Health News & Notes
November 2023
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Native American Heritage Month | |
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November is National Native American Heritage Month. At NPAIHB, we celebrate and uplift our communities and Indigenous relatives across Indian Country, our ancestors, and unique cultures.
NPAIHB is committed to facilitating and partnering with the communities in our region to eliminate health disparities and improve the quality of life of American Indians and Alaska Natives by supporting Northwest Tribes in their delivery of culturally appropriate, high-quality healthcare.
This November, NPAIHB reaffirms its commitment to this mission. Happy Native American Heritage Month from all of us at
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board!
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Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians | |
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Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
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Calendar
Nov. 14
Grand Rounds – Syphilis Staging & Treatment
Nov. 15
Wee Smile: Minimally Invasive Dentistry (MID) Style In-Person Learning Session
Nov. 16
Tribal EPH Webinar: Land & Resource Loss of Kalapuyans of the Willamette Valley
Nov. 28
Grand Rounds - Holding Space for Pregnant Care: Elevating Indigenous Birthing Practices
Dec. 4-6
Northwest Tribal Diabetes Gathering/TLDC Meeting
Dec. 5-7
Western Tribal Diabetes Project Hosting Diabetes Training
Dec. 6
Tribal EPH Webinar: Reseeding Waters to Reproduce Fish, Shellfish, Mollusks, Abalone, Seaweed, and more
Dec. 7
Save-the-Date: Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations Call
Dec. 12-14
WTDP: Diabetes Management System Training
Dec. 13
Healthy Native Youth - Community of Practice: Safe Spaces 101
Dec. 25 - Jan. 1
NPAIHB Office Closure
Dec. 28
CHAP Tribal Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting
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On October 17, 2023, delegates from the 43 federally recognized tribes in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho moved to elect Delegate Aaron Hines (Umatilla) as the new treasurer for the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.
Aaron is also the CEO of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, serving the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Pendleton, OR.
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From left to right: Greg Abrahamson (Spokane), Secretary; Nate Tyler (Makah), Vice Chair; Nickolaus Lewis (Lummi), Chairman; Aaron Hines (Umatilla), Treasurer; and NPAIHB Executive Director Laura Platero (Navajo). | |
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Updates on Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Unwinding[1]
With the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, at the end of last year, Congress set an end date for the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition to March 31, 2023.[2] Since April 1, 2023, some states have resumed routine Medicaid renewals and eligibility and enrollment efforts. Each state must report monthly data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is then compiled and publicly released. However, the released data on monthly renewal trends provided by CMS is delayed by many months and not provided in real-time.[3]
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Project & Program Updates | |
Spotlight - Building Our Largest Dementia Network (BOLD)
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November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month!
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of Dementia and primarily affects adults aged 65 and older, but in rare cases, it can present itself as early-onset in people as young as 30. Learn the warning signs to support early detection in you and your loved ones!
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THRIVE (Tribal Health Reaching Out InVolves Everyone) has been working hard to update the Mind4Health training.
Mind4Health is an online training for caring adults that will prepare them to support and refer youth when they see or post concerning messages online. The 90-minute gatekeeper training is perfect for teachers, parents, counselors, coaches, and other caring adults. Mind4Health also includes a text message series that walks participants through three steps to fill their mental health toolbox.
To join, text “Mind4Health” to 65664.
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THRIVE is also very excited to announce that planning for the 2024 THRIVE Conference is beginning!
The Conference will occur at the Portland State University campus from June 24 - 28, 2024. Tribal youth from the Pacific Northwest and beyond will build protective factors, connect with Indigenous peers and mentors, gain healthy coping mechanisms, and embrace their culture and identity, all while learning through art, service, and movement.
Conference registration opens in early April.
Registration is free; tribes from our service region (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) will be prioritized in registration.
To receive updates about the conference, email THRIVE Project Coordinator Aurora Martinez at amartinez@npaihb.org to be added to the THRIVE Listserv.
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Culturally-Relevant Adolescent Health Education Resource
HealthyNativeYouth.org is a one-stop shop for educators and advocates who want to expand learning opportunities for Native youth. The curricula housed on the website promote positive youth development, embrace cultural teachings, and demonstrate evidence of effectiveness. The site is designed for tribal health educators, teachers, parents, and community members – providing training and tools needed to access and deliver effective, age-appropriate curricula.
Celebrate with your students by implementing one of the following:
For more info, contact the HNY Project Team:
Michelle Singer (msinger@npaihb.org) (she/her | Navajo)
Taylor Dean (tdean@npaihb.org) (they/them | Puyallup).
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WeRNative.org is a multimedia health resource – for Native youth by Native youth. The site includes health and wellness resources that address the social, structural, and environmental stressors influencing adolescent health and personal goal-setting.
Here are a few links to share with youth for November:
For more info, contact:
Tommy Ghost Dog Jr (tghostdog@npaihb.org), We R Native Project Coordinator.
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We have an exciting opportunity to share! The overall goal of the NW Native American Research Center for Health (NARCH) Research Support Fellowship is to increase the number of well-trained American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) researchers who are prepared to conduct population health sciences research in diverse settings. We will support undergraduate and graduate AI/AN students interested in population science careers as they undertake and complete mentored research projects.
Fellows will:
- Have many opportunities to increase research competencies by attending skill-building courses in our Summer Research Training Institute.
- Participate in regularly scheduled Zoom and web-based seminars.
- Attend in-person workshops.
- Be matched up with mentors.
- Receive a travel award to attend national, regional, and local research conferences.
- Receive financial support hourly ($20/hour; 10 hours per week; up to $7,200) for research completed.
