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Building Capacity, Expanding Care: Si-Si A-Pe-Txa Grants Department Secures $5.7 Million in New Funding

Osage Nation Si-Si A-Pe-Txa continues to strengthen its ability to expand healthcare services, develop new programs, and invest in the communities it serves by growing its internal Department of Grants Management & Compliance. Led by Mrs. Megan Mays, MBA (Osage), Director of Grants Management & Compliance, the department has become integral to Si-Si A-Pe-Txa's strategy for identifying, securing, and responsibly managing external funding.Mays launched the health system's internal grants department to establish dedicated capacity for grant development, post-award management, regulatory compliance, and long-term funding strategy. What began as an effort to build a centralized grants infrastructure has grown into a multidisciplinary team supporting programs and initiatives throughout Si-Si A-Pe-Txa.That investment is producing measurable results. In the last 60 days alone, Osage Nation Si-Si A-Pe-Txa has been awarded approximately $5.7 million in new funding, supporting continued growth in programs and services available to Tribal citizens and the communities Si-Si A-Pe-Txa serves."Building an internal grants department was about creating sustainable capacity within our health system," said Megan. "We wanted a team that could not only pursue funding opportunities, but also understand the needs of our programs, work alongside our departments, maintain strong compliance practices, and ensure that the funding we pursue supports the larger mission of improving access to care and strengthening our communities."Meet the Health System’s Grants Management & Compliance TeamThe Department of Grants Management & Compliance is led by Mrs. Megan Mays, MBA (Osage) and includes Dr. Bridget Walker (Cherokee), Robyn Rye (Pottawatomi), and Misty Smith (Osage).Together, the team supports the full grant lifecycle - from researching funding opportunities and developing competitive applications to post-award management, reporting, regulatory compliance, and grant closeout.The team's work extends far beyond writing grant applications. As Si-Si A-Pe-Txa's portfolio of externally funded programs has grown, so has the need for strong internal systems that ensure funding is managed responsibly, program requirements are met, and the organization remains positioned to pursue future opportunities.By working collaboratively with clinical, administrative, finance, and program leadership, the department connects identified community and organizational needs with funding opportunities that can turn those priorities into sustainable programs and services.$5.7 Million in 60 Days: Turning Funding Into Services The approximately $5.7 million in new funding awarded during the last 60 days represents more than a financial milestone for Si-Si A-Pe-Txa. These resources are helping create and expand programs designed to respond directly to community needs.Among the initiatives supported through the organization's growing grant portfolio is the continued expansion of Si-Si A-Pe-Txa's Tribal 988 program, strengthening the health system's ability to provide crisis response, behavioral health support, outreach, and connections to services. SSAPT was one of only nine tribes – nationwide - to be awarded this grant during this cycle. New funding is also supporting the development of the Wah-Zha-Zhe Youth Initiative, led by Anthony Shackelford. The new initiative invests in Osage youth and provides another avenue for Si-Si A-Pe-Txa to address health and wellness through prevention, engagement, and culturally grounded programming.These initiatives demonstrate how external funding can be used not simply to sustain existing operations, but to build new programs and expand the reach of services available through Si-Si A-Pe-Txa.For the grants team, securing an award is only the beginning.Effective grants management requires careful stewardship throughout each award's life. The Department of Grants Management & Compliance works with funded programs to maintain compliance with award requirements, federal and state regulations, organizational policies, reporting obligations, and established program outcomes.This combination of grant development, program collaboration, and grant compliance has allowed Si-Si A-Pe-Txa to build a comprehensive internal funding infrastructure while pursuing increasingly competitive opportunities.Building for the FutureThe establishment of an internal Department of Grants Management & Compliance represents a broader investment in the long-term sustainability of working to meet Osage Nation needs, being strategically met by Si-Si A-Pe-Txa as part of a broader strategy via leveraging grant resources with existing programs to make services and programs better focused, faster in service delivery, and stronger overall.Rather than treating grants as individual funding opportunities, the department connects external resources to the health system's larger strategic priorities. That means identifying opportunities to expand existing services, developing funding strategies for emerging community needs, and ensuring Si-Si A-Pe-Txa has the internal systems necessary to responsibly manage continued growth."We are proud of the funding we have been able to secure, but the larger accomplishment is what those resources allow our organization to do," Mays said. "Every successful award creates an opportunity to strengthen a program, launch a new service, or reach people in a different way. Our job is to find those opportunities, bring those resources home, and make sure they are managed with accountability from award through closeout."With $5.7 million in new funding awarded in just 60 days, expanded services through the Tribal 988 program, and new initiatives such as the Wah-Zha-Zhe Youth Initiative, the impact of Si-Si A-Pe-Txa's investment in internal grants capacity is becoming increasingly visible.For Mays, Walker, Rye, and Smith, success extends beyond dollars awarded. It is reflected in what those dollars make possible: new programs, expanded services, stronger organizational capacity, and greater investment in the health and well-being of Osage people and the communities Si-Si A-Pe-Txa serves. ... See MoreSee Less