In this Letter:
📣Announcements 
✒️Congressional Items
đź“ť Dear Tribal Leader Letters
đź“’Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations
🎟️Events
đź’µ Notice of Funding Opportunities
| |
Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Pilot Program VA MISSION Act
A Dear Tribal Leader Letter published on November 13, 2023 shares information on the VA MISSION Act Pilot Program. The Pilot Program funds 100 physician residents’ clinical rotations in non-VA health care facilities. A request for proposals to solicit interest from academic institutions and programs is anticipated to be released this coming summer. Further details of the program are available in the VA press release and the VA’s Office of Academic Affiliations website.
| |
HHS Accepting Nominations for Open Seats on the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it is accepting nominations to fill vacancies on the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC). There are several vacancies to fill 2 year terms. The vacancies are:
- Alaska IHS Area Primary and Alternate
- Alaska IHS Area Primary and Alternate
- Billings IHS Area Primary and Alternate
- Great Plains IHS Area Primary and Alternate
- Phoenix IHS Primary and Alternate
- National At-Large Primary Delegate (2 spots)
- National At-Large Alternate Delegate (1 spot)
Nominations and all supporting documentation should be submitted to HHS no later than February 9, 2024. Additional nomination information can be found in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL). For help submitting or drafting nominations, questions, or more information, please contact Garrett Lankford, NIHB Federal Relations Analyst, at glankford@nihb.org or 202-996-4302. You can submit your materials to:
Jess Smith, Acting Director
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 620-E Washington, DC 20201
E-mail: STAC@hhs.gov
|
Registration is now open for the National Indian Health Board 2024 National Tribal Health Conference in Rapid City, SD
Click here to visit the conference website to learn more about the event, exhibiting, and sponsoring NTHC 2024. Check the conference website often for upcoming information regarding speakers, the call for abstracts, and exciting opportunities!
| |
Workshop Proposal Webinar Available for NIHB’s 2024 National Tribal Health Conference
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) has created a webinar to help you with your 2024 NTHC Workshop Proposal Submission to ensure you submit the best proposal possible. Learn the ins and outs of the submissions process and what it takes to be a successful applicant. NIHB invites Tribal leaders, health and public health professionals, policy specialists, advocates, and allies to submit workshop proposals for the 2024 National Tribal Health Conference (NTHC) on May 19—23, 2024 at The Monument Convention Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. Proposals are due by Friday, January 26, 2024, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Click here to submit your workshop proposal. For more information, visit the Workshop Proposals webpage or contact nthc@nihb.org.
| |
CMS 2024 Health Equity Conference: Call for Proposals Now Open
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host its second Health Equity Conference on May 29—30, 2024. The free two-day conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland, and available for online participation. This year’s theme will be Sustaining Health Equity Through Action, and attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CMS leadership on developments to CMS programs, explore the latest health equity research, and engage in meaningful conversations. Information and guidelines for submitting proposals can be found on the conference website.
