relations Overview

Purpose of the Office of Tribal Relations

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES or Department) works to strengthen and build strong relationships with Arizona’s 22 Sovereign Tribes. The Department is committed to working with American Indian Tribes to improve the quality, availability, and accessibility of human services to children, youth, and adults.

Office of Tribal Relations Team

To ensure the Department thoroughly engages and is accessible to the 22 Arizona Tribes, the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) has four (4) Tribal Liaisons, as well as a Tribal Relations Manager.

  • Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) / Division of Community Assistance and Development (DCAD) / Division of Child Support Services (DCSS)
  • Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS)
  • Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility (DBME)
  • Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

Standard of Work

OTR serves as a single point of contact for Tribal issues and works to ensure relevant programs and policies are efficient, easy to understand, accessible, and developed in consultation with the 22 Arizona Tribes. 

OTR also facilitates and ensures consistency and effectiveness in ADES Program delivery to Tribes and establishes long-term consultative and collaborative relationships with Tribal governments through policy and direction. OTR provides guidance, assistance, and suggestions on various ADES policy issues with a specific focus on Tribal Government Consultation and cultural awareness, and works to educate ADES program staff about the Arizona Tribal Nations, focusing on particular strengths, needs, and opportunities for partnership and collaborations. 

ADES Tribal Government Consultation Policy ensures open, continuous, and meaningful engagement with Arizona's 22 Tribal Nations before implementing any policy changes that may impact the Indian Tribes or Nations in Arizona. 

The following five principles guide ADES's interaction with Tribal Nations: 

  1. Commitment to a government-to-government relationship; 
  2. Responsibility to conduct outreach; 
  3. Obligation for timely consultation; 
  4. Possible coordination with other state agencies for joint Tribal Government Consultations; and 
  5. Engagement of Arizona’s 22 Sovereign Indian Tribes or Nations.
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