16.17.030 Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the Turtle Mountain Health Board is to assist in improving the health conditions within the Turtle Mountain Jurisdiction. The Turtle Mountain Health Board is established to provide the people of the Turtle Mountains with a means of communication and participation with the Indian Health Service of the United States Public Health Service and other agencies, i.e., state, county, and local, on health matters. The Board's objectives are, but not limited to:

(a) To Represent the Indian interest and desires concerning health matters to all agencies and groups.

(b) To improve the effectiveness of the Indian Health Program through responsible participation in making decisions about their health services in order to improve the health status of the people within the Turtle Mountain Jurisdiction.

(c) To make and authorize investigations of health, sanitation, and public safety conditions of the Turtle Mountain Jurisdiction and report their findings to the Board and the Tribal Council.

(d) To make and authorize inspections in compliance with the applicable health, sanitation, and public safety laws, and to take appropriate action against violators of such laws.

(e) To develop and operate within a Health Board budget as approved by the Tribal Council.

(f) To act as a grievance board to hear, investigate, and assist in finding immediate solutions to complaints of the people concerning health within the Turtle Mountain Jurisdiction.

(g) To act in an advisory capacity to the Indian Health Service concerning needed program changes in establishing priorities, distributing resources, and assisting in developing long range program plans.

(h) To promote through health education the development of Indian responsibility for community activities affecting health.

(i) To cooperate and communicate with all committees as set forth in the Tribal Council's Overall Economic Development Plan.

(j) To establish lines of communication between all other boards of health including, but not limited to, the Aberdeen Area Indian Health Advisory Board.

(k) To attend conferences, workshops, and seminars concerning health, community development, and community organization, for the purpose of keeping aware of new developments in Indian affairs.

(l) To take all necessary and appropriate action to carry out its responsibilities towards the fulfillment of its overall purpose.