The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, Inc., was incorporated in 1986 as a non-profit organization. 
 Its purpose is to: 

“…determine the health care needs of Native Americans and to design a health care program to meet those needs.  The primary goal is to establish a health maintenance system for Native Americans.” 

The Coalition was established to provide the following services to Indian people:

¨            To provide health care services, including alcohol/drug services, health education and outreach, to
        rural  and urban Indians;

¨            To determine the population of urban and rural Indians which are or could be recipients of health
        referral or health care services;

¨            To identify all public and private health resources which ay be available to rural and urban Indians;

¨            To facilitate such resources in providing services to Indian people; and

¨            To provide education to rural and urban Indians including: drug and alcohol education, health
         information, prevention, and intervention information.  

Coalition headquarters are at 2240 Landon Court Omaha, Nebraska. 68102.  It maintains a member Board of Directors.  Board meetings are held at least once a quarter at one of the member locations.  At the present time, four programs, at separate sites, are managed and operated by the Coalition, one of which is the InterTribal Center, Omaha, Nebraska. 

As the governing body of the Coalition, the Board of Directors is the authority which governs the InterTribal Center.  

Board of Directors: 

1.   Has sole authority and responsibility for the operation of the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, Incorporated and its programs which include the InterTribal Center.  In order to operate the InterTribal Center, authority and responsibility is delegated to the Executive Director.  In turn, authority and responsibility is delegated by the Executive Director to the Program Director for the daily operation of InterTribal Center.  At any time that proper operation of InterTribal is put in jeopardy by the action of personnel to whom authority has been delegated, that authority may be withdrawn by the individual'’ superior, including the Board of Directors who serves as the superior of the Executive Director.  

2.      The Board of Directors does not delegate the following authorizations and responsibilities:

(A)   Recommends to he Chairman of the Board on the appointment of the Executive Director;

(B)   Approval of an annual operation budget and any amendments thereto;

(C)   Approval of an annual operating plan including specification of the agency’s goals and objectives;

(D)   Approval of major mew programs to be undertaken by the agency;

(E)    Approval of the agency’s operating policies and procedures (Note: specific program/operating policies and procedures will be developed by the Program Coordinator and/or the Coordinating Committee);

(F)    Have, or make available, sufficient resources, e.g. funds, staff, equipment, supplies and facilities to insure InterTribal is capable of providing appropriate and adequate service to clients;

(G)   Insure there are resources for the regular review of the performance of the program in meeting the stated goals;

(H)   Other authorizations and responsibilities which may be specified by the Board of Directors from time to time and noted in its minutes; and

(I)      Annual appraisal of the Executive Director.  

3.      Community input is essential if InterTribal is to serve effectively the Aberdeen Area and the greater Omaha community.  Board of Director Members is selected to give as broad an area of input as possible.  In some cases, additional community input or input from special groups may be advisable.  

Disclosure of Controlling Parties 

The names and addresses of all officers and members of the Board of Directors will be posted in the central office of the Coalition and the program office, and available to anyone upon request.   

Advisory Board 

In order to assure ongoing quality service and to meet the needs of those Native Americans in the community and region, InterTribal Center shall have an Advisory Board.  The Program Director and Treatment Coordinator shall serve as members of the Advisory Board and serve as its staff.  The Advisory Board shall elect its Chairperson and adopt by-laws by which it shall operate. [A copy of purposed by-laws is included at the end of this chapter.] 

Generally room will be left for the Board to limit, as needed, its own membership.  Because it is intended to serve as a mechanism with which to insure quality of service, and a proposal of area and community ideas specifically geared for Native Americans to efficiently pursue attainment of InterTribal program goals, the Board as a whole shall be representative of the community and area and knowledgeable of the field of chemical dependency and the services
needed thereof. 

Should the Advisory Board develop a bias that leads to exclusion of various points of view the Board of Directors
 may act under their by-laws to further restrict the membership of the InterTribal Advisory Board.  

Minutes shall be kept of Advisory Board meetings.  These minutes, including any recommendations therein, will be in writing and forwarded to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors when warranted and noted in the Committee’s minutes.