On Monday, March 8, 2021, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) was joined by nine national Native organizations in a letter submitted to President Joe Biden, requesting that the Administration swiftly and effectively deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to the American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, as well as all urban Indians. The NIHB Board of Directors passed Resolution 21-01: Promoting and Prioritizing AI/ANs in the DC Metropolitan Area for the COVID-19 Vaccine on February 26, 2021. NIHB was joined in this effort by the National Council of Urban Indian Health, Native American Lifelines (the only urban Indian clinic in the Washington DC Area, located in Baltimore), National Indian Education Association, National American Indian Housing Council, Native American Finance Officers’ Association, Native American Contractors Association, National Indian Gaming Association, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, and the National Congress of American Indians.

Read the full letter.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) released its annual Legislative and Policy Agenda listing Tribal health-related administrative and legislative requests for 24 issues areas ranging from COVID-19 response and recovery and increased telehealth capacity to full funding for the Indian Health Service and improving water and sanitation infrastructure as an integral public health measure. The NIHB Board of Directors adopted the Agenda along with a Roadmap for the Biden Administration on February 26, 2021. 

NIHB’s 2021 Legislative and Policy Agenda highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a disproportionate impact on American Indian and Alaska Native people and illuminated many of the disparities Tribes experience, which have led to worse COVID-19 outcomes.

NIHB’s Roadmap for the Biden Administration to Advance American Indian and Alaska Native Health and Public Health focuses on six areas: Supporting the Government to Government Relationship, Supporting Tribal Sovereignty, Supporting Workforce Development, Studying and Addressing Long-Term Issues and Pressing Problems, and Advancing Legislative Priorities.

Read the full press release here.

In a recent evaluation report of the Preventative Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grant, recipients of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention block grant had overall reported using the funds to improve public health infrastructure, address emerging public health needs, and practice evidence-based public health. The PHHS block grant provides non-categorical funding to 61 recipients—all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 2 American Indian tribes (Kickapoo Tribe and Santee Sioux Tribe), 5 US territories, and 3 freely associated states. Read more here.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support emergency-based infrastructure for Indian Country. American Indians and Alaska Natives have increased vulnerability to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases due to a lack of resources, public health emergency planning and response infrastructure intended to control outbreaks, and the complexity around jurisdictions, as well as lack of understanding among partners working with Tribes. Through this initiative, NIHB will assist Tribes with public health capacity building and training activities that engage public health and healthcare professionals and vulnerable populations to increase their ability to prevent and control outbreaks. A vital activity to aid in building capacity is creating peer learning community networks. Read more here.

For interest in joining creating a peer learning community contact Courtney Wheeler, [email protected].

2021 National Tribal Public Health Summit: Call for Abstracts Open

Every year the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) brings together public health practitioners, researchers, and policy experts to allow for conversation, mobilization, and strategy. This year is no different despite COVID-19. In fact, COVID-19 has made our work even more urgent and vital. The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated, for all to see, the critical underfunding of the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the importance of improving Tribal public health infrastructure. We invite you to join us virtually, present your work, and kick off these important explorations. To submit an abstract for our 2021 National Tribal Public Health Summit, read more here. To register, read more here.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) currently has two funding opportunities available:

Applications due Saturday, May 1, 2021

On March 2, 2021, The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the Preventing Violence Affecting Young Lives (PREVAYL) award. This award is expected to commit approximately $250,000 per year for five years, funding at least eight recipients to address multiple forms of violence impacting teens and young adults, ages 10-24. Recipients of the PREVAYL award are expected to address multiple forms of violence including youth violence, teen dating violence, and other adverse childhood experiences. Read more here.

N4 Solutions, LLC is currently seeking qualified Scientific Policy Analyst applicants to support the National Institute of Health, Tribal Health Research Office (NIH THRO) by researching, analyzing, and preparing plans and reports on research and research training, focused on American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) populations and Tribal affairs. Read more here.

Job descriptions are available at www.nihb.org.

The National Indian Health Board is committed to serving Tribal Nations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Visit our COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center for more information and resources.

Please join the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) for a Tribal infection control learning community (TICLC) webinar. This webinar will provide an overview of the best practices for dental settings and strategies for implementing infection prevention and control measures to protect dental staff. Dr. Jessica Rickert, D.D.S., the first female American Indian dentist in the world, and Dr. Latonya Shelton-Miler, Dental Director for Little Axe Health Center will present. Register here.

Monday, March 15, 2021 at 3:00 PM ET and Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 2:00 PM ET

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting two identical webinars for Tribal governments to discuss EPA’s current consultation policies and practices, identify future actions the Agency is developing to improve on its existing consultation work, and seek input on opportunities to strengthen its consultation policies and practices moving forward. Information on joining the webinars can be found here.

The Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC) will be hosting a webinar where a series of Tribal panelists will highlight and share how they have set up their vaccine distribution process, lessons learned, and other resources available to assist Tribal communities with vaccine distribution. There will be time for questions and answers. Read more here.

Please join the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) for a Tribal Infection Control Learning Community (TICLC) webinar: COVID Vaccine Considerations for Safely Re-opening Dental Clinics. This webinar will provide an overview of the best practices for dental settings and implementing infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to protect dental staff. The discussion will focus on safety precautions and understanding how to safely re-open dental practices after COVID vaccination. Register here.

The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) will be hosting a series of virtual training courses in support of their Tribal Nations Training Plan from March 22 – April 30, 2021. This training will be provided by the CDP, partners of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), and the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC). This training is completely funded for state, local, Tribal and territorial emergency responders. Read more here.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 3:00 PM ET

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is hosting a second webinar in a 3-part series on intimate partner violence (IPV), specifically focusing on teen dating violence (TDV) in Native Youth. Guest Speaker, Jovita Belgarde, is a Native Youth Program Coordinator at the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) and will provide information on TDV in Indian Country, as well as the prevention programming that has been implemented at CSVANW. The webinar is recommended for behavioral health professionals, public health professionals, youth leaders, education staff, and those working with American Indian and Alaska Native youth. For more information on this webinar please contact Chyna Locklear at [email protected]. Register here.

Thursdays, April 8-29, 2021 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is presenting a special four-part series for Community Health Representatives starting April 8th at 3pm Eastern Time. The webinar series is for non-clinical staff in key positions of behavioral and community health care, focusing on critical updates for HIV, Hepatitis C, Substance Use Disorder, and 2SLGBTQ health services. The four-session program offers a free collaborative to continue learning, knowledge sharing and support in your work.

Speakers: Janet Cifuentes, PharmD, Heather Huentelman, PharmD, Jessica Rienstra, BSN, RN and Rick Haverkate, MPH

Join the webinar here.