Refers to both Tribal governmental agencies as well as various social service provider agencies working with Indians. Indian Tribes are quasi-sovereign nations operating a broad spectrum of governmental programs, with tribal operations often organized into programmatic areas designated as agencies, similar to state governments. Tribal Agencies for IV-E purposes are agencies operated by a federally recognized tribe or consortiums of federally recognized tribes. Tribes in California enjoy an opportunity to pursue a direct federal allocation or to contract with the state to operate tribal IV-E agencies to fund tribal court placements. Two such agreements are in place and others are in negotiations. In the social service context, Tribal Agencies include programs operated by a federally recognized tribe, a consortium (group) of recognized tribes, or other provider organizations providing social services to American Indian/Alaska Native communities.