| |
This Friday, January 19th, the first wave of discretionary funding which includes the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) will expire. Soon after, on February 2nd, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) discretionary funding will also expire. H.R. 2872, another “laddered” stopgap funding bill, has been released with the Senate considering the legislation today, January 16th. This Continuing Resolution (CR) can bridge any lapse in funding between the CR expirations and the passage of the regular Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations, which are still being drafted by the Appropriations Committee. The first of two sets of expirations will come March 1st, including agencies like the VA and HUD. Funds for SDPI and HHS are included in the draft CR and would expire on March 8th, the second and final expiration for the third CR of this 118th Congress. |
Addressing Long COVID: Advancing Research and Improving Patient Care
Committee: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions
Date: January 18, 2024
Hearing Webpage Link
| VA November 13 Letter: VA MISSION Act (Public Law 115-182) Section 403* (amended) | IHS January 12 Letter: The IHS Director writes to initiate Tribal Consultation on the proposed supplemental funding request to support fentanyl and opioid programs | HHS January 10 Letter: HHS Announces Tribal Consultation on Draft Tribal Data Policy | HHS January 2 Letter: HHS Soliciting Nominations for Open Seats on the Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee | |
Virtual Tribal Consultation Session: IHS Tribal Consultation Policy
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Dates: January 17, 2024 | January 18, 2024
|
CDC and the Alzheimer's Association Solicit Input for Next Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map for Indian Country Comment Due: January 19, 2024
Comment Submission Webpage
|
Administration for Community Living (ACL) Tribal Consultation on Draft Consultation Policy
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Date: January 24, 2024, 1:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Location: Capital Hilton, Washington, DC
Meeting Link
Comments Due: February 23, 2024
Comment Submission: olderindians@acl.hhs.gov
|
IHS Consultation on the Proposed Supplemental Funding Request to Support Fentanyl and Opioid Programs
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Date: February 1, 2024, 4:30 – 6:30 PM ET
Comments Due: March 4, 2024
Comment Submission: consultation@ihs.gov, subject “Supplemental Request for Fentanyl and Opioid Abuse Funding”
|
HHS Tribal Consultation on Draft Tribal and Tribal Epidemiology Center Data Access Policy
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Draft Data Access Policy
Date: February 6, 2024, 3:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
Comments Due: March 5, 2024
Comment Submission: TribalAffairs@hhs.gov, subject “HHS Tribal Data Policy”
|
Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer: Health Information Technology Modernization Enterprise Collaboration Group
Date: February 8, 2024, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
| |
Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings | |
IHS Director’s Workgroup on Improving Purchased/Referred Care
Date: January 17 – 18, 2024
Location: Portland, OR
Meeting Webpage Link
| |
Advisory Committee on Minority Health Meeting
Description: Implementation of the anticipated updates to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) federal race and ethnicity data collection standards
Date: January 30, 2024, 5:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
| |
FY 2026 National Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup Work Session
Date: February 13 – 14, 2024
Meeting Webpage Link
| |
DSTAC 2nd Quarter Meeting
Date: February 15 — 16, 2024
Meeting Webpage Link
|
IHS Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee Meeting
Date: February 21 – 22, 2024
Location: Washington, DC
Meeting Webpage Link
| |
CANCELLED—Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC)
Date: February 27—28, 2024
|
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Tribal Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC)
Date: February 27, 2024, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
Meeting Announcement Link
| |
IHS National Tribal Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Behavioral Health Q1 Meeting
Date: February 27, 2024, 12:00 PM ET – 5:00 PM ET
Meeting Link
| |
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) All Tribes Webinar
Date: January 17, 2024, 3:00 PM ET
Event Registration Link
|
Robotics in Aging: Long-Term Services and Supports Webinar
Date: January 24, 2024, 2:00 PM ET
Event Registration Link
|
National Congress of American Indians 2024 Executive Council Winter Session
Date: February 12- 15, 2024
Location: Washington, DC
Event Webpage Link
|
National Council of Urban Indian Health Building Bridges, Building Trust: An Open Forum on COVID-19 Insights
Date: February 13, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET
Event Registration Link
|
National Indian Child Welfare Association 42nd Annual Protecting Our Children Conference
Date: April 7 – 10, 2024
Location: Seattle, WA
Event Webpage Link
|
2024 Tribal Self-Governance Conference
Date: April 15 – 19, 2024
Location: Chandler, AZ
Event Webpage Link
|
National Council of Urban Indian Health 2024 Annual Conference
Date: April 29, 2024 – May 2, 2024
Location: Washington, DC
Event Webpage Link
|
National Indian Health Board 2024 National Tribal Health Conference
Date: May 19 – 23, 2024
Location: Rapid City, SD
Event Webpage Link
| Notice of Funding Opportunities | |
Maternal and Child Health – Improving Oral Health Integration Demonstration Projects| Click Here to Learn More
Award Amount: $425,000 per year of the performance period
Application Deadline: January 22, 2024
Description: MCH-IOHI Projects will aim to improve access to integrated preventive oral health care (integrated POHC) in primary care services accessible to MCH populations at increased or higher risk for poor oral health. Funding will support an MCH-IOHI Alliance (Alliance), to include key state stakeholders such as policy, practice, and public health leaders; healthcare providers; healthcare payers; and public health surveillance experts.
