The Samish Health Department includes Purchased/Referred Care (formerly Contract Health) and Public Health & Diabetes. Both departments offer a range of services to assist with the health & wellness needs of Samish Tribal citizens.
Purchased/Referred Care: Enrolled citizens of the Samish Indian Nation whose permanent residence is within a ten-county region (Whatcom, Skagit, Kitsap, Snohomish, King, Island, San Juan, Pierce, Jefferson and Clallam) are eligible for Purchased/Referred Care Services. In order to access this assistance, clients must register with the PRC office, and abide by the Samish PRC program guidelines. In general, PRC may pay for physician and other health professional services, dental services, prescriptions, vision care, physical therapy, hearing aids and mental health services.
Public Health & Diabetes: The Samish Indian Nation Health Program offers a varied scope of services to assist with the health and wellness needs of our Tribal citizens. Public Health’s award-winning Diabetes Project delivers ongoing case management outreach and support for Samish citizens with diabetes.
Prevention / Intervention: In Prevention and Intervention, we believe that the practice of connecting individuals to their culture, language and traditions fosters a greater sense of community which in turn promotes wellness and reduces distress. We plan to build upon our current service strengths to reduce gaps in mental health needs, substance abuse needs and provide holistic, culturally appropriate wraparound services for Samish Citizens and their families. We will work to align our vision with the SAMHSA National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (TBHA) which “Evaluates the importance of tribal identities, culture, spiritual beliefs, and practices for improving overall wellbeing”.