Williams receives national IHS award
Courtesy photo
L to r: Capt. Brian K. Johnson, BS, MPH, Acting Navajo Area Director, USPHS,
IHS; Miranda Williams; and Rear Adm. Michael D. Weahkee, MBA, MHSA,
Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS, Principal Deputy Director, IHS
Miranda Williams was honored with
an Indian Health Service Director’s Award
for Fostering Relationships on June 21 for
her “innovative leadership and dedication
towards improving diabetes care.”
Williams is the diabetes program coor-
dinator/supervisor Division of Public Health
in the IHS Chinle Service Unit (CSU) in
Chinle, Ariz. She received her award during
the IHS Director’s Awards Ceremony at IHS
headquarters in Rockville, Md.
The award nomination, submitted by
Jill Moses, MD, MPH, director, Division
of Public Health, CSU, reads as follows:
“Miranda Williams has worked as the
Chinle Service Unit diabetes coordinator
for seven years. Within that time, she has
developed a nationally recognized innova-
tive diabetes care program that emphasizes
building and fostering relationships. Her
work exemplifies her dedication to the
community she services, where the focus
is on patient care, by creating and fostering
2019-2020 Hunting and Fishing Tags
Distribution Schedule
Estimated
Number
Available
Season
Dates
Early Archery
50
8/24-9/22
General Rifle
375
9/28-11/1**
Antlerless or
Spike – Adult
8
10/19-11/1
Type of Tag
Deer
Elk
Antlerless or
Spike – Youth
5
9/28-11/3
Late Archery
50***
11/16-12/8
Antlerless - Youth
2
8/1-12/31
Early Archery
25
8/24-9/22
1 st Season Rifle
25
11/9-11/12
2 nd Season Rifle
25
11/16-11/22
8
Various
seasons
beginning
1/1/20
Antlerless
Late Archery
Antlerless
Salmon Salmon
56
11/23-12/8
200
11/1-12/30
(estimate)
Date to Start Tag Issuance
8/5 at 8 a.m. at Natural
Resources office
8/19
Lottery applications available
8/5; due 9/6; drawing 9/9; tags
issued 9/11
Lottery applications available
8/5; due 9/6; drawing 9/9; tags
issued 9/11
First Distribution:
10/14 at 8 a.m. at NR office
Second Distribution:
10/28 at 8 a.m. at NR office
(see Note 2 below)
Lottery applications available
6/3; due 6/28; drawing 7/1; tags
issued 7/2
8/5 at 8 a.m. at Natural
Resources office
Lottery applications available
9/3; due 9/27; drawing 10/7; tags
issued 10/8
Method of
Issuance
First-come, first-
served*
First-come, first-
served
Lottery – Open to
elders only
Lottery – Open to
youth ages 12-17
only
First-come, first-
served*
Lottery – Open to
youth ages 12-17
only
First-come, first-
served*
Lottery
Lottery applications available
9/3; due 9/27; drawing 10/7; tags Lottery
issued 12/2
First Distribution:
10/14 at 8 a.m. at NR office
Second Distribution:
10/28 at 8 a.m. at NR office
(see Note 2 below)
9/3
First-come, first-
served*
First-come, first-
served
* No early calls to “save” an early archery tag for someone. Must physically show up to obtain tag on first day
of distribution. May call to have a tag mailed beginning on the second day of distribution.
** Season for youth ages 12-17 is 9/28 - 11/3 (2 additional days at end of general season)
*** Minus number of tags filled in deer early bow season
NOTE 1:
NOTE 2:
8
•
A Tribal member may obtain only ONE elk tag in their name during the 2019-2020 hunting
season (bow, bull and cow tags all count toward the one tag), except as noted below.
First Distribution: For hunters who have not been issued an early season deer archery tag (for
deer tags) or any elk tag (for elk tags).
Second Distribution: For any eligible hunter, regardless of what other tags they have received.
Siletz News
•
July 2019
a network of support within the health care
team and system. Her work demonstrates
her ingenious approach to building capacity
within the community and relationships.
Ms. Williams has achieved the following in
the past year through patient centered care
programs that develop people, and build
and foster partnerships.
“Diabetes Health Coach Development
– Ms. Williams’ work emphasizes building
capacity within the community. The Chinle
Diabetes Program has developed the inno-
vative health coach model using Native
paraprofessionals to provide navigation,
care coordination and self-management
support. Health coaches, trained on the
job, have become essential members of the
primary care team. In the spirit of continu-
ous improvement, Ms. Williams supports
professional development among health
coaches by ensuring competencies through
a system of weekly coaching sessions, peer
mentorships and chart reviews resulting in
professional development.
“SDPI Partners – Ms. Williams man-
ages over $1.5 million per year in Special
Diabetes of Indians Program Initiative
(SDPI) funds. She has implemented an
effective system of small ‘grants’ to CSU
departments for activities and services that
improve diabetes prevention and treatment.
Departments submit proposals containing
project plans, evaluation plans and budgets.
Once approved, they sign a partnership
agreement with the Diabetes Program com-
mitting to meeting monthly and reporting
progress. Since most departments provide
care to patients with diabetes, this approach
actively engages our partners in improving
diabetes care and supporting SDPI aims.
Thirteen departments signed a partnership
agreement and received funds in 2018.
“Baa Hozho Care – Under Ms. Wil-
liams’ leadership, the Diabetes Program
was instrumental in developing the Baa
Hozho Care program, an intensive care
coordination program for patients with
complex needs over the past three years.
This population is comprised of patents
that have been identified as high risk with
multiple complex needs, many of which
have diabetes. The care coordination
processes developed through this program
are benefiting all patients with complex
needs. A key factor in the success of this
service is the strategies developed to effec-
tively engage patients as partners in their
own care and strengthening the relation-
ships between patients and their primary
care team, including health coaches.
“Mobile Clinic – In response to com-
munity requests to bring health care services
to remote communities, Ms. Williams cham-
pioned the design and purchase of a mobile
clinic. She met with community members to
get their input, researched the use of mobile
clinics in the region and designed the clinic
to meet community needs. In the past year,
she has partnered with multiple hospital
departments, community members and
partners, and Navajo Nation public health
programs to deploy the mobile clinic in a
thoughtful and deliberate way.
“Ms. Williams exemplifies the spirit of
the IHS Director’s Award for Fostering Rela-
tionships. Her collaborative approach with
compassion and resolve has underscored the
application of patient centered care.”
Miranda’s mom and her family are
really proud of her.