April 25, 2019

Tribal Health Program

Division of Population Health
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333

Dear Ms. Shelton:

Better Health Together has worked closely with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians for the better part of 5 years,
developing programs that have helped to improve the quality of health for our Tribal communities. Better
Health Together is a foundation formed in 2013 and works to improve our region’s health through collaborative
and innovative action. We are positioned to develop coordinated, multi-stakeholder solutions to achieve the
triple aim of better health, better care, and to reduce costs in our seven county region.

As a leader in advocating for health equity, we offer our unqualified support for the Kalispel Tribe’s Component
1 application to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Good Health in Indian Country. We are
currently working with the Kalispel Tribe health to provide coaching for seniors, helping them to set goals for an
improved diet and exercise schedule, and to self‐monitor their condition. Activities include the provision of
healthy meals/elder luncheons; the provision of health screenings, transportation, educational outreach
activities, and the transportation of elders to attend formal meetings with health agencies staff and elder
related conferences; and, finally, conducting Home Caregiver Certification training on the Kalispel Reservation.

We believe the Kalispel Tribe’s model of enrolling individuals with chronic diseases into its emerging food
sovereignty initiative, combined with the careful monitoring associated with its Patient Centered Medical Home
Model, as proposed through their Component 1 Good Health in Indian Country grant application is one that will
pay tremendous dividends for the long-term health of the Kalispel people.

Sincerely,

Alison Poulsen
Executive Director, BHT

1020 W. Riverside Suite 101, Spokane WA 99201 • 509 960 8593 • betterhealthtogether.org
1020 W. Riverside Suite 101, Spokane WA 99201 • 509 960 8593 • betterhealthtogether.org 2