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At the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, we are working to inspire the next generation of public health heroes. In this video from the “We Inspire” series, we hear from students and mentors involved in the 2023 NW NARCH Public Health Research Academy. Our first cohort consists of ten Native high school students and four community-based mentors from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. We are currently in our second month of virtual learning sessions. | |
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In addition to learning about critical public health concepts and meeting Indigenous researchers, participants have the unique opportunity to drive the evaluation process. Starting with a visual evaluation plan, students learned how to collect quantitative and qualitative data and tell a compelling story with data. We are excited to keep learning with these impressive youth in the coming months!
Applications for the second cohort of Academy participants will open in March 2024.
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The NW NARCH Public Health Research Academy is sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number S06GM145214. | |
Be a Bison: An Interview with Shane Moses | Paths (re)Membered | | |
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"I’ve realized that the universe... works in full effect, especially as I learn to accept myself, become the best version of myself, and make my ancestors proud
—they may not be proud that I’m LGBTQ+ but they have to be proud that I’m stopping generational curses and figuring myself out."
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On the Road: Northwest Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition Gathering
| NWTFSC
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With the newly added youth programming portion to the annual NWTFSC gathering, the impact fueled by the collaborative efforts of NPAIHB & WEAVE NW is felt by the Coeur d’Alene Tribal community. | |
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Summer Wildbill Represents CTUIR at 2023 White House Tribal Youth Forum | NPAIHB Youth Delegates
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The White House Tribal Youth Forum... addressed issues Indigenous communities face, such as climate resilience strategies, mental health, substance use prevention, and... allowed youth to have a platform to advocate for the voice of young and future leaders. | |
Grant and Funding Opportunities | |
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Bear Grease is a fresh and fun Indigenous take on the classic 1978 musical Grease. Bear Grease combines hip-hop, parody, improv, and freestyle for an Indigenized musical theatre production that offers a new historical perspective.
Presented in partnership with Future Generations Collaborative, Native Wellness Institute, Indigenous Equity, and the Portland Art Museum.
**All proceeds from this show will go towards supporting Barbies Village a new tiny home village and community center being built by the Future Generations Collaborative for Native women and families in NE Portland**
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Quarterly Health News & Notes | |
Check out the Chronic Disease edition of the Health News & Notes quarterly journal. This issue features comments from Chairman Nickolaus D. Lewis, the 2023-2024 Youth Delegates, misclassification of traffic injuries in Indian Country, and more! | |
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This newly created atlas makes it easy to create high-quality, local-level maps of communities with the heaviest burden of stroke, as well as the socioeconomic conditions that contribute to geographic disparities.
Visualizing the data in this way enables your organization and partners to identify opportunities for interventions tailored to the communities you serve. Check out the Atlas today!
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Ethan White Temple
Standing Rock Sioux
Environmental Health Specialist
Ethan was born and raised in North Dakota for the first half of his childhood on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, where he is an enrolled member. He moved to Lapwai, ID for the second half of his childhood on the Nez Perce reservation, where his mother is an enrolled member. He received a B.S. in Social Science with an emphasis in Anthropology from Lewis & Clark State College. He also received an M.S. in Natural Resources and two certificates in Environmental Education and Science communication from the University of Idaho. Outside of work, Ethan loves playing sports and video games, crafting, and enjoying the outdoors with his partner.
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Shae Williams
Web & Graphic Designer
Hello! My name is Shae Williams (she/her) and I am joining the NPAIHB communications team as a graphic and web designer.
I have a BFA in Fine Art and have worked in the creative industry in Portland for many years. I am excited to be working with NPAIHB!
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Jovana Garcia
Grants Management Specialist
My name is Jovana Garcia. I am a grants management specialist for the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. I was born and raised in Fresno, CA. I graduated with honors from California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in international business.
I previously worked at the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District as an air quality specialist, where I administered grant applications and public requests across different incentive programs. I also helped analyze and develop supporting documents to streamline internal processes. During my time at the Air District, I enjoyed serving the public and making a positive impact in disadvantaged communities.
I moved to Portland, OR, with the goal of expanding my career in public service. In my downtime, I enjoy reading, hiking, writing, spending time with my family, and trying new food places. I am very excited to join the team and contribute to the organization’s mission.
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Alan Howard
Accounts Receivable Specialist
Hello! My name is Alan Howard. I am from Boston, Mass, and identify as Black/African American. My grandmothers considered themselves Creole, specifically. Which I figure means I am, too!
I have a BA from Morehouse College and have been working in Corporate Accounts Receivable/Finance for over 15 years. My heart has always been in social justice, so working for the Board is a desire I realized after being deferred for most of my adult life. I am so glad to be here.
When off work, I love playing guitar, writing and singing songs, occasionally cooking, and always eating.
I look forward to working with you!
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Helena Darrow
Chiricahua Apache Tribe
Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center (ZSICC) Manager
Helena, a proud member of the Chiricahua Apache Tribe, is from the Seattle area where she currently resides. Recently, she graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Public Health in Community-Oriented Public Health Practice. Her passion and dedication have led her to the exciting role of Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center (ZSICC) Manager at NPAIHB.
Helena has more than five years of experience in suicide prevention and Native youth programming from her time at the Urban Indian Health Institute and the Seattle Indian Health Board. Her studies and professional endeavors have equipped her with a diverse range of skills and a commitment to making a positive impact within her community.
Beyond her professional life, Helena is an avid hiker and runner (ask me about my recent hiking trip to Greece!). She also enjoys other activities like barre (a fusion of yoga and pilates), and she can often be found engrossed in the pages of a good book accompanied with a strong cup of coffee.
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