Community Health Aide Programs (CHAP) are not new to the Indian health system. Alaska has had a CHAP program for over 60 years and the IHS operates a national Community Health Representative (CHR) program. CHAP services have proven to be a sustainable, effective, and culturally acceptable method for delivering health care. Although Community Health Aides have been used within the IHS, the potential for a national expansion of Community Health Aide services is significant; especially considering the challenges in recruitment and retention of providers in rural Tribal communities. Community Health Aides include workers in health education, communicable disease control, maternal and child health, dental health, behavioral health, family planning, environmental health, and other areas.