2026 National Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) Symposium

From Vision to Practice: Strengthening CHAP for the Next Generation of Tribal Health

Dates: May 5th – 7th, 2026

Location: Billings Hotel & Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Ln, Billings, MT 59101

Registration: https://form.jotform.com/260145857826162

The 2026 National CHAP Symposium builds on years of innovation, advocacy, and implementation across Tribal and rural communities. As CHAP continues to mature, we recognize that CHAP is not simply a program, but a system—one that depends on intentional, multifaceted, and collaborative investment to grow and endure.

From Vision to Practice: Strengthening CHAP for the Next Generation of Tribal Health affirms both continuity and responsibility. It reflects CHAP as an expression of self-governance, self-determination, and Tribal sovereignty, and calls on us to strengthen and sustain the foundational elements—education pathways, regulatory infrastructure, clinical supervision, and sustainable financing—that will carry CHAP forward for generations.

This theme also reinforces that progress happens together. Students, providers, clinical supervisors, administrators, educators, policymakers, and Tribal leaders each play an essential role in moving CHAP from concept to reality, supporting seamless clinical integration, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring CHAP remains a powerful, community-driven approach to health and wellness.

Goals of the 2026 Symposium

• Share practical knowledge and best practices grounded in lived experience
• Engage in honest discussions about sustainability, regulation, and systems alignment
• Ask critical questions about the future of CHAP during a time of organizational change
• Elevate student and provider voices as central to workforce transformation
• Strengthen partnerships across tribes, states, and disciplines
• Reinforce CHAP as an asset to health systems and communities alike

Guiding Principles for the 2026 Conference

Continuity & Momentum
The conference committee wants to ensure that the next CHAP Symposium honors the work that has brought CHAP to this point while preparing for what comes next.

Collaboration Across Systems
Bringing together tribal leaders, students, providers, educators, administrators (HR etc), Policy folks/administrative staff, regulators, and policymakers.

Transformation in Practice
Focusing on real-world implementation, sustainability, and workforce impact. – we want people to walk away with tangible next steps for CHAP implementation in their Area/Tribe regardless of what state of CHAP implementation they are in and what role they play in implementation (clinical, administrative, regulatory infrastructure, community outreach, education programs).

Community-Centered Leadership
Grounding all discussions in tribal sovereignty, community needs, and lived experience.

Track Definitions (for program/website)

• Beginning Track (WHAT is CHAP?) For participants new to CHAP who want a clear understanding of what CHAP is, why it matters, and how it fits within tribal health systems.
• Intermediate Track (HOW do we implement CHAP?) For participants building an implementation plan and learning the essential elements to launch CHAP in their tribe/area: partners, education pathways, regulatory foundations, funding, and initial operations.
• Advanced Track (Clinical integration readiness) For participants who have implemented CHAP or are on the cusp of integrating CHAP providers into clinical settings and need the operational systems for seamless integration: supervision, HR, billing, workflows, data, and compliance.