|
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge | Click Here to Learn More
Description: HHS, through the OASH, is supporting Tribes and disadvantaged communities who face environmental injustices, including harms due to climate change, through the new Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge. Community-driven projects will receive funding in two phases to address these inequities. The first phase will provide up to $25,000 for concept design (apply through January 30, 2024). The second phase will provide a minimum of $70,000 for small-scale testing and implementation of projects (opening in spring 2024).
| |
Indian Health Service Funding Opportunity for the Community Opioid Intervention Prevention Program | Click Here to Learn More
Application Deadline: February 7, 2024
Description: The purpose of this grant program is to address the opioid crisis in AI/AN communities by doing the following: first, developing and expanding community education and awareness of prevention, treatment, and recovery activities for opioid misuse and opioid use disorder; second, increasing knowledge and use of culturally appropriate interventions and to encourage an increased use of medication-assisted treatment/medications for opioid use disorder (MAT/MOUD); third, supporting Tribal and Urban Indian communities in their effort to provide prevention, treatment, and recovery services to address the impact of the opioid crisis; and fourth, increase harm reduction within their communities.
| |
Indian Health Service Funding Opportunity for Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation Cooperative Agreement Program | Click Here to Learn More
Award Amount: $84,000
Application Deadline: February 19, 2024
Description: The purpose of this Negotiation Cooperative Agreement is to provide Tribes with resources to help defray the costs associated with preparing for and engaging in TSGP negotiations. TSGP negotiations are a dynamic, evolving, and Tribally-driven process that requires careful planning, preparation, and sharing of precise, up-to-date information by both Tribal and Federal parties. Because each Tribal situation is unique, a Tribe's successful transition into the TSGP, or expansion of their current program, requires focused discussions between the Federal and Tribal negotiation teams about the Tribe's specific health care concerns and plans.
|
Indian Health Service Funding Opportunity for Tribal Self-Governance Planning Cooperative Agreement Program | Click Here to Learn More
Award Amount: $180,000
Application Deadline: February 19, 2024
Description: The purpose of this Planning Cooperative Agreement is to provide resources to Tribes interested in entering the TSGP and to existing Self-Governance Tribes interested in assuming new or expanded PSFAs. Title V of the ISDEAA requires a Tribe or Tribal organization (T/TO) to complete a planning phase to the satisfaction of the Tribe. The planning phase must include legal and budgetary research and internal Tribal government planning and organizational preparation relating to the administration of health care programs.
| |
Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program | Click Here to Learn More
Application Deadline: February 26, 2024
Description: The purpose of this program is to educate and train the health care and supportive care workforces to care for older adults by collaborating with community partners. Applicants must maximize patient and family engagement to address care gaps and improve health outcomes for older adults by integrating geriatrics with primary care and other appropriate specialties using the Age-Friendly Health Systems Framework.
|
Native Connections Tribal Behavioral Health | Click Here to Learn More
Award Amount: Up to $250,000 per year
Application Deadline: March 6, 2024
Description: The purpose of this program is to prevent and reduce suicidal behavior and substance use/misuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, up to and including age 24, by building a healthy network of systems, services, and partnerships that impact youth. SAMHSA expects this program will be a model for community change that integrates a community’s culture, resources, and readiness to address suicide prevention and substance use/misuse among AI/AN youth.
|
Funding Opportunity for the Tribal Management Grant Program | Click Here to Learn More
Award Amount: Between $50,000 - $150,000
Application Deadline: March 14, 2024
Description: The TMG Program is a competitive grant program that is capacity building and developmental in nature and has been available for federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations (T/TO) since shortly after enactment of the ISDEAA in 1975. The TMG Program was established to assist T/TOs to prepare for assuming all or part of existing IHS programs, functions, services, and activities (PFSAs) and further develop and improve Tribal health management capabilities. The TMG Program provides competitive grants to T/TOs to establish goals and performance measures for current health programs, assess current management capacity to determine if new components are appropriate, analyze programs to determine if a T/TO's management is practicable, and develop infrastructure systems to manage or organize PFSAs.
| | | | |